Students must meet several requirements to be eligible for a merit scholarship, with the two most important being:

1. The student must be enrolled in the paper science and engineering program or paper science and engineering intended program. They must take courses shown on the corresponding program’s curriculum display sheet.
2. The student must maintain a total cumulative grade point average (TGPA) of 3.0 or higher. If the student does not maintain a TGPA of 3.0, they will be placed on probation for one semester. If the student does not improve their TGPA to a 3.0 or higher by the next semester, their scholarship will be withdrawn.

Awards

Awards for incoming first-year students are currently valued at $3,000 per year, continuing for the following three years. The award is valid for a maximum of four years over the course of eight semesters. If a student leaves NC State for a semester to participate in a co-op experience, the award is temporarily suspended for that semester. Upon the student’s return, the award will be restored and pushed forward one semester.

Prospective students who are considering the paper science and engineering program are encouraged to take advantage of the early admissions process and submit their application by November 1.

Students interested in receiving a merit scholarship should complete two steps:

1. Select “Engineering First Year: Paper Science and Engineering Intended” or “Engineering First Year: Paper Science and Engineering/Chemical Engineering Dual Intended” as their first choice on the admissions application.
2. Complete and submit the scholarship application.

The Pulp and Paper Advisory Board usually determines scholarship recipients in the third week of March. Students who have been designated as award recipients will be notified by mail.

Please note that all scholarship applications must be completed via Pack ASSIST. The priority deadline is February 15. For more information about the application process, please contact Academic and Student Services at 919-515-7709.

Our History

In 1954, the paper industry established a pulp and paper technology program at NC State to supplement its booming operations in the southern United States. Students in the program earned a bachelor’s degree in pulp and paper technology. If they stayed for an additional semester, they earned another degree in chemical engineering — a feature that wasn’t offered by other schools at the time.

With its dual-degree offering, plus strong regional support and a robust scholarship endowment, the Pulp and Paper Technology program established itself as one of the most dominant of its kind in the U.S. In 2004, the College of Natural Resources and the College of Engineering partnered to administer the paper science and engineering program. The program was accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology a year later.

Our Success Story

The pulp and paper industry highly values students enrolled in the paper science and engineering program. Many companies recruit students at all levels of the program for summer internships and semester co-op experiences.

Because of the program’s strong reputation, 80–100% of graduates receive one or more job offers at graduation, regardless of economic or industry conditions. Their starting salaries and signing bonuses are among the highest of any NC State graduates.

Our graduates have gone on to make significant contributions to industry since the program’s inception. Alumni include vice presidents, mill managers, technical managers, research directors, consultants, sales personnel, business owners, professors, teachers, lawyers, doctors and clergymen.

With a long history of providing outstanding student services and a thorough engineering education, the paper science and engineering program takes pride in its accomplishments and looks forward to continuing to foster career-ready graduates. 

Learn more about what our students have to say about the program.

Paper Science and Engineering Career Fair

Each year, the Paper Science and Engineering Career Fair brings together students and industry professionals to explore internship and job opportunities in the field. More than 250 students typically attend the event, engaging with representatives from more than 36 companies.

The career fair is hosted by the Department of Forest Biomaterials, along with the Paper and Pulp Advisory Board, sustaining member companies and other participating organizations.