Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship

The Watson-Brown Foundation offers merit- and need-based scholarships to students connected to communities in Georgia and South Carolina. The 2027–28 cycle is open and closes February 1, 2027. Funds are sent to the college or university and may provide up to $3,000 per eligible semester; this is not unrestricted cash, and students should not assume everyone receives the maximum duration.

Applicants must have had a permanent address in one of the Foundation’s 23 listed counties at high-school graduation: 14 in Georgia and nine in South Carolina. Current high-school seniors and undergraduates may apply if they plan to attend a regionally accredited, nonprofit four-year institution. Simply attending a school in one of those counties does not substitute for the residency requirement at graduation.

The online application requires applicants to ensure transcripts and recommendation letters are uploaded by February 1. Annual decisions are mailed by April 15. Continued eligibility requires, among other conditions, at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 12 credits each semester, and renewal paperwork each term. Students with prior postsecondary study may have fewer potential semesters, so review the eligibility calculation before budgeting.

Before applying, confirm that the cycle and academic program match your circumstances and that the window is still open. Start at the administrator’s link, save the rules, and prepare transcripts, FAFSA information, essays, and recommendations in the requested format. Track the application and reference deadlines separately: some portals close different components on different days. After submitting, monitor email and your dashboard until the file is marked complete. Ask your campus financial-aid office how the award will coordinate with FAFSA, other scholarships, and benefits, and request a written estimate of remaining charges. Do not budget funds that have not been awarded.

To compare this benefit with other options, ask financial aid for an estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, and excluded expenses. Confirm whether it renews annually, what GPA or course load it requires, and whom to contact if the student account does not show the payment. Keep award letters and receipts until the school confirms disbursement.

Official program information and application