STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission
101 Business Park Boulevard
Suite 2100
Columbia, SC 29203-9498
Phone: (803) 896-1120
FAX: (803) 896-1126

www.sctuitiongrants.com

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of South Carolina.

S.C. National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program

The Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation, developed a loan repayment program for providing incentives for enlisting or remaining a minimum of six years in either the South Carolina Army or Air National Guard (SCNG) in areas of critical need. The Commission on Higher Education must define areas of critical need annually in consultation with the Office of the Adjutant General.

General Eligibility Requirements

Must enlist, reenlist, accept a warrant or be commissioned for a term of at least six years and at the time of enlistment meet a critical need area.
Must be a legal resident of South Carolina
Must maintain satisfactory performance in the SCNG
Must submit an application each year to the Commission on Higher Education in order to be eligible for loan repayment
Eligible student loans may be repaid at the rate of $4,500 per year for a maximum of four years
Payments made directly to the loan provider
Eligible loans are guaranteed under part B, part D, or part E of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and must not be in default and be at least one year old

LIFE Scholarship Program

The Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program administered by the financial aid office at each eligible public and independent college and university in South Carolina. The LIFE Scholarship may be used towards the cost of attendance for up to eight terms based on the student's initial college enrollment date. Students must be enrolled in their first one-year program, first associate’s degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree.

Lottery Tuition Assistance Program

(USC Two-year Regional Campuses and Spartanburg Methodist College)

The SC Lottery Tuition Assistance Program was established in 2001 under the SC Education Lottery Act and implemented for the first time during the 2002-03 academic year. It was created to provide a supplemental resource to South Carolina residents attending two-year public or independent institutions.

For Fall 2007, eligible full-time students may receive up to $864 per term and eligible part-time students may receive up to $72 per credit hour to be used toward the cost-of-tuition.

For Spring 2008, the amount for eligible full-time students is up to $912 per term and eligible part-time students may receive up to $76 per credit hour to be used toward the cost-of-tuition. In calculating the amount a student is eligible to receive in Lottery Tuition Assistance, all federal grants and the SC Need-based Grant must be awarded first. The institution at which the student is enrolled will notify each student of the exact award amount. Please note that award amounts are subject to change each term based upon the number of eligible recipients and available funding.

General Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for Lottery Tuition Assistance, a student must meet ALL of the following minimum requirements before being awarded:

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and complete the process to determine eligibility for federal student aid each academic year;
Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under State residency statutes;
Be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes;
Be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement as a degree-seeking student in a minimum of six credit hours for the term and be making satisfactory academic progress;
Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a State Grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan program; and
Not be a recipient of the HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship program administered by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Each Palmetto Fellow may receive a scholarship of up to $6,700 annually. Half of the scholarship is awarded in the fall term and half in the spring term, assuming continued eligibility. The scholarship must be applied directly towards the cost of attendance, less any other gift aid received. Palmetto Fellows may be supported for a maximum of eight full‑time terms of study toward the first baccalaureate degree at a participating institution in South Carolina.

Purpose:
Recognize the most academically talented high school seniors in S.C.; Encourage academically talented students to attend college in the State; and help Retain talented minority students who might otherwise pursue studies outside the State.

SC HOPE Scholarship Program

The SC HOPE Scholarship Program was established under the SC Education Lottery Act approved by the General Assembly during the 2001 legislative session. The program is a merit-based scholarship created for students attending a four-year institution who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded during the freshman year of attendance only. Funding for the program is included in the annual appropriation to the Commission on Higher Education and will be dependent upon the annual proceeds generated by the SC Education Lottery.

Amount

Students attending an eligible four-year public or private college or university will receive up to $2,800 (including a $300 book allowance) towards the cost-of-attendance during the first-year of attendance only.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for the SC Hope Scholarship a student must meet the following general and initial requirements:

General Eligibility Requirements:

Graduate from high school or complete an approved home school program as prescribed by law;
Attend an eligible South Carolina public or private college or university;
Be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and at the time of college enrollment;
Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident (who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen according to State Residency Statutes);
Be enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking student;
Certify that he or she has never been convicted of any felonies and has not been convicted of any alcohol or other drug-related misdemeanor convictions within the past academic year;
Verify that he or she is not in default and does not owe a refund or repayment on any Federal or State financial aid; and
Must not be a recipient of a LIFE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, or Lottery Tuition Assistance.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

Earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point ration based on the Uniform Grading Scale upon high school graduation.

S.C. Need-based Grant Program

The financial aid office on each public college campus administers the Need-based Grant Program. The S.C. Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission administers the Need-based Grant Program for independent colleges and universities as a part of the Tuition Grants Program. A student may receive up to $2,500 annually if enrolled full-time and up to $1,250 annually if enrolled part-time. Half of grant is awarded in the fall semester and half is awarded in the spring semester, assuming continued eligibility. The college at which the student is enrolled determines the exact amount, less any other gift aid received. The grant must be applied directly towards the cost-of-attendance at the college for a maximum of eight full-time equivalent terms. Students must be enrolled in their first one-year program, first associate's degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree.

State Financial Aid Information

Find state financial aid information for the specific state that you live in. Find contact information for your local federal aid office, and get details about specific federal aid programs in your area.