Find South Carolina Scholarships

Home
scholarships
by state
south carolina scholarships

✔️ Edited by Unigo Staff

When it comes to paying for college, many South Carolina students may feel uncertain about how to manage the costs. Fortunately, if you are a resident of the Palmetto State, there are a good number of scholarships and grants available that can help make college more affordable.

South Carolina, known for its historic cities, beautiful beaches, and southern charm, is home to esteemed colleges and universities including the University of South Carolina (USC), Clemson University, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina University, and Furman University – just to name a few. Whether you are aiming to study at a large public research university, a small private liberal arts college, or one of South Carolina’s 15 technical colleges, there are financial aid opportunities to make higher education more accessible.

As of 2024, over 215,000 students are enrolled in South Carolina's colleges and universities. If you are hoping to be one of them, these scholarships can help reduce the burden of tuition, fees, and other educational expenses like books and housing!

List of South Carolina Scholarships for College

Check out our list of 49,727 South Carolina Scholarships for College worth $224M.

L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship

$500 Award Amount

1 Award

Dec 31 Deadline

The L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship is for a licensed radio amateur with a general class or higher license who is a resident of and attends college in the ARRL Roanoke Division (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia). The student must be pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher in electronics, communications, or related fields.

View Scholarship

Clemson University Trustee Scholarship

$4,000 Award Amount

50 Awards

Jan 2 Deadline

This scholarship is available for high school seniors residing in South Carolina who plan to attend Clemson University. Applicants must be in the top 10% of their high school class, and have an SAT score of 1270 or higher, or an ACT score of 27 or higher.

View Scholarship

Furman University Herman W. Lay/James B. Duke Scholarship Program

$196,000 Award Amount

14 Awards

Jan 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for high school seniors who plan to attend Furman University in South Carolina. Recipients typically have SAT scores of 1500 or higher or ACT scores of 34 or higher.

View Scholarship

Women of Distinction Network’s Scholarship

$350 Award Amount

5 Awards

Mar 16 Deadline

This scholarship is available for undergraduate women in South Carolina who have demonstrated a positive impact in their communities.

View Scholarship

SREB Doctoral Scholarship for South Carolina Residents

$75,000 Award Amount

12 Awards

Mar 31 Deadline

This award is available for U.S. minority students who are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program and planning to pursue a career as a professor. Applicants must be residents of South Carolina and must attend one of the following institutions: Clemson University, Medical University of South Carolina, or University of South Carolina at Columbia.

View Scholarship

Saluda Law Liberty Scholarship

$250 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 30 Deadline

This scholarship is open to high school seniors, and juniors who live in any of the following counties: Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield, and Lexington in South Carolina.

View Scholarship

Morton B. Duggan, Jr. Memorial Education Recognition Award

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jun 1 Deadline

This award is available for U.S. undergraduate students who are enrolled in an accredited respiratory care training program. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants/nominees are accepted from all states, with preference given to candidates from Georgia and South Carolina.

View Scholarship

Bucknell University Campus Enrichment Scholarship

$100,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jan 15 Deadline

This award is available for U.S. students enrolling at Bucknell University. First generation college students, students from outside the university's traditional geographic area, and those who bring cultural and intellectual diversity to the campus will be considered.

View Scholarship

Subway of South Carolina Scholarship

$3,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jan 22 Deadline

This award is for U.S. high school seniors and college freshmen who are employees of Subway or the dependents of Subway employees. The applicant must enroll full time and demonstrate academic merit.

View Scholarship

Against All Odds Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jan 31 Deadline

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be currently enrolled in college, graduate school, or be a GED holder who is about to attend a college within the United States. Applicants must show good academic standing by holding a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

View Scholarship

Cancer for College Carolinas Scholarship

$25,000 Award Amount

5 Awards

Jan 31 Deadline

The Cancer for College Carolinas Scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate students who have been diagnosed with cancer. Applicants must reside in or attend a college or university in North or South Carolina.

View Scholarship

Ross Skelton Memorial Scholarship

$25,000 Award Amount

5 Awards

Jan 31 Deadline

The Ross Skelton Memorial Scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate students who have been diagnosed with cancer. Applicants must be majoring in engineering and must reside in or attend school in North or South Carolina.

View Scholarship

MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge

$20,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 21 Deadline

This award is for U.S. high school juniors and seniors who participate in a mathematical modeling challenge as part of a school-based group.

View Scholarship

Lewis-Clark State College Presidential Out-of-State Scholarship

$20,238 Award Amount

1 Award

Mar 1 Deadline

High school seniors and transfer students who are not residents of Idaho and are planning to enroll at Lewis-Clark State College for the first time are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must plan to enroll full time.

View Scholarship

Rebecca Kirtman Memorial Scholarship

$2,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Apr 1 Deadline

U.S. high school seniors who have been involved with Becca's Closet are eligible to apply for this award. Students must enroll full time and have an unweighted grade point average of 2.0 or higher.

View Scholarship

HBCU Connect Minority Student Scholarship

$4,000 Award Amount

4 Awards

Apr 1 Deadline

HBCUConnect.com encourages minority students from all around the nation to pursue bachelors degrees at U.S. historically black colleges and universities. Applicants must be minority graduating high school seniors, transfer, or full time undergraduate students attending historically black college or university.

View Scholarship

Willa S. Bellamy Scholarship

$1,500 Award Amount

1 Award

Apr 7 Deadline

The Willa S. Bellamy Scholarship from the GFOASC provides one scholarship of $1,000 to students seeking to enter the field of government finance.

View Scholarship

AH&LEF Annual Scholarship Grant Program

$6,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 15 Deadline

This scholarship program is open to U.S. undergraduate students who are enrolled full time in a hospitality management degree-granting program. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (with the exception of the Conrad Hilton Fund, which accepts students with grade point averages of 2.0 or higher).

View Scholarship

James F. Byrnes Scholarship

$3,250 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This award is for U.S. high school seniors who are residents of South Carolina. The student must have lost one or both parents by death, and must have financial need and a satisfactory scholastic record.

View Scholarship

LTU Bulldog Out-of-State Fee Waiver for Incoming Transfer Students

$2,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This award is for U.S. and International students who are planning to attend Louisiana Tech University as an out-of-state transfer student. Students must have complete at least 12 semester hours of college credit and have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.

View Scholarship

David C. J. Peters Scholarship

$5,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Dec 1 Deadline

This award is for an international or U.S. student who is majoring in engineering and plans to work in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) profession. The applicant must attend one of the eligible institutions and be in the third year of a four year program, or the fourth year of a five-year program.

View Scholarship

Clemson Scholars Award

$10,500 Award Amount

3 Awards

Feb 2 Deadline

This scholarship is available for high school seniors in South Carolina who are graduating as class valedictorian. Applicants must attend Clemson University.

View Scholarship

Clemson University Diversity Scholarships

$18,000 Award Amount

3 Awards

Dec 1 Deadline

This scholarship is available for current high school seniors and undergraduate students who are applying to admission at Clemson University in South Carolina. To be considered for a Diversity Scholarship, applicants must add to the ethnic, cultural, geographic, or intellectual diversity of the campus.

View Scholarship

ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship

$20,000 Award Amount

4 Awards

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is open to U.S. students who are in their third, fourth, or fifth year of undergraduate study in landscape architecture at a LAAB-accredited institution. Students must be members of ASLA and demonstrate financial need.

View Scholarship

Landscape Forms Design for People Scholarship

$3,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is for international and U.S. students who are in their final year of full-time undergraduate study in landscape architecture at a LAAB-accredited institution. Applicants must show a proven contribution to the design of public spaces that integrates landscape design and the use of amenities to promote social interaction.

View Scholarship

1 2 3 »

Cost of College in South Carolina

Before diving into the various grants and scholarships available, it is important to get a sense of what it costs to attend college in South Carolina. For in-state students attending the University of South Carolina (USC), the 2024-25 tuition and fees will range from $12,688 to $16,544, depending on your program of study. Non-residents can expect to pay up to $34,934 annually.

At Clemson University, another top public institution, in-state tuition is $15,558 per year, while out-of-state students pay upwards of $38,550. Additionally, many students may also need to consider housing, meal plans, and other related costs, but fortunately, scholarships and grants can make a big difference.

For students considering private schools like Furman University or Wofford College, tuition can exceed $55,000 per year, but South Carolina offers a range of grants and scholarships that can help cover these expenses.

Here’s a breakdown of some key scholarships and grants available to South Carolina students:

South Carolina State-Funded Scholarships and Grants

Aerial view of historic capitol building surrounded by modern skyscrapers.

South Carolina provides several state-funded scholarships and grants aimed at helping residents better afford their college education. To qualify for most state aid programs, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Here are a few of the most popular programs and options:

South Carolina LIFE Scholarship

The South Carolina LIFE Scholarship is a merit-based award available to students who maintain strong academic performance in high school. To qualify, students must meet at least two (2) of these requirements – 1) graduate with at least a 3.0 GPA, 2) have SAT scores of at least 1100 or ACT score of at least 22, and 3) rank in the top 30% of their graduating high school class. This LIFE scholarship offers up to $5,000 annually for attendance at an eligible South Carolina college or university.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

One of the most prestigious scholarships in South Carolina, the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to high-achieving students who demonstrate academic excellence in high school. The award offers up to $6,700 in the first year and up to $7,500 in subsequent years. To qualify for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, students must have a 3.5 GPA, SAT scores of at least 1200 or ACT scores of 25 or over, and rank in the top 6% of their high school class in either grades 10, 11, or 12. Alternatively, students with a 4.0 GPA and SAT scores of at least 1400 or ACT scores of 31 or higher, can also qualify. Recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to continue receiving the scholarship.

South Carolina HOPE Scholarship

Designed for first-year students, the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship (SC HOPE) is available to students attending a four-year public or private college or university in South Carolina. The scholarship provides awards of up to $2,800 and is intended for students who do not meet the eligibility requirements for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows scholarships but still demonstrate academic potential. To continue to qualify for the SC Scholarship, recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

South Carolina Need-Based Grant

The South Carolina Need-Based Grant is available to South Carolina residents with documented financial need who attend an eligible public or private college or university in South Carolina. Award amounts vary based on financial need and the availability of funds, with eligible students receiving up to $3,500 per year.

Lottery Tuition Assistance Program

The South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTAP) provides financial assistance to residents of South Carolina attending two-year public or independent colleges. Eligible students can receive $80 per credit hour toward tuition costs for the fall, spring, and summer terms, with the exact amount determined by their institution. The program considers federal grants and the South Carolina Need-Based Grant first when calculating the award.

Each student’s award amount may vary by term, based on the number of eligible recipients and available funding. To qualify for the Lottery Tuition Assistance, students must meet several requirements, including filing the FAFSA, being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and a legal resident of South Carolina. Additionally, students must be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours as degree-seeking students, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and not be recipients of other major state scholarships such as the HOPE, LIFE, or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships. Eligible institutions for the program include all South Carolina technical colleges, several USC campuses, and Spartanburg Methodist College.

South Carolina Scholarships for Adult Learners

Stunning sunset behind a modern cable-stayed bridge over calm waters.

South Carolina is committed to lifelong learning, offering adults access to higher education while fostering personal and intellectual growth. Here are a few if the scholarships and grants available to adult learners:

Free Tuition for Residents Over 60

South Carolina offers a free tuition program for residents aged 60 and older, allowing them to attend public colleges and universities without paying tuition. This opportunity is available on a space-available basis, Eligible students can enroll in classes without tuition costs, provided they meet the institution’s admission and academic requirements.

SC-WINS Scholarship

The SC-WINS Scholarship is a state-funded initiative aimed at addressing workforce shortages by providing financial support to students attending any of South Carolina’s 15 technical colleges. This scholarship acts as a supplement to the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTAP), covering any remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other scholarships and grants have been applied.

Federal Grants for South Carolina Students

South Carolina students are also eligible for federal grants, such as the Pell Grant, which provides up to $7,395 for the 2024-25 academic year. Additionally, students from low-income households may also qualify for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), which can provide between $100 and $4,000 annually. Both federal grants are based on financial need and require the completion of the FAFSA.

Institutional Scholarships at South Carolina Colleges and Universities

Vibrant urban riverwalk with modern buildings and a pedestrian bridge at sunset.

Many South Carolina colleges and universities offer institutional grants and scholarships to help students reduce the cost of tuition. These awards are often based on academic merit, financial need, or both. Below are just a few examples:

University of South Carolina Gamecock Guarantee

The Gamecock Guarantee is a need-based grant available to in-state residents who are first-generation college students. It covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to four years, provided students maintain satisfactory academic progress. The Gamecock Guarantee is designed to ensure students can pursue their education with confidence, providing coverage for tuition and fees for up to four years to attend the University of South Carolina.

This initiative not only supports financial needs but also creates a supportive community through a network of academic services and programs aimed at enhancing the overall college experience. It is important to note the guarantee does not cover room and board, however, many students find the combined support from the Gamecock Guarantee and other financial aid significantly reduces their out-of-pocket expenses.

Clemson University National Scholars Program

The National Scholars Program at Clemson University offers scholarships to new students who demonstrate extraordinary academic achievement. This merit-based award can cover up to full tuition, fees, and room and board for four years.

College of Charleston Merit Scholarships

The College of Charleston offers various merit and need-based scholarships, including the Merit Scholarship. You will automatically be considered for the Merit Scholarship when you apply as a first-year student to College of Charleston.

Private Scholarships for South Carolina Students

In addition to state and federal financial aid as well as institutional scholarships and grants, there are many private scholarships available to South Carolina students. These awards are funded by businesses, private foundations, houses of worship, and non-profit organizations:

South Carolina State Fair Scholarship

The South Carolina State Fair Scholarship provides up to $10,000 over four years to students who demonstrate academic excellence and community involvement. Applicants must be South Carolina residents and plan to attend an accredited college or university in the state. You will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA to continue receiving awards. The scholarship is competitive and merit based.

Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship

The Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship is available to high school seniors from select counties in South Carolina and Georgia. The scholarship provides up to $3,000 per semester and is renewable for up to four years.

Harry Hampton Fund Scholarship

The Harry Hampton Fund Scholarship aims to promote higher education in natural resources within South Carolina. This prestigious scholarship awards $5,000 annually to a South Carolina resident pursuing a degree at an eligible public or private college or university in the state, focusing on majors such as wildlife biology, fisheries biology, forestry, marine science, environmental science, or related fields.

The selection process is extremely competitive, involving detailed screening and interviews. To maintain this scholarship, you will need to maintain a 2.5 GPA at minimum.

Applying for Scholarships in South Carolina: Tips for Success

Sunset view of a charming street with historic buildings and a palm tree.

Applying for and being awarded grants and scholarships takes time and effort, but following a few key steps can improve your chances:

Complete the FAFSA early: Many scholarships and grants are need-based, and applying early increases your chances of receiving aid. You will need to submit a FAFSA to be considered for all South Carolina state grants and scholarships, federal grants, and many institutional grants and scholarships.

Stay organized: Keep a list of deadlines, requirements, and necessary materials for each scholarship you apply to.

Write a compelling personal essay: Highlight your academic achievements, goals, and passion for learning.

Seek strong letters of recommendation: Ask for recommendations from teachers, mentors, or employers who know you well. Do this early as many of your peers are likely also seeking these recommendation letters.

Your Own Backyard: Many scholarships are offered by local organizations, churches, and businesses right in your community, so don’t overlook these opportunities!

By taking advantage of these South Carolina scholarships, you can make your college education more affordable and focus on achieving your goals!