North Carolina Education Student Accounts (ESA+)
Funds private school tuition and fees, therapies, tutoring and educational technology for K–12 students with disabilities.
Education scholarships
For North Carolina families
Find K–12 scholarship options in North Carolina. See which scholarships your child may qualify for and how to get started.
Your scholarship options in North Carolina
Explore K–12 scholarship options in North Carolina, including the Education Freedom Tax Credit. See who each option serves and how to apply.
North Carolina school choice options
North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships
Helps K–12 students pay tuition and required fees at eligible private schools, with award amounts based on household income.
New: Education Freedom Tax Credit Scholarships
Education Freedom Tax Credit Scholarship
A new federal tax credit is expanding scholarships for K–12 students in North Carolina and across the country. Funded by private, charitable donations, these scholarships expand options for families while not affecting public school budgets. They can help cover:
- Tutoring and academic support
- Special-education services and therapies
- Books, technology and learning materials
- Private or faith-based school tuition
- Dual enrollment, AP exams and more
Applications coming in 2027
How your scholarship options can work together
State scholarship programs and Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarships are separate. Some families may be able to use more than one. Here’s an example of how that could look in North Carolina.
What the options mean
State options
School choice in your state
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EFTC
Education Freedom Tax Credit
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Possible outcome
K–12 scholarships for families
Illustration only. Actual awards depend on eligibility and program rules.
Keep in mind
Applying for a state option does not apply you for an Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarship, and school enrollment is a separate step. If you may qualify for more than one, review each option’s requirements and apply to each one separately.
Stay up to date in North Carolina
Get updates on K–12 scholarships, timelines and resources for North Carolina families.
The options depend on where you live and your child’s needs. Explore the options on this page to see who may qualify, what each can pay for and how to apply.
It depends on whether your state participates. The federal credit applies only in states that have opted in, and eligible students there may be able to apply once scholarships are funded. See which states participate.
School choice gives families options beyond the public school assigned to their address. Depending on where you live, those can include private schools, charter schools and homeschooling.
A voucher generally helps pay private school tuition. An ESA provides funds for approved education expenses, which can go beyond tuition. A scholarship is financial assistance for an eligible student, and some are funded by private donations that earn donors a tax credit.
Homeschooled students qualify for a number of options, while others require enrollment in a school or approved provider. Each option’s requirements will say which applies.
Allowable expenses vary by program. Many cover tuition and fees, and some also cover tutoring, learning materials or special needs services. Check the approved-expense list on each option’s official site. For Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarships, federal law defines qualified expenses, and each Scholarship Granting Organization decides which ones it funds. For a definitive list of allowable expenses, visit the administrator’s website by clicking on the program links.
School choice scholarships like those listed here are one avenue to help offset tuition costs. Parents should ask schools about additional scholarship dollars that may be available.
A few options are designed specifically for students in public schools, and others are open to students in any setting. Each option’s requirements say who qualifies.
That depends on the option. Some ask you to choose a participating school or provider first, and others don’t. Scholarship applications and school enrollment are separate steps, so it helps to line up the timing.
Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarships may be combined (stacked) with any existing state-level school choice program. However, states may prohibit the stacking of state-level school choice program scholarships.
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, parents may apply to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) authorized to participate in their state for Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) scholarships. SGOs evaluate family applications and eligibility and award scholarships to families. The scholarship amounts are determined by the SGO. Participating families may also be donors to the EFTC program. For more information on how to become a donor, click here.
Schools can share this page using the Copy link, Email and Text buttons at the top, and point families to each option’s official site for application details. Families do the applying themselves, since a scholarship application is separate from school enrollment.
Scholarships can be funded starting Jan. 1, 2027, but each SGO sets its own application dates and requirements. To hear when AFC Scholarship Fund applications open, sign up for updates on this page.
State options are administered separately from AFC Scholarship Fund. Details, eligibility requirements and application dates can change, so check each option’s official site for the latest information.