The LIFE Scholarship – South Carolina’s Most Popular Award
How to Qualify, What You Get, and When to Apply (2025 Update)
💬 What Is the LIFE Scholarship?
The LIFE Scholarship (Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence) is South Carolina’s most widely awarded state scholarship—given to thousands of students each year.
It rewards academic achievement and encourages students to stay in-state for college.
✅ Awarded Automatically
✅ Available at all SC public and many private colleges
✅ Renewable for up to 4 years
💰 How Much Is the LIFE Scholarship Worth?
Up to $5,000/year for students at 4-year SC colleges
Up to $2,500/year at 2-year institutions (like Greenville Tech)
STEM Enhancement: +$2,500/year for eligible juniors and seniors in STEM majors
📋 2025 Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, students must:
Be a South Carolina resident
Graduate from a SC high school or be a dependent of a SC resident
Earn at least 2 of these 3:
3.0 GPA (UGSC scale)
1100 SAT or 22 ACT
Top 30% of graduating class
At 2-year colleges: Only a 3.0 GPA is required—no test scores or class rank needed.
📌 No application is required—your eligibility is reviewed automatically when you enroll in a participating SC college.
🛠️ How College Refocus Helps
We make sure your student is on track to qualify as early as freshman year. Our team provides:
✅ GPA tracking with UGSC scale alignment
✅ Test score timeline planning
✅ Coursework advice to maintain eligibility
✅ Help understanding how LIFE fits with other scholarships (like FAFSA, merit aid, or Palmetto Fellows)
🏫 Where Can You Use the LIFE Scholarship?
Participating colleges include:
Clemson University
University of South Carolina
College of Charleston
Furman University
Anderson University
Greenville Technical College
Wofford, Lander, Coastal, Winthrop & more
Many schools also stack LIFE with additional institutional aid—we’ll show you how.
💡 Maximize Your Financial Aid Strategy
Pairing the LIFE Scholarship with other awards can significantly lower college costs. We help families explore:
FAFSA-based need aid
Private merit scholarships
Institutional awards based on major, talent, or demographics
Out-of-pocket cost planning for each college
💬 What Families Say
“College Refocus helped us realize my daughter was already eligible for LIFE, and they showed us how to stack it with local scholarships. Huge relief.”
— Greenville, SC
📞 Want to Maximize Your LIFE Scholarship?
We’ll make sure you qualify, stay eligible, and build a smart scholarship plan around it.
🎯 Schedule your free 30-minute scholarship strategy session now.