S.C. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

What you need to know about the S.C. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

• How do I apply for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?

  Unlike many scholarships, the Palmetto Fellows application must be initiated by the student and submitted by your high school counselor. If you believe you may be eligible, contact your school counselor as early as possible in your senior year. Submissions from students or parents will not be accepted by CHE.

• Do I Qualify for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

   All applicants must meet the following general eligibility requirements:

  • Be enrolled in an approved S.C. public or private high school, an eligible home-school program, or a preparatory school outside S.C. while a dependent of a S.C. resident
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident at the time of high school graduation and a legal resident of South Carolina
  • Plan to enroll full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) at an eligible S.C. institution
  • Have no felony convictions and no second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor convictions

  Academic criteria: Early Awards (April 15 deadline):
  
  Students must meet one of the following two sets of criteria:

  • SAT score of 1200 or higher (or ACT of 25) by the March national test administration, a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale at the end of junior year, and top 6% class rank at the end of sophomore or junior year
  • SAT score of 1400 or higher (or ACT of 31) by the March national test administration and a minimum 4.0 cumulative GPA on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale at the end of junior year

  Academic criteria Late Awards (June 30 deadline):
  

  Students must meet one of the following two sets of criteria:

  • SAT score of 1200 or higher (or ACT of 27) by the June national test administration, a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale at the end of senior year, and top 6% class rank at the end of sophomore, junior, or senior year
  • SAT score of 1400 or higher (or ACT of 32) by the June national test administration and a minimum 4.0 cumulative GPA on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale at the end of senior year

  Note: While standardized test scores are optional for College of Charleston admission, SAT or ACT scores are required criteria for Palmetto Fellows eligibility. Students who have not submitted scores for admission may still submit them to CHE through their school counselor to establish scholarship eligibility.
• How Do I Keep the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?

  To renew your Palmetto Fellows Scholarship each year at the College of Charleston, you must:

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all coursework taken at College of Charleston
  • Complete at least 30 credit hours per academic year

  Important: Unlike the LIFE Scholarship, the Palmetto Fellows renewal GPA is based on your College of Charleston coursework only — transfer credits and coursework taken elsewhere do not count toward or against your renewal GPA. You can monitor your eligibility status in MyPortal under the Financial Aid tile.
  
  Students who do not meet renewal requirements at the end of the spring term will lose eligibility if they do not make up the deficiency in the summer term.
• What is the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement?

  Enhancement Funding for STEM and Teacher Education majors
  
  Students majoring in an eligible STEM program (mathematics, science or engineering) at the College of Charleston may qualify for an additional $2,500 per year in Enhancement funding beginning in their sophomore year.

  To qualify for the STEM Enhancement, students must:

  • Be enrolled as a declared major in an eligible College of Charleston STEM program (listed below)
  • Have completed at least 14 credit hours in mathematics or life and physical sciences (or a combination) by the end of their freshman year
  • Maintain eligibility for the S.C. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

  To qualify for the education enhancement, students must:

  • Be enrolled in an approved teacher education program
  • Maintain eligibility for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
  • Sign a promisory note indicating that they will teach in a South Carolina public or charter school one year for every year that they receive the enhancement

  The Enhancement is available for up to three years (six semesters). View the list of eligible College of Charleston courses in the Hub (Login required)

  Note: Students eligible for both the Palmetto Fellows Enhancement and the LIFE Scholarship Enhancement may only receive one.

  Eligible College of Charleston STEM Programs

  • Astrophysics
  • Astronomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Computer Science
  • Computing in the Arts
  • Data Science
  • Environmental and Sustainability Studies (eligible program for students that graduated high school in May 2024 and beyond)
  • Exercise Science
  • General Engineering (eligible program for students that graduated high school in May 2026 and beyond)
  • Geology
  • Integrated Engineering and Business (eligible program for students that graduated high school in May 2026 and beyond)
  • Marine Biology
  • Mathematics
  • Meteorology (eligible program for students that graduated high school May/June 2017 and after)
  • Middle Level Education with a Concentration in both Math and Science
  • Physics
  • Public Health (Please be advised: HEAL 215 and HEAL 230 are the only HEAL courses currently approved through SC Commission on Higher Education as approved coursework towards the 14 hour requirement for Enhancement eligibility.)
  • Systems Engineering
  • Environmental Geosciences
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Software Engineering
  • Statistics
• Can I use the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship in summer?

  Yes. Palmetto Fellows recipients who have met their spring renewal requirements may elect to use the scholarship in summer if enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. Using the scholarship in summer counts against your total of eight eligible semesters.

   

• Can I take a gap year and still receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?

  Yes, with conditions. Students who take a gap year or gap semester immediately following high school graduation must enroll at an eligible S.C. institution no later than the fall term one year after graduation. A Reapplication Form must be submitted to CHE before enrolling. Students who miss this window forfeit the scholarship.

• How does the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship work with other CofC aid?

  The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is applied directly toward your cost of attendance at the College of Charleston. A few things to keep in mind:

  • Palmetto Fellows recipients cannot receive the S.C. LIFE Scholarship or the S.C. HOPE Scholarship
  • The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship/Enhancement can be combined with College of Charleston institutional aid, up to the total cost of attendance as defined under federal Title IV regulations
  • If dropping below full-time enrollment or withdrawing, contact the Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs before making any changes. Doing so may impact your Palmetto Fellows award and could require repayment

  
  

   

• What if I lose Palmetto Fellows eligibility?

  Students who don't meet GPA or credit hour requirements at the end of the academic year lose eligibility for the scholarship. For appeals or extenuating circumstances, contact the SC Commission on Higher Education.