Grants

Grants are need-based, financial-assistance awards that generally do not have to be repaid.

The federal government, your state government, the College of Charleston, or private or nonprofit organizations, may offer grants to assist you in paying for your education. In most cases, you'll need to complete the FAFSA to apply for grants.

Grant Eligibility & Awards

The FAFSA is required for all federal financial aid. In many cases, submitting the FAFSA automatically places you into consideration for federal grants. Review the eligibility requirements and award ranges for various grant programs and see what might be available to you at the College of Charleston.
  • Federal Pell Grant

    Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have significant financial need and meet the other requirements for Federal Student Aid assistance. 

    To Apply

    • For Pell Grant consideration, you must first submit the Free Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
    • Based on your FAFSA, College of Charleston will determine your eligibility for a Pell Grant and how much you'll be eligible to receive.
    • You will need to complete a FAFSA form each year to remain eligible for federal student aid, including the Pell Grant.
    Learn More About the Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)  

    The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG) provides grants to undergraduate students with the greatest financial need to help them pay for their college education. 

    To Apply

    • To be considered for an FSEOG, a first-time, degree-seeking student should complete the FAFSA 
    • College of Charleston will award FSEOGs to students with the greatest financial need.
       
    Learn More About FSEOG
  • Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College Higher Education Grant Program

    The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program awards grants to teacher education students admitted to a "high-need" teacher education program and who meet specific academic requirements.

    To Apply

    • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You do not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for a TEACH Grant.
    • Contact the College of Charleston Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs to learn about the programs of study that are Teach-Grant-eligible.

    • To receive a TEACH Grant you must meet the following criteria: 

      • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. 
      • Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program. 
      • Be a declared education major. 
      • Complete the TEACH Grant counseling online.
      • Complete an electronic TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.
      • Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college-admission test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).

    In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students.

    As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. 

     

     

    Learn More About the TEACH Grant
  • South Carolina Need-Based Grant  

    South Carolina Need-based Grants may be awarded to first-time, degree-seeking students who are residents of South Carolina and have not previously received the grant for more than six semesters.

    This is an annual award that is not automatically renewed. 

    To Apply

    • To be considered for a South Carolina Need-based Grant, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    • Based on your FAFSA, College of Charleston will determine your eligibility for a South Carolina Need-based Grant and how much you'll be eligible to receive.
    • Students awarded a South Carolina Need-based Grant can view the award in MyPortal where they can read the terms and conditions and accept the award. 
    Learn about SC Need-Based Grants
  • Institutional Need-Based Grant  

    Institutional Need-based Grants are College of Charleston financial awards offered to first-time, degree-seeking students. A student must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

    In addition, upperclassmen must have earned at least 30 hours.

    To Apply

    • To be considered for an Institutional Need-based Grant, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    • Based on your FAFSA, College of Charleston will determine your eligibility for an Instituional Need-based Grant and how much you will be eligible to receive.
  • Additional State Grants

    Your state of residency may provide grant opportunities to help you finance your College of Charleston education.

    To Apply

  • HEERF

    April 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act establishes and funds the HEERF.  This act directs institutions of higher education (“institutions”) to use no less than 50 percent of funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.  College of Charleston (CofC) received $3.8 million in student funding from the federal CARES Act.

    CofC CARES Grants were awarded to students based on guidelines from the DoE and EAB. Students had to file a 19-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate eligibility to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA.  Students had to be enrolled in the spring 2020 classes prior to the closure of campus. Following the federal government’s recommendation to prioritize students with the greatest need, CofC created an awarding philosophy for the distribution of these limited funds to students based on 2019-2020 FAFSA filing, with priority given to students with the lowest FAFSA expected family contribution (EFC).  There was no separate application for the CARES Act funding.

    December 2020, The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 included additional COVID-19 relief through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act. This new COVID stimulus bill included $23 billion for higher education institutions and students, using the same HEERF model established in the CARES Act.

    Unlike the CARES Act/HEERF I funds, the CRRSA does not require that 50% of an institution’s funds be spent on student grants. It does, however, require that institutions spend the same amount on student grants as they were required to spend under the CARES Act. The allowable uses of funds are more flexible than in the CARES Act, with institutions permitted to use their funds to defray expenses associated with COVID-19, including lost revenue, reimbursements for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with the transition to distance education, faculty and staff training, and payroll. Institutions may also use their funds to carry out student support activities authorized by the Higher Education Act (HEA), or to provide emergency grants to students (including those enrolled exclusively in distance education). The grants may be used to cover any component of a student’s cost of attendance (COA), or for emergency costs that arise due to COVID-19, including tuition, food, housing, health care and child care. The expanded allowable uses for funds would apply to both new HEERF funds and unspent CARES Act funds.

    CofC CRRSA Grants were awarded to students based on guidelines from the DoE and EAB. CofC created an awarding philosophy for the distribution of these limited funds to students.  Eligibility was not limited to completing the 2019-2020 FAFSA. There was no separate application for the CRRSA funding.

    March 2021, The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) is authorized by the The American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2, signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Similar to the CRRSA/HEERF II funds, the HEERF III funds contained no student eligibility requirements either. However, institutions were required to prioritize grants to students with exceptional financial need, such as those who receive Pell Grants.  In September 2021 @ 50% of CofC ARP grant funding was awarded to students enrolled in Fall 2021 classes.  Grants awarded to students based on guidelines from the DoE and EAB.  CofC created an awarding philosophy for the distribution of these limited funds to students.  Eligibility was not limited to completing the 2021-2022 FAFSA. There was no separate application for the ARP funding.  In Febuary 2022 the remaining 50% of CofC ARP grant funding was awarded to students enrolled in Spring 2022 classes.

    DoE HEERF Reporting:

    30-Day Fund Report
    45-Day Fund Report
    Quarterly Report ending 12-31-20
    Quarterly Report ending 03-31-21
    Quarterly Report ending 06-30-21
    Quarterly Report ending 09-30-21
    Quarterly Report ending 12-31-21
    Quarterly Report ending 03-31-22
    Quarterly Report ending 06-30-22
    Quarterly Report ending 09-30-22