NC Opportunity Scholarship at a glance
| Details |
|---|
| Type | Private school voucher, paid to the school |
| Who qualifies | Any NC K-12 student eligible for public school |
| Income cap | None; income sets your tier |
| Award | Up to 100% / 90% / 60% / 45% of the average per-pupil allocation by tier (about $3,500 to $7,700) |
| Priority deadline | March 1 |
| Administrator | NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) |
| Homeschool eligible | No |
| Participants | More than 100,000 students in 2025-26 |
The Opportunity Scholarship started in 2013 for low-income families. In 2023 lawmakers removed the income cap and the prior public school requirement, so every North Carolina private school student can now get some amount. According to Christianity Today, more than 106,000 students received $589 million in 2025-26.
NC Opportunity Scholarship eligibility
Your child must:
- live in North Carolina and be eligible to attend a North Carolina public school
- not yet have a high school diploma
- not be a full-time college student taking 12 or more credit hours
- not have been placed in a private school by a public agency at public expense
- attend a participating religious or independent private school (a Part 1 or Part 2 nonpublic school)
There's no requirement to have attended public school first, and no income cap.
NC Opportunity Scholarship income limits and tiers
The law ties tiers to the federal free or reduced-price lunch (FRL) income line:
| Tier | Household income | Maximum award (share of average per-pupil allocation) | 2026-27, family of four |
|---|
| 1 | At or below the FRL line | Up to 100% | About $61,000 |
| 2 | Up to 200% of the FRL line | Up to 90% | Up to $122,100 |
| 3 | Up to 450% of the FRL line | Up to 60% | Up to nearly $275,000 |
| 4 | Any income | Up to 45% | Any income |
The family-of-four figures come from Christianity Today's September 2026 reporting. NCSEAA publishes the official income table and dollar amounts each year; check them before you budget. No award can exceed the private school's required tuition and fees.
How much is the NC Opportunity Scholarship?
The base is the prior year's average state per-pupil allocation. EdChoice puts the range at about $3,500 for Tier 4 to about $7,700 for Tier 1. If a student changes schools mid-year, the unused share can follow the student to the new school. For students in grades 3, 8 and 11, NCSEAA also pays the school the cost of the required nationally standardized test.
Key dates
State law sets the calendar:
- By February 1: NCSEAA opens applications for the next school year
- March 1: deadline for priority consideration
- March 15: awards begin
NCSEAA had not posted its 2027-28 calendar in a form we could confirm as of October 2026. Plan on applying in February 2027 for the 2027-28 school year.
NC Opportunity Scholarship application walkthrough
- Pick a participating private school and confirm its tuition and required fees.
- Create your NCSEAA account and apply online when the window opens.
- Report household income so you're placed in the right tier.
- Apply by March 1 for priority. Renewing students are funded first, then tiers in order.
- Accept your award and confirm enrollment. NCSEAA pays the school directly.
- Renew every year to stay in the top priority group.
What you can buy with the Opportunity Scholarship
The scholarship pays the school, not the family. It covers tuition and fees, which can include books, transportation, equipment or other items the school requires. It doesn't cover outside tutoring, curriculum you buy yourself or therapies.
Families can fill those gaps out of pocket or, for students with disabilities, with ESA+: test prep from The Princeton Review or free Khan Academy SAT, tutoring through Varsity Tutors, practice in IXL, or enrichment like Beast Academy. Browse test prep and save ideas to your wishlist.
Homeschoolers and the Opportunity Scholarship
Home schools are not eligible. North Carolina law limits the program to Part 1 and Part 2 nonpublic schools; home schools are Part 3. Homeschooled children with a qualifying disability can use ESA+, which does include Part 3 home schools. See the North Carolina scholarships hub and homeschooling in North Carolina.
Common problems
- Missing March 1. Later applicants are served only if money remains.
- Wrong tier. Report all household income accurately; your tier and award depend on it.
- Tuition gaps. Tier 3 and Tier 4 awards may cover only part of tuition.
- Assuming it covers homeschool costs. It doesn't.
Federal tax credit: has North Carolina opted in?
Yes. The General Assembly opted North Carolina in to the federal scholarship tax credit in June 2026 by overriding Governor Josh Stein's veto, and North Carolina is on the IRS list of participating states dated September 14, 2026. NCSEAA must adopt rules and submit the state's SGO list to the IRS by February 15, 2027. From January 1, 2027, donors can claim up to $1,700 for gifts to listed SGOs, under Treasury's proposed rules. See the federal scholarship tax credit guide.