The North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships Program (NCOSP)
Published 2026 | BEST NC | Section: Children & Students (Pages 10–11)
The North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships Program (NCOSP) provides state-funded tuition assistance to families who choose to enroll their children in private K–12 schools. The program launched in the 2014–2015 school year, providing scholarships exclusively to students from low-income families. It was expanded in 2024–25 to be available to all families, with scholarship amounts tied to family income levels.
In its first year, the NCOSP issued scholarships to 1,216 students. As of March 2026, over 106,000 scholarships had been distributed for the 2025–26 school year, reflecting rapid and sustained growth in participation over the past decade. Expanded eligibility and enrollment result in a steadily increasing financial commitment from the state.
For the 2025–26 school year, $600 million is budgeted for Opportunity Scholarships. At the current pace of distribution, demand will likely exceed remaining allocations needed to support tuition payments in the second half of the school year.
Figure 1 – Total Statewide Spending on Scholarships (2014–15 to 2025–26)
Funding by County
- In 2025–26, students in Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) received $68M and $57M, respectively.
- 23 counties had fewer than 100 recipients in 2024–25.
Figure 2 – Total Statewide Spending on NCOSP Scholarships, by District (2025–26)
Student Participation Data
In its first year, 100% of scholarship students were from families qualifying for free and reduced lunch (<185% of the poverty line). From 2014–15 until 2023–24, families earning up to 370% of the federal poverty guidelines according to their family size were eligible. In 2024–25, 30% of scholarships and 41% of total funds went to families qualifying for free and reduced lunch (see Figure 3).
- At an estimated 106,000 students, NCOSP recipients make up 6% of the K–12 population and rank as the 5th largest group in the state – behind Wake County Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Homeschooled students, and Charter students.
- 86% of students who received NCOSP scholarships in 2024–25 renewed their status for 2025–26.
- Increasing numbers of Opportunity Scholarships are for younger students, indicating a long-term financial commitment by the state to support these students through the course of their education.
- Hispanic student awardees decreased from 15% to 10% since the 2022–23 school year.
- The share of white students has increased since 2022–23, from 61% to 73% (see Figure 4).
Figure 3 – Share of Opportunity Scholarships, by Poverty Level (2014–15 and 2024–25)
Figure 4 – Share of Opportunity Scholarships, by Race (2022–23 to 2024–25)
Increase in Opportunity Scholarship recipients from 2014–15 (1,216 students) to 2024–25 (80,472 students).
NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), Opportunity Scholarship Data — ncseaa.edu; NC General Assembly, Fiscal Research Division, Student Financial Aid: State Funding Overview. Note: Reporting on the NCOSP does not include Hispanic subgroup data with other racial data.
About This Series
This post is part of BEST NC’s 2026 Facts & Figures: Education in North Carolina Spotlight On: series. View the full report at NCEdFacts.org or visit BESTNC.org.