Rewarding Academic Excellence
Academic excellence at NC State involves a lot more than honors classes. We offer top students substantial financial support as well as opportunities to stretch their academic abilities, explore new interests, build well-balanced lives, give back to their communities, connect with employers, identify mentors, explore original research and even live in special campus communities among peers who share the same academic priorities.
This holistic approach to academic excellence helps NC State’s academic achievers reach new levels of leadership and intellectual development—giving them a head start on the road to successful and even brilliant careers in their fields. NC State’s academic excellence programs include:
University Honors program, for talented academic achievers pursuing all majors. Program participants gain the vision and confidence they need to push beyond their own abilities and accepted boundaries of knowledge.
University Scholars Program, links talented, creative and curious students with academic and cultural enrichment programs, helping them develop as thinkers, citizens, and leaders while preparing them to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Caldwell Fellows Program is a university wide merit scholarship and leadership development program for exceptional students. Participants are selected on the basis of leadership potential, outstanding scholarship, citizenship maturity and intellectual promise.
Park Scholarship is an innovative, year-round program for outstanding students. Full financial support and numerous enrichment opportunities make this one of the most prestigious and comprehensive undergraduate scholarships in the U.S.
General Hugh Shelton Leadership Initiative Scholarships are awarded to deserving students to inspire, educate and develop values-based leaders committed to personal integrity, professional ethics and selfless service. Criteria include outstanding leadership, character and community service.
Honorary Societies
NC State is home to some of the most prestigious collegiate honor societies in the nation. Membership in these organizations signifies a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity. Visit each society’s website for more information.
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Academic excellence on an international scale
The quality of our academic programs is evident in the more than 100 national scholarships, fellowships and grants awarded to NC State students over the past five years. Allison Johnston, a Caldwell scholar who is headed to dental school following graduation from NC State, went on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
While in the Dominican Allison scrubbed into surgery, assisted doctors in clinics, helped build bathrooms, and interacted with the people of the Dominican. “This experience allowed me to see that we are not only serving others, but they are opening us to experiences and love. The people of the Dominican were gracious acceptors of care and I felt as if they helped me in return to learn what is truly valuable. I now believe in relationships and people before things.”