Scholarships
South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
The South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is $6700 for a student's first year, and $7500 for the second, third, and fourth years.
Freshmen Eligibility
High school seniors that have a 3.5 GPA, are in the upper 6% of their class, and scored 1200 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT or seniors that have a 4.0 GPA, regardless of class rank, and scored 1400 on the SAT or 32 on the ACT should contact their guidance counselor for nomination information. Only students that have been nominated and awarded through the Commission on Higher Education will receive Palmetto Fellows Scholarships.
South Carolina LIFE Scholarship
The South Carolina LIFE Scholarship is currently $5000 per year for a maximum of four years. LIFE Scholars in their second year and after may also be eligible for a $2500 Enhancement.
Freshmen Eligibility
To receive a LIFE Scholarship, an entering freshman must meet two of the three eligibility requirements:
Score 1100 on the SAT or 24 on the ACT
Graduate High School with a 3.0 GPA on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale
Rank in the top 30% of graduating class
South Carolina HOPE Scholarship
The South Carolina HOPE Scholarship is currently $2800 per year for a maximum of one year.
The South Carolina HOPE Scholarship is for incoming freshmen with a 3.00 GPA on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale who did not receive the LIFE Scholarship or Palmetto Fellows
State Scholarship Enhancements
The State of South Carolina has created $2500 per year Enhancements for Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholarship recipients majoring in science or math fields. To receive the Enhancement, a student must be a second year student or beyond and meet first-year requirements.
General Eligibility
- Receiving either a LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.
- Be a second, third or fourth year student. Please note that this program is based on number of academic years, regardless of credit hours completed.
- Have declared a Science or Math major in an eligible program.
- Completed the first-year requirements during the first academic year.
Eligible Programs
- Astrophysics
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Information Systems
- Computer Science
- Discovery Informatics
- Geology
- Marine Biology
- Mathematics
- Middle Level Education with a Concentration in Math or Science
- Physics
First-Year Requirements
Complete at least 14 hours in math and natural science courses during the first year of enrollment. The first-year of enrollment includes the fall, spring and summer semesters. To meet the first-year requirements, students can use credits from AP/IB/CLEP, high school dual enrollment, courses taken the summer before the first year and courses taken as pass/fail. Please note that although these types of courses count towards the first-year requirements for an enhancement, they do not count towards meeting the renewal criteria of Palmetto Fellows. Developmental, remedial and non-degree (does not apply towards graduation) courses do not count for the first-year requirements.
South Carolina Teaching Fellows
The South Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship is currently $5700 per year for a maximum of four years. The SC Teaching Fellows Program is a merit-based program designed to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching program and to help them develop leadership qualities. The South Carolina Center for Teacher Recruitment administers the Teaching Fellows program. This program should not be confused with the S.C. Teacher Loan.