South Carolina LIFE Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

Quick overview
- The LIFE Scholarship at the University of South Carolina is currently a $5,000 award.
- Note: any additional requirements for the LIFE Scholarship Enhancement must be completed during your freshman year.
- Important financial rule: the combined total of the LIFE award, the LIFE Enhancement, and all other scholarships/grants cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance (per federal Title IV rules). If your total aid is higher than that cost, some awards may be reduced.

If you lose eligibility
- You can regain the scholarship by meeting the eligibility requirements again in the following academic year.

General eligibility (what every applicant must satisfy)
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen under state residency law.
- South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and for the period you receive the award.
- Graduated from a South Carolina high school — or graduated outside South Carolina while a dependent of a parent/legal guardian who is a South Carolina legal resident. If you graduated elsewhere under that dependent status, tell the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships so you aren’t overlooked.
- Enrolled full time as an undergraduate, working toward your first bachelor’s degree.
- NOT a recipient of the South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.
- No conviction of a second or subsequent alcohol- or drug-related misdemeanor in any state within the past academic year.
- No delinquent judgments, felonies, or convictions/pleas of guilty or nolo contendere for any felony in any state.
- Not in default on federal/state student loans and not owing refunds/repayments on federal/state financial aid.
- Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

For entering freshmen (additional requirements)
- Must meet all General Eligibility items above, and
- Must satisfy two of these three:
1. Final high school GPA of 3.00 (SC Uniform Grading Policy)
2. SAT (critical reading + math) of at least 1100 OR ACT composite of 24 (note: effective Fall 2023 and afterward, the ACT requirement is 22)
3. Graduate in the top 30% of your high school class

For transfer students
- Must meet all General Eligibility items above.
- LIFE eligibility during your first year at USC is determined by your initial college enrollment and by all non‑remedial credit hours and cumulative GPA from your previous institution(s).

For continuing (renewing) students
- Must meet all General Eligibility items above.
- Must maintain South Carolina residency and meet the scholarship’s renewal standards for GPA and credit-hour completion each academic term.
- There are also limits and special rules that affect summer terms and co-op experiences — check the financial aid office for specifics so you don’t accidentally lose eligibility.

If you want help
- If any of this is confusing or you want to check your status, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. It’s better to ask early than to discover a problem later.