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Scholarships & Credit
NCOBS is committed to increasing accessibility to challenging wilderness experiences for everyone.
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Learn more about scholarship opportunities.
Who is eligible?
NCOBS awards scholarships to hundreds of participants each year, with consideration of motivation, merit, and financial need. If the cost of a course is a financial stretch, we encourage you to apply for a scholarship! Participants from underrepresented backgrounds and/or those in middle-income families are strongly encouraged to apply.
Looking at the whole student
Our review process is holistic and considers unique circumstances and characteristics rather than exclusively focusing on income. We also look at your desire for self-discovery, serving others, developing leadership skills, and taking on challenge—all of which are essential parts of Outward Bound. Based on those factors, our Scholarship Committee will review your application to determine what level of scholarship we are able to offer. Both full and partial scholarships are available.
Funding our scholarships
North Carolina Outward Bound School is a non-profit organization supported by donors who love sharing the joy of Outward Bound with others. Thanks to their generosity, we have dozens of named scholarships in memory of or in honor of individuals. These scholarships are endowed or annually funded. You, too, can help provide these amazing opportunities to others.
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How to Apply for a Scholarship
Our Scholarship Committee is a passionate team of individuals dedicated to the hard work of reviewing each individual application thoroughly. Therefore, we strongly value motivated applicants and their families who are communicative and meet deadlines. Reference our Application & Cancellation Polices.
- ENROLL: To be considered for a scholarship, you must enroll in a course and submit the $500 deposit.
- STUDENT ESSAY: Send us a short video telling us about yourself. Why do you want to take an Outward Bound course? What are you hoping to learn while on course? What makes you a great candidate for a scholarship? Tell us about your strengths. If you do not have a way to make a video, please submit a typed or legibly written essay addressing the questions above. Send your video or essay to [email protected] with your name and course number in the subject line of your email.* We reserve the right to use submitted videos in scholarship program promotions or reports to our donors.
- SEND TAX FORMS: We require copies of your most recent 1040 tax form (dependents should submit the tax return of the parent who claimed them as a dependent). If you do not file taxes, please submit documentation representing you or your parent/guardian’s annual income.
- STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Compose a short, typed, double-spaced OR legibly written statement explaining any financial circumstances that may not be represented on the tax forms. You are welcome to include additional details that you would like the Scholarship Committee to consider.
- REVIEW OF APPLICATION: The Scholarship Committee will review your scholarship application once all application materials have been submitted and you have been cleared to participate on course.
- SCHOLARSHIP OFFER: Once we determine your scholarship award, a member of our Student Services team will reach out with details.
A Note on Payment
If you require additional time to submit your full tuition payment, we may be able to offer a payment plan schedule. Full tuition must be paid prior to your course start date. Please contact us for more information.
529 Savings Plan and AmeriCorps Education Award
Have an AmeriCorps Education Award or 529 Savings Plan? Find out how to use it to go Outward Bound.
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Scholarship Impact
Learn more about the impact of our scholarship program by watching NCOBS alumna, Darby, talk about her experience. Darby received a scholarship this summer through her school, Moravian Academy, to attend a 22-day course in July. Many thanks to all of our donors for your support!
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