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Wilson College of Textiles
Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP)

STEP Info

Check out the STEP dates, location, cost, financial aid and contact information.

2025 STEP Dates

Participants will choose one of the five weeks to attend STEP. Please note that only select participants are eligible to attend Week 5 (Textile Pioneer Week).

  • Week 1: June 8-13
  • Week 2: June 15-20
  • Week 3: June 22-27
  • Week 4: July 6-11
  • Textile Pioneer Week: July 13-18

What is Textile Pioneer Week and am I eligible to participate in it?

Summer Textile Exploration Pioneer Program (STEPP)

The fifth week of STEP is called the Summer Textile Exploration Pioneer Program (STEPP) and focuses on participants from non-metropolitan areas of North Carolina. This program provides resources specifically geared towards participants from these regions, such as:

  • Personalized support to maximize success in the college and scholarship application process.
  • Tips for writing college and scholarship application essays.
  • Additional opportunities for parent/guardian engagement.
  • Financial literacy education.

To qualify for STEPP a participant must be from a non-metropolitan county in North Carolina. The UNC System Strategic Plan says that a non-metropolitan county is any county that the NC State Department of Commerce has included in its Tier 1 or Tier 2 lists.

See a list of county designations

Location

STEP participants will live in one of the residence halls on main campus. Roommates are randomly assigned, unless we receive a specific roommate request, in which case we will do our best to accommodate the request.

Most day activities will take place at the Textiles Complex on Centennial Campus (1020 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh) except for field trips.

Cost and Financial Aid

The STEP 2025 program cost is $450. This payment covers lodging, transportation, materials, lunches and dinners during the program.

Please note: NC State is a cashless university, so participants will need to bring a debit or credit card if they are interested in getting ice cream, snacks, coffee or items from the NC State bookstore.

Partial and full scholarships are available for those with demonstrated financial need. A financial aid application is included within the STEP application.

Contact Us

Questions? We’d love to hear from you! Email tex-summer-programs@ncsu.edu or call 919.515.6640 during normal business hours.