Scholarships & Financial Aid

WPS Home : For Future Undergrads : Scholarships & Financial Aid

Paying for College

NC State’s Department of Wood & Paper Science (WPS) offers its students a number of different financial aid options to help them pay for the costs of a higher education. Details are provided in the answers to frequently asked questions about financial aid below.The WPS Department is distinguished by having one of the largest scholarship endowments on the NC State campus.  Approximately 90 % of WPS students have a merit award that pays some or all of tuition and fees.  This funding is made possible by the strong support of companies in the forest products industries.  Students who are on scholarship and who make attractive salaries during their internships and co-ops can pay for most of their college expenses. If you have a question about undergraduate financial aid you do not see covered here, please contact the WPS undergraduate recruiter at wpsrecruiter@ncsu.edu or call 919.515-7709.

More Financial Aid Opportunities

WPS undergraduate students can apply for a variety of different forms of financial aid. In fact, most of our students do use one or more of these options to help defray the costs of college:

  • NC State offers an installment payment option that lets families spread the cost of tuition and fees over the course of a semester.
  • Student Loans are available to help you and your family finance college. While these loans mist be repaid, you do not have to make payments until after you leave college.
  • NC State merit scholarships are offered by the University to outstanding students. These are outright gifts of money that do not need to be paid back. They tend to be highly competitive scholarships. Please review the details below for more information or visit the NC State financial aid office.
  • The NCSU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid offers many other forms of University financial aid through its website.
  • The Department of Wood & Paper Science offers a number of scholarships each year to outstanding students entering the fields of paper science or wood products. These scholarships are also outright grants of money. See below for details.
  • The College of Natural Resources also offers department-specific scholarships and financial aid, thanks to the support of its Forestry and Paper & Pulp Foundations.
  • Don’t forget that you may be eligible for local scholarships. During your senior year of high school, you should check with your high school counselor, local business organizations and community groups to see if you qualify for any local scholarships. Often, employers will offer them to the children of their employees, so be sure to ask your parents to check these sources as well.
  • Part-time jobs for students can be arranged during the school year to help you defray the cost of college expenses. Visit the NC State University. Career Center for an example of available on- and off-campus jobs.
  • Work-study programs are offered at NC State as a form of financial aid and are based on need. Work-study income is not counted as income when it comes to calculating your eligibility for financial aid the next year.
  • There are statewide programs that help residents of North Carolina finance their college expenses. Please visit the College Foundation of North Carolina for more information on these.

How do I apply for financial aid?

When you apply for admission, you will be given the opportunity to fill out an application for University financial aid. In addition, the WPS undergraduate coordinator in your area of study will alert you to any scholarships your record indicates you might qualify for. Even if you think you may not be eligible, we encourage you to apply and to submit your application as soon as possible.

If you do apply for financial aid from the University, you will not find out what you have been admitted — so be sure to get your admissions application in on time and fully filled out.

When do I apply for financial aid?

For University-sponsored financial aid, you apply at the same time you apply for admission. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Not only will you receive notice of any financial award sooner, you have a better chance of obtaining a portion of whatever funds are available.

How is financial aid eligibility determined?

If you are applying for merit-based aid, your eligibility is determined by how well you satisfy the criteria for that particular scholarship. If you are applying for needs-based aid, the amount of University financial aid you are eligible to receive depends on what your family’s financial aid needs are (as determined by the application you fill out), whether you are a full-time or part-time student, the amount of financial aid money available and whether or not you qualify for specific financial aid programs. A lot of these programs require you to be registered for at least 12 credit hours a semester.

Is my family required to contribute money toward my education?

In almost all cases, yes they are. Unless you are considered independent for financial aid purposes, your family is expected to contribute to the cost of your college education. You have to satisfy specific criteria to be considered independent from a financial aid perspective. Most students meeting independent status criteria are older, veterans of the armed services, in graduate school or married.

Is there financial aid available for international students?

Because most financial aid is government-based and geared toward citizens of a specific country, most international students who enter NC State University do so with financial aid provided by organizations located within their home country. Please see the individual programs for information on scholarships available to international students.

What merit scholarship programs does NC State offer?

NC State’s merit scholarship programs include:

What sort of scholarships does the WPS Department offer?

WPS has a considerable endowment that permits a large number of merit scholarships to be awarded to both incoming freshmen and upperclassmen. These awards, combined with well-paying summer internships and semester co-op jobs, allow many students to finance a large portion of their undergraduate education. See the program details below for more information.

What scholarships are available to PSE students?

The WPS Department has a considerable endowment that permits a large number of merit scholarships to be awarded to both incoming freshmen and upperclass students. These awards, combined with well-paying summer internships and semester co-op jobs, allow many students to finance a large portion of their undergraduate education.

Scholarships in Paper Science & Engineering
Through the Pulp & Paper Foundation, the paper industry provides significant funding for undergraduate merit scholarships and general program enhancement. At the present time, there are over 130 individual endowed scholarships available to PSE students. Approximately 90 % of PSE students have one of these merit awards.

There are several requirements for the merit scholarships, but the most two important are 1) The student must be enrolled as a student in PSE (or PSU for incoming freshmen) and taking the courses shown on the PSE curriculum display sheet; and 2) The student must maintain a total cumulative grade point average (TGPA) of 3.000 or higher. If a student’s TGPA falls below 3.000, the student will be placed on probation for one semester. If the student fails to bring his TPGA back up to 3.000 or above in the next semester, the scholarship will be withdrawn.

Breaking Down the Numbers

With rapidly-rising tuition rates, many future undergraduates and their parents are worried about paying for a 4-year college program. The WPS Department is proud of its rich tradition of helping students to pay for most of their own costs – with a large number of scholarships and lucrative summer internships and co-ops.

Here’s how such an arrangement might work for an in-state Paper Science & Engineering student, using 2008-2009 NC State estimated total student cost:

Total expenses (tuition, fees, books, room, board, travel expenses and spending money): $16,028/yr. x 4 years=$64,112
Pulp and Paper Foundation scholarship: $3,500/yr. x 4 years=–$14,000
2 3-month summer internships in industry @ $14/hr.: $2,240/mo. x 6 months=–$13,440
1 5-month semester co-op @ $17/hr.: $2,720/mo. x 5 months=–$13,600

NET OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR 4 YEARS: $23,072

With starting salaries average $61,000 for the class of 2007, most students are able to pay for college with minimal financial impact on their families.

Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen

In State

Awards for incoming freshmen living in North Carolina are currently valued at $3500 per year. The award is valid for a maximum of 4 years (eight semesters). If a student leaves NCSU to go on a semester co-op experience, the award is temporarily suspended for that semester, but it is restored upon the student’s return, and the total number of semesters awarded will still be eight (that is, the award is simply pushed forward one semester).

Freshmen thinking about entering the PSE program at NCSU are encouraged to take advantage of the Early Admissions Process and submit their application to NCSU by November 1. Students interested in receiving a PSE merit scholarship should do two things: a) Select PSU (Paper Science & Engineering Unmatriculated) as their first choice on the admissions form; and b) Fill out and return the PSE Scholarship Application.

The decision about who will receive the scholarships is usually made in the third week of February. Students will be notified by mail about the decision.

Out of State

The Paper Super Scholars-For incoming freshmen without in-state residency status, the Paper Super Scholars merit award program provides a “full-ride” scholarship – that is, it pays tuition, fees, and room and board. Students interested in competing for this award should 1) Go through the Early Admissions Process for NC State; 2) Select PSU (Paper Science & Engineering Unmatriculated) as their first choice on the admissions form; and 3) Fill out and return the Paper Super Scholars Scholarship Application. Finalists are usually selected during the first week of February and are asked to attend a Selection Day event (including interviews) in early March. Decisions about recipients of the award are made by mid-March.

Students not receiving the Paper Super Scholars award may be eligible for a “normal” merit award in the amount of $6500 per year. These awards are subject to fund availability and student qualifications.

Please note that all PSE scholarship applications must be in by January 31st each year. For more information on these scholarships, please contact Carrie Hanayik at carrie_hanayik@ncsu.edu or call her at 919-515-7709.

What scholarships are available for Wood Products students?

Approximately 12 undergraduate scholarships are granted annually to new and continuing students in the Wood products program.Six of these are endowed merit scholarships ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500. The remaining are industry-sponsored scholarships that usually provide funds for tuition and books. The deadline for applying for these awards is typically March 1st. To apply for a Wood Products scholarship, complete the Wood Products scholarship application and mail it with your high school or community college transcript to:


Dr. Perry Peralta
Department of Wood and Paper Science
Box 8005
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8005
Telephone: 919.515.5731
Fax: 919.513.3496
Email: perry_peralta@ncsu.edu

What part-time jobs could I get as a student?

If you want to hold down a part-time job in addition to your studies, NC State offers you several ways to identify appropriate opportunities:

Where can I get additional information about my financial aid options?

The following websites can provide you with more information on your financial aid options:

  • The NC State Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) at NC State can assist you in applying for and securing financial aid. It can help with scholarships, grants, loans and campus employment as well as provide financial aid counseling.
  • The US Department of Education has information and pamphlets on federal student loan programs and grants.
  • College Foundation of North Carolina is a nonprofit partnership that can help you find the best financial aid alternatives for you. It offers information on college costs, calculators, and types of financial aid, including scholarships and grants for North Carolinians and how to apply, as well as North Carolina's college savings program. In addition to the web site, CFNC offers a toll-free number for families to access a college financing specialist, 800-600-3453.
  • FINAID is a comprehensive source of information on all forms of student financial aid.
  • College Board Onlineoffers a scholarship search and information on financial aid.
  • FastWeb offers a free college scholarship search service.
  • iApply offers links to and information about financial aid for parents and students.
  • The North Carolina State Educational Assistance Authority administers and manages 35 financial aid programs funded by federal, state or private sources to assist North Carolina residents in meeting the costs of postsecondary education.
  • Funding Your Education is an informative site maintained by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

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