If you are a student in South Carolina looking for financial assistance to pursue your academic goals, you’re in luck! The Palmetto State offers a wide range of scholarships to help students achieve their dreams. In this article, we have compiled a list of 11 scholarships specifically for South Carolina students. From academic merit to community service, these scholarships cover various criteria and are open to students at different levels of education. Take a look at the opportunities below and see which ones you qualify for!
SC LIFE Scholarship – $5,000 each year (up to 4 years)
The Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship is offered by the state of South Carolina to incoming college freshmen. The award is worth up to $5,000 per year. To qualify, students must satisfy two of the following three requirements: have a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA (letter grade “B”); score a minimum of 1100 on SAT critical reading and math sections combined (ACT composite score of at least 22); or rank in the top 30% of their graduating class. Students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and during the period of award, have graduated from a South Carolina high school (graduates from non-SC high schools qualify if they’re dependents of a parent or legal guardian who is a legal SC resident); attend an eligible private or public college or university in SC, be a full-time undergraduate student seeking a first baccalaureate degree, and meet other requirements. Transfer students and continuing students must meet certain eligibility requirements as well. Students will be automatically considered for the LIFE Scholarship by their college or university, so there is no need to apply.
Palmetto Fellows Scholarship – $6,700 (freshmen), $7,500 (sophomores, juniors, and seniors)
The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is offered by the state of South Carolina to undergraduate students. A student’s initial eligibility as an incoming college freshman is determined by the South Carolina General Assembly, which also sets the annual amount to be awarded. Currently, college freshmen receive $6,700 while sophomores, juniors, and seniors receive $7,500. Additionally, students in STEM-related fields of study may qualify for an extra $2,500 in Palmetto Scholarship Enhancement. To qualify, students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation, have graduated from a South Carolina high school or home school program (graduates from non-SC high schools qualify if they’re dependents of a parent or legal guardian who is a legal SC resident), attend an eligible private or public college or university in SC, have no felony convictions or second or subsequent alcohol/drug misdemeanors, enroll in a degree-seeking program at an eligible SC institution, and meet satisfactory academic progress. Entering freshmen students are eligible if they rank in the top 6% at the end of their high school sophomore, junior, or senior year, earn a 1200 (math and critical reading only) on the SAT or 27 on the ACT, and earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA, OR if they earn a 1400 (math and critical reading only) on the SAT or 32 on the ACT, and earn a 4.0 cumulative GPA. Transfer students and continuing students must meet certain eligibility requirements as well. Note that Palmetto Fellows recipients are not eligible for the LIFE Scholarship or the SC HOPE Scholarship. Applications for the scholarship must be completed by a high school senior’s guidance counselor or school representative.
David M. Cline Scholarship – $2,000
Offered by the Hampton Wildlife Fund, the David M. Cline Scholarship is an annual prize awarded to South Carolina students pursuing careers in law enforcement, criminal justice, forensics, or forensic science. Applicants must be full-time residents of South Carolina, be seniors in a public or private South Carolina high school, attend a higher education institution in South Carolina, and enroll in a major in law enforcement, criminal justice, forensics, or forensic science.
Harry Hampton Fund Scholarship – $5,000 per year (for up to 4 years)
The Harry Hampton Fund Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship awarded annually to a student who resides in South Carolina. Applicants must be high school seniors who intend to attend an institution of higher learning in the state with a major area of study in wildlife, fisheries, forestry, biology, zoology, marine science, environmental science or related fields.
Wallace F. Pate Scholarship – $5,000
The Wallace F. Pate Scholarship is an annual prize awarded to a high school senior in South Carolina who intends to study a natural resource discipline at a college or university within the state. Applicants must be residents of South Carolina and plan to study wildlife, fisheries, forestry, biology, zoology, marine science, environmental science, or related fields at a South Carolina higher education institution.
Southern Automotive Women’s Forum Scholarship – $1,000-$5,000
The Southern Automotive Women’s Forum (SAWF) Scholarship is offered to women who are enrolled or enrolling in a STEM field. Students may be enrolled in a two-year technical program, a four-year undergraduate program, or a graduate program that can be used in a career in the automotive industry.
Colonel Kathleen Swacina Scholarship – $1,500
The COL Kathleen Swacina Scholarship Fund awards one female college student a $1,500 scholarship to be applied toward the student’s ongoing higher-level academic education at an accredited four-year school. Community college students in their first two years are eligible if they will continue on to an accredited four-year college or university. Applicants must be: a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or enrolled in a ROTC program, an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a direct descendant of an AFCEA member or an honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces; enrolled as a full-time college student at an accredited institution attending schools in or residing in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama, including community colleges; maintain a 2.8 GPA; and major in a STEM-related area of study. Each year, the scholarship has two deadlines: the spring scholarship opens in January and closes end of May and the fall scholarship opens in October and closes end of November.
South Carolina Teaching Fellows – Up to $6,000 per year for 4 years
The South Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship is a program funded by the state of South Carolina with the goal of developing aspiring teachers. The program provides up to 200 fellowships of each year. Recipients gain access to a variety of professional development opportunities and participate in advanced education and enrichment programs.
Charleston Women in International Trade (CWIT) Scholarship Program – $3,000
Charleston Women in International Trade (CWIT), an organization that promotes female international trade professionals in Charleston and other areas of South Carolina, is offering scholarships to four-year college students and two-year technical college students who are majoring in supply chain, logistics, and international trade. There are separate scholarship applications for four-year college students and two-year students. Both applications require students to submit a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, an official transcript, and a resume.
Opportunity Scholarship – Up to $80,000 maximum over 4 years
Dream.US, a nonprofit organization, created its Opportunity Scholarship to help undocumented students who live in “locked-out states,” meaning states where students “effectively have no access to college – either because they face paying out-of-state tuition or because their state will simply not admit them into its universities.” These states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. To qualify, applicants must live in and have graduated, or will soon graduate, from a high school in one of the locked-out states listed above, meet DACA criteria, have significant unmet financial need, meet a minimum 2.8 (out of 4.0) GPA requirement, have not earned more than 21 credits at a 4-year college or university before the start of the fall semester, and agree to enroll full-time at one of the organization’s partner colleges. The award, which is renewable, covers tuition, fees, and on-campus housing and meals at one of its partner colleges worth up to a maximum of $80,000 for a bachelor’s degree.
Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarships – $5,000
Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarships are annual awards meant to provide need-based and merit-based aid to undergraduate students in Georgia and South Carolina. Applicants must be residents of one of 18 Georgia and South Carolina counties, and must be a college-bound high school senior or current undergraduate student at a 4-year, regionally-accredited, non-profit colleges and universities.
In conclusion, the journey to finding the perfect scholarship doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re just beginning your search or looking to expand your options, our comprehensive scholarship directory offers a wide range of opportunities catering to diverse academic interests and backgrounds. For a more personalized approach, consider leveraging the power of TUN AI, our innovative tool designed to match you with scholarships uniquely suited to your profile. Start exploring today and take a step closer to securing the financial support you need for your educational journey.