Guilford to offer free tuition to qualifying North Carolina students in 2027
The program reflects the College's commitment to using education as a pathway to social mobility while emphasizing the value of living, learning and serving within a close-knit campus community.
Guilford College is making a liberal arts education more accessible to North Carolina families by launching Rooted In Excellence, a new scholarship that will cover full tuition for qualifying undergraduate students from households earning $75,000 or less.
The program, available to new students applying to the College beginning with the spring 2027 semester that starts in January, reflects Guilford’s longstanding commitment to using education as a pathway to social mobility while emphasizing the value of living, learning and serving within a close-knit campus community.
To be eligible for the Rooted In Excellence Scholarship, students must be North Carolina residents, have a weighted high school GPA of at least 3.25.
“This is about much more than making college more affordable,” said Guilford President Jean Bordewich. “Rooted in Excellence Scholarships reflect some of the values at the heart of Guilford — equality, justice, community and stewardship. Guilford has always championed education as a powerful engine for social mobility. We want to make sure that talented students whose families may not have the resources to pay full tuition have an opportunity to benefit from a Guilford education.”
Under the Rooted In Excellence Scholarship, qualifying students can expect federal, state and college financial aid to cover full tuition — roughly three-quarters of Guilford’s total cost of attendance.
Students and their families are responsible for room, board, fees and other educational and personal expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses could be as low as $3,000 to $4,000 per academic year if the student covers a portion of expenses with loans.
Families whose adjusted income exceeds $75,000 may still qualify for other need-based or merit-based financial aid. Guilford encourages all families to complete the financial-aid process rather than assume a Guilford education is beyond their reach, since eligibility can vary based on individual family circumstances.
“We tell all families to apply for financial aid and explore the opportunities available to them,” said Steve Mencarini, Guilford’s chief enrollment officer. “Making a Guilford education accessible to more students and families is central to our mission, and this new initiative is an important step toward making that possible.”
The residential requirement is an intentional part of the Rooted in Excellence Scholarship. Guilford views living on campus as an important part of the educational experience, giving students more opportunities to build relationships with faculty and peers, participate in campus life and engage with the broader College community. Research generally links on-campus living with stronger student outcomes, including retention, graduation rates and GPA.
The Rooted in Excellence Scholarships also builds on Guilford programs designed to help students overcome financial, academic and personal barriers to earning a college degree.
Among those resources is TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), a federally funded program that provides eligible students with individualized support at no cost. Guilford’s TRIO-SSS program serves students who are first-generation college students, demonstrate financial need or have a documented disability. Services include academic advising, tutoring and mentoring, career preparation, academic workshops and other support designed to help students thrive in college and graduate.
In 2025, Guilford received a five-year, $1.36 million federal TRIO-SSS grant to support 140 students from traditionally underserved groups. The program provides additional academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, career preparation and other resources to help students successfully navigate college.
Together, the new Rooted in Excellence Scholarship and TRIO-SSS program represent Guilford’s broader effort to remove barriers to a college education while providing students with the support they need not simply to enroll, but to graduate and build meaningful careers and lives.
Prospective students and families can learn more about the Rooted in Excellence Scholarship, financial aid and applying to Guilford College.
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