What the Opportunity Scholarship covers, and what it doesn't
The scholarship is narrow by design: required tuition and fees at a Direct Payment School. Here is where that line falls, with five illustrative Charlotte-area budgets.
Last verified: October 2026
What does the NC Opportunity Scholarship cover for a Charlotte student?
It covers the required tuition and fees a Direct Payment School charges, up to your tier maximum. State law lets required fees include books, transportation, equipment and other items the school requires, and bars the school from adding fees because your child holds a scholarship.
What does the Opportunity Scholarship not cover?
It does not pay for pre-K, home schooling, an online-only school, optional costs such as trips, clubs or aftercare, or anything above the school's required tuition and fees. Therapy, tutoring and devices are ESA+ territory, not Opportunity Scholarship territory.
How is the money paid?
NCSEAA sends the award to the school at least twice a year, and a parent endorses each payment to the school's account. The student must be enrolled and attending by October 1 for fall funds.
Covered vs not covered
| Covered (up to the tier maximum) | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Required tuition at a Direct Payment School | Tuition above your tier maximum |
| Required fees for books, transportation or equipment billed by the school | Optional trips, clubs, aftercare and lunches |
| Kindergarten through grade 12 | Pre-K, home school or an online-only program |
| Test costs NCSEAA pays the school in grades 3, 8 and 11 | Tutoring, therapy and devices (see ESA+) |
Five illustrative budgets
| Scenario | Tier and 2026-27 maximum | Tuition (illustrative) | Family share before aid | Then what |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church-run K-5 school in Monroe | Tier 1 · $7,942 | $7,200 | $0 to pay | The award is capped at tuition, so it pays the full $7,200; the family covers non-required costs only. |
| Parish elementary in SouthPark, participating-Catholic rate | Tier 3 · $4,766 | $9,500 | $4,734 to pay | Next layers are the multi-child discount and need-based FIT aid through FACTS. |
| Christian K-12 campus in Matthews, high school grade | Tier 2 · $7,148 | $14,000 | $6,852 to pay | School need-based aid and church-member pricing are the usual next steps. |
| Independent day school on the Direct Payment list in Gastonia | Tier 4 · $3,574 | $20,000 | $16,426 to pay | The Tier 4 award is a modest share; the school's own aid matters most. |
| Two siblings at a Cabarrus Christian academy | Tier 1 · $7,942 | $8,400 | $458 to pay | Two children at Tier 1 can each receive up to the maximum, capped at each child's tuition. |
Tuition figures are assumptions for illustration, not quotes from any school; neither the state list nor the federal survey reports tuition. Award figures are NCSEAA's published 2026-27 maximums.
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