Top Scholarship Opportunities for South Carolina Students


Get the 2025 Financial Aid You Deserve—Without the Confusion

💰 College Is Expensive—Scholarships Make It Possible

If you're a student or parent in South Carolina, there’s good news:
You have access to some of the most generous state-funded scholarships in the country.

At College Refocus, we help families:

  • Discover which scholarships your student qualifies for

  • Meet GPA and coursework requirements early

  • Strategically apply for lesser-known (and less competitive) awards

  • Package financial aid with college choices to minimize debt

🎓 2025 South Carolina Scholarships You Need to Know

1. LIFE Scholarship

  • Up to $5,000/year for in-state students

  • No application required—awarded automatically

  • Requires 3.0 GPA + 1100 SAT or 24 ACT

2. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

  • Up to $6,700 for freshman year; $7,500 after

  • Must apply via school counselor

  • Requires high GPA, test scores, and class rank
    👉 View our complete Palmetto Fellows guide »

3. SC HOPE Scholarship

  • One-time $2,800 for first-year students

  • For students attending a 4-year SC college who don’t qualify for LIFE or Palmetto

4. SC Tuition Grants

  • Need-based aid for students attending private colleges in South Carolina

  • Requires FAFSA submission by June 30

5. Local & Private Scholarships

  • Rotary Clubs, chambers of commerce, religious groups, and regional foundations all offer awards

  • Often $500–$5,000—but many go unclaimed

✅ How We Help You Win Scholarships

College Refocus provides:

  • Personalized scholarship tracking

  • GPA and testing strategy for maximum eligibility

  • Essay review for competitive private scholarships

  • Help organizing deadlines and application materials

You don’t need to do this alone.

🧾 BONUS: Tips for Maximizing Scholarship Awards

✔️ Apply to SC colleges that stack state and merit aid
✔️ Start freshman year with GPA and rigor in mind
✔️ Keep track of FAFSA and institutional deadlines
✔️ Don’t overlook small local scholarships—stack them!

💬 What Families Say

“We had no idea how many scholarships were available just in South Carolina. College Refocus helped us organize everything, meet the Palmetto Fellows deadline, and find two private scholarships we didn’t even know existed.”
— Greer, SC

📞 Want Help Finding Scholarships You Can Actually Win?

College Refocus is based in South Carolina—we know this system inside and out. Whether you're aiming for state scholarships or local awards, we can help you build a custom plan.

👉 Schedule a Free Scholarship Planning Call »

🔗 Helpful Links