Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program
Palmetto Fellows is South Carolina’s merit scholarship for academically accomplished high-school graduates. It is intended to encourage students to pursue a degree at an eligible in-state institution. It is not an automatic tuition waiver or a general benefit for someone who moves to South Carolina after graduation: residency and entry timing are part of the eligibility review.
About Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program
Palmetto Fellows is South Carolina’s merit scholarship for academically accomplished high-school graduates. It is intended to encourage students to pursue a degree at an eligible in-state institution. It is not an automatic tuition waiver or a general benefit for someone who moves to South Carolina after graduation: residency and entry timing are part of the eligibility review.
The Commission on Higher Education publishes two initial achievement pathways that combine GPA, class rank, and ACT/SAT scores, depending on the route. Full criteria vary by graduating class and school type, and the high school must certify academic records. A GPA alone is not enough to assume eligibility; students should review the packet for their class and ask a counselor to confirm which pathway can be documented.
Published award ceilings are up to $6,700 for the first year and up to $7,500 in the second, third, and fourth years, subject to continued eligibility and program limits. Students in approved STEM, education, or accounting fields may seek an enhancement in later years; the education enhancement requires service in a South Carolina public school or repayment of that supplement. The college’s financial-aid office determines the actual award.
For the 2027 graduating class, the early application cycle is underway: CHE published its 2026–27 timeline and counselor workshops for fall 2026. The electronic application depends on high-school certification and its deadlines; prior cohorts had a later pathway for some applicants, but the class of 2026 dates should not be reused. Ask now about the invitation, test-score cutoff, and documents, and confirm renewal rules with the college.
Ask the financial-aid office for a written term-by-term estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, books, and other costs. Keep the award letter, records, and any service agreement. If your studies, residence, or course load change, contact the administrator before that decision affects your aid.
College scholarship and financial-aid program