South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
Offered by South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
About this scholarship
The South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is a state merit award for academically outstanding South Carolina high school seniors who enroll at an eligible four-year institution in the state. The current official benefit is up to $6,700 in the freshman year and up to $7,500 in each sophomore, junior, and senior year, for a potential four-year base total of $29,200. Eligible recipients in approved mathematics, science, education, or accounting programs may qualify separately for a later enhancement, but that enhancement is not included in this base amount. Students must satisfy South Carolina residency and general state-aid rules as well as one of the published academic pathways involving GPA, class rank, and SAT or ACT performance. The Commission emphasizes that only authorized school counselors may submit initial Palmetto Fellows applications; applications sent directly by students or parents are rejected. A student should therefore review the official criteria, contact the high school counselor early, and make sure qualifying grades, rank, graduation, and test-score documentation reach the counselor. Continued funding requires eligible full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and the state’s annual renewal standards.
Eligibility
- Be a South Carolina resident when graduating from high school
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible permanent resident under the state program rules
- Meet one of the official Palmetto Fellows academic pathways for GPA, class rank, and SAT or ACT scores
- Ask an authorized high school counselor to submit the application; students and parents cannot submit directly
- Enroll full time in a degree-seeking program at an eligible four-year South Carolina institution
- Have no disqualifying felony conviction or second or subsequent alcohol or drug misdemeanor
- Not be in default on a federal or state education loan and maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Not receive a LIFE Scholarship or South Carolina HOPE Scholarship for the same period