Free Tuition for South Carolina Residents Age 60 and Over
State of South Carolina (SC Code 59-111-320); administered by public colleges and technical colleges
Apply any timeRenews each year
SC residents 60 and older can take classes for credit or not at SC public colleges and technical colleges without paying tuition, space permitting.
- How much
- Free tuition (fees and books not covered); space available
- Who qualifies
- Legal SC resident who has reached age 60; meets the institution's admission standards; space-available enrollment. Waiver is permissive: each institution sets its own procedures.
- For adults going back to school, undergrads, grad students
- When to apply
- Apply any time Each term, space available.
- How to apply
- Apply for admission to the SC public college or technical college and ask the admissions or registrar's office about the age-60 tuition waiver
- You may need to show proof of age and SC residency
- Registration is on a space-available basis
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (che.sc.gov) and page 2
The details
SC public colleges and universities and the technical colleges may let legal SC residents aged 60 or older attend classes for credit or noncredit without paying tuition, on a space-available basis, if they meet the school's admission and other standards. 'Tuition' means the per-credit-hour charge only, not other fees or textbooks.
More money from South Carolina
- Palmetto Fellows ScholarshipUp to $6,700 freshman year; up to $7,500 per year for sophomore, junior and senior years
- LIFE Scholarship (Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence)Up to $5,000 per year (includes a $300 book allowance)
- SC WINS Scholarship (South Carolina Workforce & Industry Needs Scholarship)Up to $5,000 per academic year after all other scholarships and grants
- South Carolina Tuition GrantsUp to $5,000 for 2026-27 (amount based on need and funding)
- South Carolina Need-based GrantUp to $3,500 per year full-time; up to $1,750 per year part-time
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Georgia, North Carolina
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.