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State Aid

South Carolina HOPE Scholarship (SC HOPE)

The SC Hope Scholarship Program was established under the S.C. Education Lottery Act in 2001. It 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 $2,800 towards the cost of attendance.

Initial Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA on SC Uniform Grading Scale upon high school graduation;
  • Must 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 LIFE; and
  • Must meet all residency criteria.

There is no application required for the SC HOPE Scholarship.

Renewal Requirements:

  • The SC HOPE Scholarship is for the first year only.
  • Students must earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA and 30 credit hours (excluding remedial/transitional course MATH-0310) to receive the SC LIFE Scholarship for subsequent years.
  • Must meet all residency criteria.

Visit https://che.sc.gov/ or call 803-737-2260 for more information.

South Carolina LIFE Scholarship Program (SC LIFE)

The South Carolina General Assembly established the Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (SC LIFE) Program in 1998 to increase access to higher education, improve employability of South Carolina’s students, provide incentives for students to be better prepared for college, and to encourage students to graduate from college on time. Eligible full-time students may receive up to $5,000 towards the cost of attendance. SC LIFE is limited to eight semesters from high school graduation.

Initial Eligibility Requirements:

  • Graduate from high school with a cumulative 3.0 GPA based on the SC Uniform Grading Scale;
  • Be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and college enrollment;
  • Not be a recipient of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or SC HOPE Scholarship;
  • Meet all residency criteria; and
  • Students must meet two of the following three criteria:

1. Cumulative 3.0 GPA based on the SC Uniform Grading Scale;
2. Rank in the top 30 percent of graduating class; or
3. Score an 1100 SAT or 22 ACT.

There is no application required for the SC LIFE Scholarship.


Renewal Requirements:

  • Meet all residency criteria
  • Earn cumulative 3.0 GPA by the end of each academic year (including all grades earned at eligible South Carolina institutions excluding remedial, continuing education, nondegree credit courses)
  • Earn an average of 30 nonremedial credit hours by the end of each academic year (including all hours earned at eligible South Carolina institutions excluding remedial, continuing education, nondegree credit courses)

Visit https://che.sc.gov/ or call 803-737-2260 for more information.

South Carolina LIFE Scholarship Enhancement (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. 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 or science courses during their first year of college enrollment.

South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship (Palmetto Fellows Scholarship)

The South Carolina General Assembly established the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship program in 1988 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:

Application for early awards must be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship by the date established in December each academic year. Students must meet the following three academic criteria to be eligible to apply for the early awards:

  • Score at least 1200 on the SAT or 25 on the ACT. Test scores must be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education by no later than the established deadline in December;
  • Earn a cumulative 3.50 GPA on the SC Uniform Grading Scale at the end of the junior year; and
  • Rank in the top six percent of the class at the end of either the sophomore, junior, or senior year.

Applications for final awards must be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship by the date established in June each academic year. Students must meet the following three academic criteria in order to be eligible to apply for the final awards:

  • Score at least 1200 on the SAT or 25 on the ACT. Test scores will be accepted through June of the senior year;
  • Earn a cumulative 3.50 GPA on the SC Uniform Grading Scale at the end of the senior year;
  • Rank in the top 6% of the class at the end of the senior year.
  • Meet residency requirements
  • Students must not be a recipient of the SC LIFE Scholarship or SC HOPE Scholarship.

All applicants, including home-schooled students, are required to provide class rank order to be eligible to apply. For home- school students, class rank is available through either the home school association or through the high school within the student’s required attendance zone.

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

Renewal Requirements:

  • Meet all general eligibility criteria, including residency requirements
  • Earn cumulative 3.0 GPA at NGU 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 S.C. institutions during the year excluding remedial, continuing education, nondegree credit courses)

Visit https://che.sc.gov/ or call 803-737-2260 for more information.

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. 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 or science courses during their first year of college enrollment.

South Carolina Teacher’s Loan Program

A state funded loan program for students planning careers as public-school teachers. Students must teach in one of several geographic and academic areas determined by the South Carolina Department of Education deemed to have a critical need. This program is only available to students seeking their initial certification. Qualified applicants may borrow according to the same limits as Federal Stafford Loan Program per academic year. If approved, your loan could be repaid by the South Carolina Department of Education on a schedule directly related to your employment. The deadline for completed applications is May 15.

South Carolina Tuition Grant

A need-based state funded program is available to eligible students enrolled fulltime (12 hours per semester). Residents of South Carolina and military related students who have been stationed in South Carolina for one year as of fall registration are required to apply for this grant. Students must complete 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 for renewal. Students must also be able to meet South Carolina residency requirements.

For more information please visit https://sctuitiongrants.org/.

South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department Training Assistance

This training assistance is based upon an eligibility criterion for services and is not viewed as an entitlement benefit to a student. An eligible student must be an individual with a physical or mental disability which for such an individual constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment. The student must also be able to benefit in terms of an employment outcome from the provision of vocational rehabilitation services and requires such services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment. Students may seek detailed information about applying and receiving services by contacting the local office of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. Students will also need to apply for Federal financial aid or other funding resources prior to being considered for training assistance.