Page 109 - 2020 Statistical Abstract

Scholarships and Grants

The State of South Carolina awarded a total of $393,163,613 in scholarship money during the 2019-

20 academic year disbursed through five main scholarships: $221,227,857 awarded through LIFE

scholarships, $75,322,242 through Palmetto Fellows scholarships, $55,815,511 through Lottery Tuition
Assistance, $31,055,260 through Need-based Grants, and $9,742,743 through HOPE scholarships.

South Carolina has three Statewide merit-based scholarships: Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and HOPE.
Students may only receive one of these scholarships during an academic year; however, students can

transition between these scholarships over the course of their academic career. LIFE scholars and Palmetto

Fellows pursuing approved majors are eligible for award enhancements after the completion of 30
undergraduate credit hours. South Carolina students may also be eligible for two need-based scholarships:

SC Need-based Grants or Lottery Tuition Assistance. Please see the CHE website, www.che.sc.gov/, for
up-to-date scholarship information and a complete explanation of eligibility requirements.

South Carolina colleges and universities are required to report scholarship disbursements to the CHE

each semester. This data allows the CHE to report on the total number of recipients and award
disbursement each academic year. Scholarship data is reported at the student level and the CHE is able to

track how many students retain specific scholarships.

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