SC Tuition Grant
South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission
www.sctuitiongrants.com
Phone: (803) 896-1120

The SC Tuition Grant is a need-based state funded program available to eligible students enrolled full-time (12 hours per semester) at independent colleges and universities. Both students and parents must be residents of South Carolina for at least one year as of fall registration. Students must complete the FAFSA by June 30 each year. There is a maximum of eight semesters of eligibility to receive this grant. Students must meet satisfactory academic progress and earn at least 24 credit hours each year for renewal. The amount of the grant changes each year due to state funding.

***Extended Campus students must be enrolled in one Classroom Session 8 or two Internet Term 5 or a combination of one Internet Term 5 and either one Classroom Session 8 or 9, in the fall semester. To receive the full grant amount students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester.  SC Tuition Grant does not give funding for classes taken in June or July.

SC HOPE Scholarship
SC Commission on Higher Education
803-737-2260 or toll-free at 877-349-7183

The SC Hope Scholarship is a one-year merit-based scholarship created for eligible first-time entering freshmen attending a four-year institution. Eligible full-time students may receive up to the following award amount:

• Up to $2,500 plus $300 book allowance.

Initial Eligibility Requirements:

There is no application required for the SC HOPE Scholarship.  Eligible students will be notified on their financial aid        award letter.

Renewal Requirements:

•  The HOPE Scholarship is for the first year only.
•  Students must earn a 3.0 LIFE GPA and 30 credit hours (excluding remedial classes) to receive the SC LIFE Scholarship for subsequent years.

South Carolina LIFE Scholarship Program
SC Commission on Higher Education
803-737-2260 or toll-free at 877-349-7183

The Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship was established to provide an incentive for students to be better prepared for college, and to encourage students to graduate from college on time. Eligible full-time students may receive awards as follows:

Initial eligibility:

• Graduate from high school with a cumulative 3.0 GPA based on the Uniform Grading Scale;
• Be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and college enrollment;
• Must not be a recipient of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or SC HOPE Scholarship; and
• Meet all general eligibility criteria.

Students must meet two of the following three criteria:
1. Cumulative 3.0 GPA based on the Uniform Grading Scale;
2. Rank in the top 30 percent of graduating class; or
3. Score an 1100 SAT or 24 ACT.

There is no application required for the LIFE Scholarship. Eligible students will be notified on their financial aid award letter.

Renewal requirements:  

• Meet all general eligibility criteria
• Earn a 3.0 LIFE GPA by the end of each academic year (including all grades earned at eligible SC institutions excluding remedial, continuing ed, non-degree credit courses)
• Earn an average of 30 non-remedial credit hours by the end of each academic year (including all hours earned at eligible SC institutions excluding remedial, continuing ed, non-degree credit courses)

SC LIFE Enhancement
Math and science majors who receive the SC LIFE Scholarship may be eligible to receive the SC LIFE Enhancement for their second, third, and fourth years of college. The SC LIFE Enhancement may be awarded up to $2,500 per year. In order to qualify, students must receive the SC LIFE Scholarship, be in an eligible math or science major by the first day of classes for their second, third, and fourth years, and have taken 14 hours of math and science courses during their first year of college enrollment.

South Carolina Palmetto Fellows
SC Commission on Higher Education
803-737-2260 or toll-free at 877-349-7183

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship was established to retain academically talented high school graduates in the State through awards based on merit. Eligible full- time students may receive up to the following award amount: Up to $6,700 for the first year, $7,500 for second, third, and fourth years annually towards the cost of attendance at an eligible senior institution in South Carolina.

Initial Eligibility Requirements: 

• Graduate from high school with a cumulative 3.0 GPA based on the Uniform Grading Scale;
• Be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and college enrollment;
• Must not be a recipient of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or SC HOPE Scholarship; and
• Meet all general eligibility criteria.
• Score at least 1200 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT. Earn a cumulative 3.50 GPA on the UGS at the end of the junior year; and
• Rank in the top six percent of the class at the end of either the sophomore or the junior year.

 Students must not be a recipient of the SC LIFE Scholarship or SC HOPE Scholarship.

***For application information, please contact the high school guidance counselor if you meet the above criteria.

Renewal requirements:  

• Meet all general eligibility criteria
• Earn cumulative 3.0 GPA at by the end of each academic year (excluding remedial courses)
• Earn 30 non-remedial credit hours by the end of each academic year (including all hours earned at eligible SC institutions during the year excluding remedial, continuing ed, non-degree credit courses)

Palmetto Fellows Enhancement
Math and science majors who receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship may be eligible to receive the Palmetto Fellows Enhancement for their second, third, and fourth years of college. The Palmetto Fellows Enhancement may be awarded up to $2,500 per year. In order to qualify, students must receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, be in an eligible math or science major by the first day of classes for their second, third, and fourth years, and have taken 14 hours of math and science courses during their first year of college enrollment.