Scholarships & Financial Aid
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Seniors: Browse below and keep visiting for up-to-date scholarship information. Don't forget to turn in copies of all scholarship and grant offers you receive to your School Counselor!
MAROON and BLUE words are links
State Scholarships and Grants CHE website
CHE Powerpoint - State Scholarships, Grants, and College Access Fall Updates 2025-2026
- HOPE Scholarship - A one year, merit-based scholarship created for students attending a four-year institution who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. More information.
- LIFE Scholarship - A merit-based scholarship. More information.
- Palmetto Fellows Scholarship - Eligible students may receive up to $6,700, per year for college. More information.
- Lottery Tuition Assistance - For the current academic year (fall, spring, and summer terms), eligible students may receive up to $110 per credit hour to be used toward the cost-of-tuition. More information.
- SC Need-Based Grant - Need-based grant is to provide additional financial aid to South Carolina’s neediest students. A student may receive up to $2,500 annually if enrolled full-time or up to $1,250 annually if enrolled part-time as a degree-seeking student at an eligible S.C. public institution. More information.
National Guard College Assistance - financial assistance to members of the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard by providing incentives for enlisting or remaining for a specified time in either the South Carolina Army or Air National Guard (SCNG). More information here SC National Guard
SC Teaching Fellows Program - Fellows participate in advanced enrichment programs at Teaching Fellows Institutions, have additional professional development opportunities, and are involved with communities and businesses throughout the state. They receive up to $24,000 in fellowship funds (up to $6000 a year for four years) while they complete a degree leading to initial teacher certification here Powerpoint DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1
Call Me Mister program - Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models- Initiative is to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader more diverse background particularly among the State's lowest performing elementary schools. Student participants are largely selected from among underserved, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities. There are 8 Two Year colleges and 18 four year colleges participating in the program. Learn more here.
South Carolina Student Loan Corporation - Paying for College: A Financial Aid Workshop presentation
South Carolina Tuition Grants Program - Information about the grant program based on financial need for students attending eligible independent colleges and universities in South Carolina. presentation
**FAFSA is open**
FAFSA Guide from Sallie Mae for the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FAFSA Resources: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid Click here to find out more information and to complete the FAFSA to apply for federal financial aid.
Check out “Federal Student Aid” youtube videos, from filling out the FAFSA to comparing awards between colleges. For more information go to:. https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid/videos
SCCANGO provides resources to students, parents and counselors about college admissions to SC Colleges and Universities. Check out SCCANGO’s youtube videos about FAFSA and their FAFSA Toolkit.
- Create an FSA ID. For most students, at least one parent will also need to create an FSA ID.
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- Most students will need to invite at least one parent as a "contributor" to their FAFSA form. They will invite the same parent(s) who they asked to create an FSA ID.
- Within three days of submitting their FAFSA form, students can log back into their FAFSA form to view their FAFSA Submission Summary. They will submit the Eligibility Overview section as part of their Meeting Street Scholarship Fund application.
MyinTuition.org - Estimate your cost of of attendance at more than 70 top colleges
Knowing the Rules of Financial Aid
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The SoFi video series recordings for parents of college bound students. (All of these videos can also be found on SoFi’s YouTube channel)
• Evaluating College Acceptances and Appealing Financial Aid and Merit Scholarships
• What Merit Scholarships are and How to Find Them
• Financing your Student's Education
• Financial Aid and Changes to FAFSA, Especially for Divorced Parents
https://www2.sofiatwork.com/Collegeboundresourceguide
College Affordability 101 from Rice University - General financial aid information and resources.
SCHOLAR$HIP$
>>>CCSD local Scholarship list <<<
Meeting Street Scholarship Fund
Are you Life Scholarship or Palmetto Fellows eligible AND qualify for a Federal Pell Grant AND planning to attend an eligible SC College/University? If so, you may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 of additional funds EVERY YEAR*! That’s potentially an additional $40,000 for college. (* recipients must remain Life and Palmetto Fellow eligible each year in college)
There is no limit on the number of Charleston County students who can earn the scholarship, but you must apply.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will have to be completed to determine if you are Pell Grant eligible. FAFSA will open in December. Completing the FAFSA will also determine if you qualify for other federal financial assistance to help cover college costs. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Visit https://meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org/ for more scholarship information and to sign up for scholarship updates.
Accepting applications January - May
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Presbyterian College Promise Scholarship
Students accepted to PC who are members of a Presbyterian church or attend a Presbyterian school will receive a scholarship for a minimum of $24,000 per year for up to four years.
AASM "Sleep for Success" High School Video Contest
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Award: $1,000
Deadline: March 11
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Isle of Palm Exchange Club Scholarships
At the top of our homepage, you will find Menu. Then go to Get Involved and in the dropdown list you will find Scholarships. You will see a choice of three scholarships: A.C.E. Award, Youth of the Year, and Technology Impact. Click on the application button for a specific scholarship and enter the required information. The electronic application will guide you through the process. You can apply for one, two, or all three of the scholarships by completing the application process for each scholarship. Email Pam Shaw if you have questions.
All of the scholarships linked here
Apply online >>>www.iopexchange.org
Deadline: March 13
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Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
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Award: Up to $5,000
Deadline: March 14
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The Steinberg Law Firm Scholarship Program
The Steinberg Law Firm cares about higher education for students in tri-county area and is delighted to announce the 2026 Steinberg Law Firm Scholarship Program. We are awarding three (3) $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are residents of Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties.
https://www.steinberglawfirm.
Deadlines - March 16
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Coastal Community Foundation Scholarships
Check out the website for their list of scholarships provided to local students.
Deadlines - March 16 at 11:59 PM
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The Cindy Kimbrell Scholarship
Established to honor the memory of Cindy Kimbrell, who was a friend & dedicated employee of Sweetgrass Pediatrics.
Requirements:
Official transcript showing a 3.0 or higher
Brief description of planned area of study and career goals
Essay detailing applicant's personal cancer story or the cancer story of a parent or immediate family member. Typed in Times New Roman font size 12pt.
Optional letter of referral.
Informational letter linked here.
Deadline: March 16
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The Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC)
2026 Scholarship Application is now available for graduating High School Seniors! Attached, please find information for accessing the application. We appreciate you passing this information along to all eligible students, parents and community.
https://
**Create an account and follow the steps:
1. Grants and Scholarships
2. Scholarships
3. Scholarships for current High School Seniors
4. (Scroll to) Place of Residence or High School
5. Select LAMC Community Mitigation Scholarship
Deadline - March 16 at 11:59 PM
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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, North Charleston Alumnae Chapter
Required:
> Copy of SAT or ACT Scores, (PSAT Scores will NOT be accepted)
> Two (2) letters of Recommendation:
> From either your Principal, School Counselor, or Academic Advisor highlighting academic achievement in
a sealed envelope.
> From a community or church affiliate that can verify your public service involvement, state your duties,
show the total hours earned, and attest to your character in a sealed envelope.
> Typed one-page autobiographical sketch, including academic/career goals, public service involvement, a
statement of why the scholarship is important, and the expected benefit to be derived.
> A sealed official high school transcript to include first semester grades of the senior year and must include
cumulative GPA.
Application (printed copies are in the high school lounge)
Deadline: March 17
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East Cooper Producers Scholarship
Deadline: March 20 @5pm
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Pink Tea Rose Scholarship
The Pink Tea Rose Core Foundation in partnership with the Omicron Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated desires to help promising high school graduates prepare for the future by pursuing higher educational goals at a college, university or technical school by awarding a college stipend award whose value will be no less than $700.00.
Deadline: March 30
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Rotary Club of Mt. Pleasant Alan Hamilton Memorial Scholarship
Must be a graduating senior, a full-time resident of the East Cooper area, & a citizen of the United States. Applicants must also carry a total four-year GPA of at least 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale.
Application (printed copies available in the high school lounge)
Deadline: April 1
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Men's College Scholarship
Deadline: April 1
The Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina
The Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina (GFOASC) will award the Presidents High School Scholarship to any high school student who meets all the following criteria:
Must submit a completed application & a transcript to GFOASC via email in pdf format to scholarship@gfoasc.org or to the following mailing address:
Scholarship amount = $1,250
The link to the scholarship is: https://gfoasc.org/wp-content/
Deadline: April 7 (received by)
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Johnny Ambassadors Video PSA Contest
Video PSA Contest demonstrating the importance of preventing cannabis/THC use (vaping, dabbing, marijuana, edibles) among high school students. The contest is an opportunity for high schools to demonstrate how students are working to prevent cannabis misuse at their school and to encourage their peers to abstain.
Johnny’s Ambassadors looking for high school students to create original videos about the harms of underage THC use (sorry, no middle school students for this particular program). Please help us get the word out by providing education on why THC is harmful for the developing brain, mental health, and your life!
Any entry received outside of these dates will be disqualified. The winners will be decided and posted on Monday, April 20, 2026 (Anti-420 Day) at instagram.com/
First place winner = $500
Second place winner = $250
Third place winner = $100
Deadline: April 13
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Butch Barfield Foundation Memorial Scholarship
The foundation fund was established as a living memorial to honor the philanthropic efforts and lifelong commitment of Butch Barfield to improving the lives of people in the communities he served. The purpose of this scholarship is to continue honoring Mr. Barfield’s legacy while assisting outstanding students in pursuing education beyond high school.
ELIGIBILITY Public high school seniors who:
1. have a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and
2. provide written acceptance from a college/university, and
3. provide a completed application, including Part A-From the Student; Part B-Student Response; Part C- Principal, School Counselor, or Teacher Recommendation; and high school transcript.
CRITERIA Character and personality; academic achievement; community service
DEADLINE The completed application and recommendation must be mailed by the School Counselor by Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Deadline: Wednesday, April 15
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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated - 2026 Gamma Zeta Scholarship
1. Female high school senior in Berkeley County, Charleston County, or Dorchester County.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better based on a 4.0 grading scale (verified by official transcript.) Transcripts should be submitted in a sealed envelope with your school’s seal.
3. Demonstrate interest and involvement in public service and community related activities.
4. Demonstrate goals, aspirations, and plans to pursue an education beyond high school.
5. Submit two (2) letters of recommendation. (All reference letters must be signed and dated. References without a date and wet signature will not be accepted.)
a. One (1) from school official (teacher, counselor, or administrator)
b. One (1) from non-relative (pastor, community member, employer, mentor) who can attest to your leadership abilities and/or community service commitment.
6. Submit a 500-word essay.
Topic: Engaging in community service provides students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Describe your community service and how you have made a lasting impact in and around your community.
Deadline: April 15
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Lee Jones Music for Life Memorial Scholarship
This is the first year of awarding the Lee Jones/Music for Life memorial scholarship. The foundation fund is established as a living memorial to the philanthropic efforts and ongoing commitment of Lee Jones to improve the lives of its people in the communities he served through his legacy of music. The purpose of this scholarship is to continue honoring the legacy of Lee Jones, while assisting outstanding students for education beyond high school to pursue a career in music and music education.
ELIGIBILITY - Public High School Seniors who:
1. Have a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and
2. Provide written acceptance from a college/university, and
3. Provide a completed application, including Part A-From the Student;
Part B-Student Response; Part C- Principal, School Counselor, or Teacher
Recommendation; and high school transcript.
4. Qualify for Life Scholarship;
5. Qualify for Pell Grant;
6. Pursuing a Music degree.
Deadline: May 15
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Technical Education Institutional Grant (TEIG)
Discounted tuition for Universal Technical Institute. An automatic 5%-10% off tuition grant for eligible current high school students who have complete at least one semester of an approved Technical Education Course in high school with a passing grade.
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SkillPointe Foundation Scholarships
Check out the various scholarships here.
Funding for scholarships for career paths in construction, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, public service, and transportation. Scholarships that are currently open are listed at the top of the website, with other scholarships listed below them.
Deadlines vary
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Winthrop University TIPS Scholars Program -Scholarship for STEM Students
The TIPS Scholars Program is designed to support high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need, providing scholarships of up to $15,000 per year (up to $60,000 over four years). This program offers not only financial support but also valuable academic and career development resources.
For other eligibility criteria and addition program benefits, please visit
https://www.winthrop.edu/cas/
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2025 Charleston Southern University has launched Buc Promise, a new renewable scholarship for Pell-eligible South Carolina residents with a minimum 3.5 high school unweighted GPA. This is our promise: if a student is admitted to CSU and qualify for Buc Promise, CSU will pay their tuition.
Students eligible for Buc Promise must:
- Hold at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA
- Complete the FAFSA
- Be Pell-eligible for more than the “Minimum Pell Grant”
- Enroll full-time in a traditional degree program
- Be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree
More info on the CSU website.
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UNCF SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships for students interested in STEM! https://uncf.org/scholarships
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Gardner Webb University Scholarships
Check out the various scholarships available for applicants, including Marching Band, Merit, and Non-major scholarships.
https://gardner-webb.edu/admissions-aid/scholarships-and-grants/
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College Board Opportunity Scholarships
Beginning SOPHOMORE year - Turn your efforts into scholarships
Students can search more than 10,000 scholarships. Sophomores, juniors, and Seniors can earn entries for monthly BigFuture® $500 and $40,000 scholarship drawings.
Check out the website for more information.
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University of North Georgia
Army ROTC Scholarships
High school seniors and college freshmen who want to serve in the U.S. Army. Scholarships pay for room & board (up to $12,000 per year) or tuition & fees. It also pays a $420/month stipend and a $1,200/year book allowance.
Highly encourage all seniors to start the application immediately so that there is maximum time to help them make their applications as competitive as possible. There will be three national boards – October 25, January 26, and March 26 for students to start college in Fall of 2026.
Step-by-Step Application Instructions for Army ROTC Scholarships
The scholarship leads to a professional career as an active-duty Army second lieutenant (O1) with excellent benefits and starting compensation (Department of Defense Calculator):
We are the best value university of the nation’s six Senior Military Colleges. Our cost for tuition, fees, room, meals, books, and uniforms is about $23,800 for the first year. The following three years are each $2,800 less as there is no uniform fee in subsequent years. Last year, more than 60 high school seniors were awarded three and four-year Army ROTC scholarships to enroll in the Corps of Cadets at UNG.
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Naval ROTC Programs (4 scholarship programs available, one specific to Savannah State)
For more information go to: https://www.savannahstate.edu/cost/nrotc/
https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/Requirements
* National Scholarship (four-year scholarship, Navy and USMC option)
* Minority Serving Institution Scholarship Reservation (MSISR) Scholarship for Navy
* Minority Serving Institution Scholarship Reservation (MSISR) Scholarship for Marine Corps: The Frederick C. Branch scholarship
* Naval Preparatory Program (NPP) Scholarship
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Slaying Myths About Paying for College
Search Engines and Scholarship Programs
- American Indian College Fund – Provides Native American students with scholarships and financial support for the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities.
- American Indian Graduate Center & AIGCS - The largest scholarship providers to Native students in the United States, awarding $15 million in scholarships annually and more than $200 million since inception.
- Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.
- CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.
- Chegg – A place to connect with scholarships and learn about colleges.
- The College Board Opportunity Scholarships - The program guides juniors and seniors through the college planning process and offers the chance to earn scholarships, from $500 to $40,000, for every action that students complete.
- Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.
- Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.
- Fastweb – Create a profile and let fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships colleges and more for you.
- Going Merry - A free, one-stop scholarships platform. It matches you with scholarships and then helps you apply directly. It has both local and national scholarships and you can bulk-apply for multiple scholarships, which share similar essay prompts, using one application.
- HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation - A national scholarship provider dedicated to advancing the education of promising students who have financial need. Open to high-achieving high school seniors who seek to attend and graduate from some of the nation's best four-year college and universities.
- The NSHSS Foundation - The NSHSS Foundation fosters the growth of students pursuing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and sustainability fields. The NSHSS Foundation connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth and career interests.
- Reagan Foundation Scholarships - Scholarship opportunities for outstanding student leaders.
- Ruth Cheatham Foundation - Supports teen and young adult cancer survivors financially via scholarships to ensure access to higher education, as well as through supportive services to ensure college graduation.
- Scholar Snapp - A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information - including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. - from one scholarship application to another thereby streamlining the college scholarship application process.
- Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.
- Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic & capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
