SC Students Apply for Free State-Based College Funding
If you’re a permanent resident of South Carolina pursuing a college degree program, you could be eligible to receive grants provided to students though state sources aimed at reducing student debt and making education accessible. There are two popular grant programs available to SC college goers and a new program is available through the University of South Carolina, which could cover your full cost of attendance at undergraduate level for up to four years.
All the state-based financial aid and grant programs available to South Carolina residents are listed below; see if you qualify.
You Could Benefit From a Lottery Tuition Assistance Grant
If you plan to enrol in a two-year technical school or college or University of South Carolina regional campus you could receive grants worth up to $900 per term.
The South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance program provides a supplemental grant resource to state residents attending two-year public and independent education institutions. Fulltime students could receive $900 per term and half-time students may receive $75 per credit hour to help pay the cost of tuition, although awards are subject to change based on the number of eligible recipients and amount of money available. Awards are calculated based on the amount of state and federal need-based grants awarded to students and the college or school where students are enrolled will notify each recipient on how much award they have been allocated.
In order to apply for the SC Lottery Tuition Assistance Grant students must file a FAFSA application, be a permanent legal South Carolina resident enrolled as a degree seeking student in a eligible college or university on a minimum of 6 credit hour course of study per term. If applicants are recipients of the HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships they will not be eligible to receive this grant program.
Financially Needy Students Receive Help to Pay for College
How much easier would attending college be if you received £2,500 every towards tuition bills? Well, the South Carolina Higher Education Grants Commission actually award certain state residents students grants up to $2,500 per academic year if enrolled in a full-time and $1,250 per year for half-time studies in an independent SC college or university.
The South Carolina Need-Based Grant Program provides students with grants to study towards their first one-year program leading to an associate’s degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree. Payments are made in two equal installments; one-half of the grant is awarded in the fall semester and the other half in the spring semester. It is the responsibility of the college where the student is attending to determine the exact amount of grant is awarded less any additional grants the student receives. To apply for the South Carolina Need-Based Grant Program students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible after the January 1 of each academic year.
Bachelor Degree Seeking Students could have all their Tuition Fees Waived
This may sound too good to be true, but some South Carolina students could actually have all their tuition fees paid up to bachelor degree level through the Gamecock Guarantee, a grant / academic support program launched in 2009 by the University of South Carolina.
This need-based, financial and academic support program aims to make attendance at the university more affordable for academically qualified residents by covering student’s tuition fees for up to four years if they meet all the academic, financial and participation criteria governed by the program. Applicable students will receive a minimum of $2,500 per year providing they are full-time enrolled students at the University of South Carolina Columbia as first time freshman, in a fall semester and perusing a bachelor’s degree. Additional financial and academic performance criteria are defined for eligible students and full details of the program can be found on the University of South Carolina website.