Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE)
South Carolina's top merit scholarship: up to $6,700 freshman year and up to $7,500 a year after that at an SC four-year college.
- How much
- Up to $6,700 freshman year; up to $7,500 per year for sophomore, junior and senior years
- Who qualifies
- SC resident at high school graduation and college enrollment. 3.5 SC UGP GPA + 1200 SAT/25 ACT + top 6% of class, OR 4.0 SC UGP GPA + 1400 SAT/31 ACT (no rank). Must attend an eligible SC four-year institution full-time. No felony convictions and no second/subsequent alcohol or drug misdemeanor. Mid-year graduates cannot use rank and must apply before graduating.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) at high school graduation
- When to apply
- Open now · due May 1, 2027 Class of 2027: Early Application July 15, 2026 - May 1, 2027; Late Application June 1 - July 15, 2027 (11:59 pm, no late submissions). Annual: early window opens mid-July of the senior year.
- How to apply
- Applications start with your high school counselor (or homeschool administrator), who sends eligible students the electronic application link
- The student completes and submits their own application online, and the school submits the documentation
- Class of 2027: Early Application opened July 15, 2026 and closes May 1, 2027 (11:59 pm)
- Late Application opens June 1, 2027 and closes July 15, 2027 (11:59 pm)
- Send SAT/ACT scores to CHE (SAT code 4313, ACT code 6326)
- What you'll need
- state application + transcript + test scores + school nomination
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (che.sc.gov), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Merit scholarship for the most academically talented SC high school seniors who attend an eligible four-year SC college. Up to $6,700 in year 1 and up to $7,500 in years 2-4 (half fall, half spring), applied to cost of attendance after other gift aid; up to eight full-time terms toward the first bachelor's degree. Two qualifying pathways: (1) 3.5 SC UGP GPA + 1200 SAT / 25 ACT + top 6% class rank, or (2) the alternative 4.0 SC UGP GPA + 1400 SAT / 31 ACT with no rank. Early application uses grade 10/11 rank and final grade 11 GPA; late application uses grade 10/11/12 rank and final grade 12 GPA. Renewal: 3.0 cumulative institutional GPA and 30 credit hours earned each academic year (AP, IB, dual enrollment, CLEP and hours earned before HS graduation do NOT count toward the 30). Eligible STEM, education and accounting majors can add a Scholarship Enhancement from year 2 (up to $10,000/yr combined; see the separate enhancement record). A student can hold only one of Palmetto Fellows, LIFE or SC HOPE, but can also receive the SC Need-based Grant.
More money from South Carolina
- 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
- South Carolina HOPE ScholarshipUp to $2,800 for the freshman year (includes a $300 book allowance)
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
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