Wake Tech Foundation Scholarship FAQs

Foundation scholarship applications for Wake Tech curriculum students are accepted between March 1 and April 30 of each year. Scholarship funds are awarded for the following Fall and Spring semesters.

Foundation scholarships are available to students enrolled in or who will be enrolled in degree, diploma or certificate programs. If you are not currently enrolled at Wake Tech, you will need to apply to the college first to receive your Wake Tech Key Account, which you will need in order to access the scholarship application.

No. The Foundation offers hundreds of donor-supported scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria. By submitting one application, you will be considered for all scholarships for which you meet the criteria.

No. However, to have the best chance at receiving Foundation scholarships awarded based on financial need, we encourage you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®). We use a score from the FAFSA^® to evaluate level of need, but all students, even those without a completed FAFSA^®, will be considered for all scholarships for which they qualify.

Completing a FAFSA^® will simply make you more competitive for the need-based awards. We know not every student can fill out the FAFSA^®, and we award many scholarships each year to students who have not completed a FAFSA^®.

Yes. However, you will need a Wake Tech Key Account, which is issued upon your acceptance to the college, to access the online application, and you must be enrolled before you can receive any scholarship funds.

International students are eligible for some Foundation scholarships. You are less competitive for need-based scholarships because they are awarded using information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®), which is available only to U.S. citizens. However, you will still be considered for all Foundation scholarships based on need, as well as those based on academic performance, program of study or other factors.

Each type of scholarship uses the same application, and you need to complete only one application to be considered for any scholarship for which you qualify.

Yes, an essay is required for the Foundation scholarships. The essay prompt can be found with the scholarship guidelines online. Work on your essay in advance to make it quick and easy to apply during the application period. The essay score is a key component in selecting scholarship recipients. Content, spelling and grammar all affect scoring.

Yes. Some Foundation scholarships are awarded purely based on financial need, but most require a GPA of at least 2.0, which is Wake Tech's requirement for graduation. We occasionally consider students for scholarships who have less than a 2.0, but this is dependent on the applicant pool and is rare. We take into consideration your GPA at the end of the Spring semester, so if you anticipate your Spring classes will raise your GPA, it is worth your time to apply.

You must be enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours during each award semester to receive a scholarship. Some scholarships require recipients to be enrolled in at least six credit hours or full-time – 12 credit hours or more. If offered a scholarship, your scholarship offer information will tell you how many credit hours are required.

Foundation scholarships range from $300 to $3,500, and most are at least $1,000. The most recent average award was $1,300.

Yes. You may receive other aid and still receive a Foundation scholarship. We encourage students to apply for scholarships from multiple sources.

All applications submitted by the April 30 deadline are considered for a scholarship. Scholarship essays are evaluated and scored anonymously by Wake Tech faculty and staff volunteers. Applications are then scored based on average essay score, academic factors and, for some scholarships, financial need. Recipients are then selected based on the applicant's overall score in conjunction with the scholarship's criteria. These criteria are set by each scholarship's donor and include demonstrated financial need, academic information (primary major, credits completed, etc.) and academic performance (GPA).

Once applications are reviewed, the Foundation sends notification emails to the student's Wake Tech email address. We may also use the scholarship system's texting feature to alert you to check your email for award announcements. Applicants are usually notified by early July.

Yes. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete a new application every year or scholarship cycle.

No. Scholarships awarded through the Wake Tech Foundation are for use only at Wake Tech. If you are awarded a scholarship and plan to graduate in December, you may notify us, and we will apply your full scholarship amount to your Fall semester, rather than splitting it between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Wake Tech Foundation scholarships are made possible through the generous gifts of our individual and corporate donors. They are not funded by the government.

Email Maya Rosman at [email protected]