LIFE Scholarship
ListedScholarship
- Award
- Up to $5,000 annually at eligible four-year institutions ($4,700 tuition plus $300 book allowance); two-year amounts based on eligible tuition/book costs, capped at $5,000. Cost-of-attendance ceiling applies with other gift aid. Normally two terms for one-year certificates, four for associates, six for approved 68-credit associates, eight for first bachelors, ten for approved five-year degrees. Renewal requires 3.0 LIFE GPA and average 30 earned credits per academic year. Approved STEM, accounting or education majors may add up to $2,500 annually starting sophomore year; education recipients sign a South Carolina public-school teaching obligation.
- Deadline
- No separate statewide scholarship application. Submit required admission, official academic records and eligibility documents by the college financial-aid office's deadlines; mid-year graduates require additional early-graduation documents.
- How to apply
- College determines eligibility using official final high-school transcript, residency/citizenship verification and any applicable test/rank documentation. Submit required criminal-history and financial-aid default/refund certifications. No FAFSA needed solely for this merit award; other financial aid may need it. Mid-year applicants provide principal/counselor certification and early-graduation documents.
- What you'll need
- No separate application: you are considered when you apply for admission
- Who can apply
- South Carolina resident and U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at high-school graduation and enrolment; full-time eligible degree student. Four-year freshman route requires two of three: 3.0 unrounded SC Uniform Grading Policy GPA, SAT 1100 or ACT equivalent 22, top 30% approved UGP class rank. Nonranking schools require GPA plus test route. Two-year freshman route requires 3.0 UGP GPA. Eligible SC schools/homeschool or qualified out-of-state dependent route applies; later college eligibility can be earned with LIFE GPA/credit requirements. Enhancement requires approved major and normally 14 eligible math/science/accounting credits by end of first college year; education route has separate service-contract requirements.
- Good to know
- Cannot receive this award alongside Palmetto Fellows, the other South Carolina merit scholarship or Lottery Tuition Assistance in the same academic year. Mid-year graduates cannot use class rank. Specified felony and repeated alcohol/drug offence restrictions, financial-aid default/refund restrictions and annual certifications apply. Approved disability and military exceptions exist; specialised out-of-state disability institutions need CHE approval. Funding remains subject to state rules and appropriations.
- Details
- Test optionalPermanent residents eligible