💰 University of North Carolina School of the Arts Merit Scholarships

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Official Scholarship Information

View complete details on University of North Carolina School of the Arts's website

This scholarship covers an incoming Drama student's full tuition, required fees, and room and board for four years of undergraduate study.

Eligibility: Selection is based on talent, dedication to craft, and professional promise. Recipients are considered through the audition process and selected by the dean of the School of Drama.

How to apply: ["considered through the audition process", "selected by the dean of the School of Drama"]

📋 for four years of undergraduate study Source ↗

The most prestigious scholarship program at UNCSA, the Kenan Excellence Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and room and board for up to five incoming students each year and is renewable for all four years of undergraduate education.

Eligibility: There is no application process for this merit-based award, instead, the deans of each of UNCSA's five arts schools nominate up to three excellent candidates for the Kenan Excellence Scholarship each Spring term from among their best new admittees to the university. The Kenan Excellence Scholars Selection Committee reviews each nomination, considering criteria that include each student's ability in the given arts discipline, capacity to lead and motivate, extracurricular achievement, grade point average, and standardized test scores, among others. The committee then interviews the nominees for selection. Awards are given to finalists judged to have the best potential as artist-scholars, regardless of the program in which they enroll or their area of residence.

How to apply: ["nominated by dean", "committee review and interview"]

📋 renewable for all four years of undergraduate education Source ↗

The fund enables us to award an annual, merit-based $25,000 scholarship to a talented student for four years.

Eligibility: Thanks to many generous donors (large and small) we have reached our $600,000 goal to fully endow the Gillian Murphy Endowed Scholarship.

How to apply: ["merit-based selection by School of Dance (details not specified)"]

The Kenan Concertmaster Fellowship recruits preprofessional, aspiring orchestra leaders to attend UNCSA tuition-free.

Eligibility: The fellowship is funded through a gift from longtime UNCSA supporter Thomas S. Kenan, III.

How to apply: ["mentored by violin faculty", "perform as concertmaster with the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra"]

In addition to receiving full scholarships, Posse Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and retreats with their peers, faculty mentors, and Posse trainers.

Eligibility: Posse Arts Scholarships are an initiative of The Posse Foundation, conceived in collaboration with the Miranda Family Fund. Established at UNCSA in 2021, the program expanded in 2023 thanks to the generosity of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust.

How to apply: ["Posse Foundation selection process"]

The Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship goes to a rising college senior with outstanding characteristics in talent and artistic achievement, excellent academic performance, and exceptional leadership and citizenship qualities. It provides full tuition, required fees, room and board, and a stipend for related expenses.

Eligibility: The Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship goes to a rising college senior with outstanding characteristics in talent and artistic achievement, excellent academic performance, and exceptional leadership and citizenship qualities.

How to apply: ["rising college senior; selection based on talent and academic performance"]

SPI students are eligible for merit scholarships (See Scholarship Application Form on the Apply-Audition Page).

Eligibility: SPI students are eligible for merit scholarships (See Scholarship Application Form on the Apply-Audition Page).

How to apply: ["complete Scholarship Application Form on the Apply-Audition Page"]

UNCSA Summer Dance offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to our intensive. To be considered for merit scholarship, applicants must complete all audition and application requirements prior to March 30, 2026.

Eligibility: To be considered for merit scholarship, applicants must complete all audition and application requirements prior to March 30, 2026. Once you have completed your audition and received a letter of acceptance, you may contact Mr. Ilya Kozadayev at summerdance@uncsa.edu for information about applying for a small scholarship.

How to apply: ["complete audition and application requirements prior to March 30, 2026", "contact summerdance@uncsa.edu for scholarship application information", "separate scholarship application required (implied)"]