All students must meet all general eligibility criteria:
- SC Resident, US Citizen or legal permanent resident
- Enrolled as a degree-seeking or legal permanent resident
- Must not owe a refund or repayment on a grant or federal student loan
- Must have never been convicted of a felony and have not been convicted of any alcohol/drug-related misdemeanor offenses within the past academic year.
Palmetto Fellows
Up to $6,700 each academic year for four years
Academic Criteria: Must meet ALL of the following
For EARLY Awards deadline (December)
- Rank in the top 6% of the class at the end of the sophomore or junior year.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at the end of the junior year.
- Score at least a 1200 on the SAT (CR & M only) or 27 on the ACT
OR (if they do not meet the rank requirement):
- Have a cumulative GPA of 4.0 at the end of your junior year
- Score at least 1400 on the SAT (CR & M only) or 32 on the ACT
For FINAL Awards deadline (June):
- Rank in the top 6% of your sophomore, junior, or senior year
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at the end of the senior year
- Score at least 1200 on the SAT (CR & M only) or 27 on the ACT
OR (if they do not meet the rank requirement):
- Have a cumulative GPA of 4.0 at the end of the senior year
- Score at least 1400 on the SAT (CR & M only) or 32 on the ACT
LIFE Scholarship
Up to $5,000 each academic year for four years (5 years for approved 5-year bachelor programs)
Academic Criteria: Must meet 2 of the 3 criteria (for eligibility at a 4-year institution)
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the senior year
- Rank in the top 30% of the graduating class
- Score at least 1100 on the SAT (CR & M only) or 24 on the ACT
(For eligibility at a 2-year institution students only have to meet the 3.0 GPA requirement)
Math and Science Enhancements
If a student qualifies for Life or Palmetto Fellows and is planning a career major in math or science, the student may be eligible for additional monies sophomore-senior year of college.
Lottery Tuition Assistance
For two year technical college
Must be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours each term as a degree seeking student in a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree program.
Hope Scholarship
Freshman year only
Academic Criteria: Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the senior year
Students may earn a LIFE Scholarship after their freshman year with a qualifying GPA after 30 hours of non-remedial courses
For additional information please visit the Parents and Students information section on the SC Commission on Higher Education web page located at www.che.sc.gov.
SC Commission on Higher Education
1333 Main Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-2260 or toll free 877-349-7183