North Carolina officials describe NextNC scholarship as a replicable model for Georgia
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Summary
North Carolina presenters described NextNC, a combined state-plus-Pell need-based guarantee, and offered lessons on marketing, a simple calculator and administrative centralization that increased take-up and reduced student loan use.
North Carolina officials told a Georgia Senate study committee that the state’s NextNC scholarship — a unified, transparent need-based aid program rolled out statewide in 2023 — offers practical design and marketing lessons for Georgia as it considers creating new need-based grants.
Mark Umbrink, assistant vice president for strategic research at the University of North Carolina system office, described NextNC as a consolidated replacement for multiple legacy grants. Umbrink said the program guarantees at least $5,000 in combined federal and state aid for many eligible students and includes a supplement for lowest-income students. "We are guaranteeing at least $5,000 between federal and state aid to eligible students," Umbrink told senators.
Alex Granados, assistant director of communications at the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, emphasized the importance of outreach and simple tools. He described a public website with a calculator that lets students input an SAI (Student Aid Index) and up to five colleges to see a combined Pell-plus-state award. The pair said simplifying the program and building a clear message (for example, "students from households with adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less generally qualify") increased take-up and made it easier for counselors and applicants to plan.
North Carolina officials discussed implementation lessons: (1) central administration and a clear calculator reduce uncertainty for applicants; (2) simple eligibility language (an AGI cap in addition to SAI) made marketing easier; (3) a dedicated promotional campaign (paid social, radio, toolkits for counselors, webinars) was important because many first-generation families are unfamiliar with available state-level aid.
On outcomes, Umbrink said early evidence shows recipients maintain credit loads and retention rates similar to non-recipients while taking on less debt; UNC system analysts modelled a 15% increase in students receiving aid and a 16% increase in the share of students whose tuition and fees were covered by federal plus state aid after consolidation. He cautioned that graduation impacts require longer follow-up and noted the state supplemented campus budgets to hold existing students harmless during the transition.
Committee members asked about cost and sustainability. Umbrink described long-term cost growth tied to SAI changes and enrollment shifts but said the state had not faced significant political pushback after two years of operation.
Ending: North Carolina presenters urged clarity, a simple eligibility message and investment in counselors and marketing to maximize the effect of new need-based scholarships.