S.C. LIFE Scholarship

The Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship is a merit-based award funded by the State of South Carolina and available to eligible South Carolina residents attending the College of Charleston.

No separate application is required. The College of Charleston automatically reviews all incoming students and transfer students for LIFE Scholarships.

  • Award amount at the College of Charleston: $5,000 per year
  • Maximum duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
  • LIFE Scholarship Enhancement (for eligible majors): Up to $2,500 additional per year, beginning sophomore year.

The information on this page is subject to change by either the South Carolina General Assembly or the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. View the most recent guidelines for the Palmetto Fellows program at S.C. Commission on Higher Education (CHE).

Read More: LIFE Scholarship at CHE

What you need to know about the LIFE Scholarship

The LIFE Scholarship has specific eligibility, renewal and Enhancement requirements set by the State of South Carolina. Here are some quick answers to help guide you through the process at the College of Charleston.
  • Do I qualify for the Life Scholarship?

    Incoming first-year students must meet two of the following three criteria:

    • High school GPA of 3.0 or higher on the S.C. Uniform Grading Scale
    • Graduated in the top 30.00% of your high school class
    • SAT score of 1100 or higher (Critical Reading + Math) or ACT score of 22 or higher
      (Note: While standardized test scores are optional for College of Charleston admission, they may be submitted to help establish LIFE Scholarship eligibility if you do not meet the class ranking requirement.)

    Incoming transfer students must meet the following criteria:

    • 3.0 LIFE GPA
    • Cumulative average of 30 credit hours per academic year
    • Submit final high school transcript
      (Note: While final high school transcripts are not required for transfer student addmission, they are required for formal scholarship review.)

    All students must also meet these general requirements:

    • Be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and college enrollment
    • Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
    • Have graduated from a S.C. high school, an approved home-school program, or a preparatory school outside S.C. while a dependent of a S.C. resident parent or guardian
    • Be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours) working toward a first undergraduate degree
    • Not be receiving the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or the S.C. HOPE Scholarship
    • Not owe a refund or be in default on any federal or state educational loan
    • Have no felony convictions and no second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor convictions within the past academic year
  • How do I keep the LIFE Scholarship?

    To renew your LIFE Scholarship each year, you must:

    • Maintain a cumulative LIFE GPA of 3.0 or higher (this includes all college courses taken at any accredited institution — not just CofC)
    • Complete an average of 30 credit hours per academic year
      • 60 total by end of year two
      • 90 total by end of year three

    Students who do not meet renewal requirements at the end of the spring term and do not make up the deficiency in the immediate summer term, cannot regain eligibility until the following academic year.

    Important: The LIFE GPA is calculated differently from your CofC cumulative GPA. It includes all college level courses taken from any accredited insitution. It does not include any remedial or developmental course work. You can view your LIFE GPA in MyPortal under the Financial Aid tile.

     

  • What is the LIFE Scholarship Enhancement?

    Students majoring in an eligible STEM program (mathematics, science or engineering) or teacher education program 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. LIFE Scholarship

    To qualify for the education enhancement, students must:

    • Be enrolled in an approved teacher education program
    • Maintain eligibility for the S.C. LIFE 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
  • How does the LIFE Scholarship work with other College of Charleston aid?

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

    • S.C. LIFE recipients can not receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or the S.C. HOPE Scholarship.
    • The S.C. LIFE 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 S.C. LIFE award and could require repayment

     

  • Can I use the LIFE Scholarship in summer?

    Yes. LIFE Scholarship recipients who have met their spring renewal requirements may elect to use the scholarship in summer if enrolled in at least 12 LIFE-eligible credit hours. Using the scholarship in summer counts against your 8 total semesters of eligibility.

     

  • What if I lose LIFE eligibility?

    Students who don't meet GPA or credit hour requirements at the end of the academic year lose eligibility for the academic year. Eligibility may be regained the next academic year by meeting all renewal requirements. If you believe your situation warrants an exception, appeals are handled through the SC Commission on Higher Education.