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Scholarships
Top South Carolina scholarships for you
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Scholarships for South Carolina
Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship
Due: 5/1/26
|No essay
|No Recommendations Required
|No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship is open to undergraduate students enrolled full-time. In accordance with guidelines prescribed by the founder, the grantee institutions award scholarships based on need to Christian women who reside in one of the specified southern states. Students must reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Colonel Kathleen Swacina Scholarship
Due: 5/1/26
$1,500
This scholarship has been established to honor Col. Kathleen Swacina, USA (Ret.), and her accomplishments throughout her career and her affiliation with AFCEA. The Colonel Kathleen Swacina Scholarship will recognize one outstanding college student who has shown the potential to excel in college studies in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Applicants must be a member of the U.S. armed forces or enrolled in a ROTC program; an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S....
SCRLF Scholarships for Hospitality Students
Due: 5/1/26
|No Recommendations Required
|No min. GPA Required
Varies
The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Foundation (SCRLF) manages scholarships on behalf of a variety of organizations that support hospitality education. These scholarships are designed to assist students who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to the hospitality (restaurant, foodservice, lodging, tourism) industry. Applicants must be currently employed in the hospitality industry and/or enrolled and major in culinary arts, baking, and pastry, hospitality and tourism, or a related f...
Nurses Care Scholarships
Due: 6/15/26
Varies
The Nurses Care Specialty License Plate Initiative was created in 2002 to provide an opportunity for nurses and the supporters of nursing to make a contribution to the profession and to increase the public's awareness of the contribution of nurses. The Nurses Care Graduate Nurse Scholarship will be awarded to students currently enrolled in a graduate nursing program pursuing a Master's or doctoral degree. Applicants must be in good academic standing as verified by an unofficial transcript that designates the cumulative GPA. The Nurses Care Undergraduate Nurse Scholarship will be awarded to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate registered nurse program in South Carolina. Applicants must be in good academic standing as verified by an unofficial transcript with evidence of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Students must have completed and passed at least one nursing course (course evident on transcript). Students must intend to seek employment in South Carolina upon graduation. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendations from the faculty of the college or school in which they are enrolled. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
Due: 6/30/26
|No essay
|No Recommendations Required
|No Transcripts Required
$7,500
The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is a merit-based program recognizing the most academically talented high school seniors and encouraging these students to attend college in the state. Palmetto Fellows may receive up to $6,700 their freshman year and up to $7,500 for their sophomore, junior and senior years. Palmetto Fellows may receive scholarship funding for a maximum of eight terms of study toward their first bachelor's degree at an eligible four-year institution in South Carolina. This scholarship also aims to retain talented minority students who might otherwise pursue studies outside the state. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information. In order to be eligible to apply for a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, a high school senior must be enrolled in an approved SC public or private high school, an eligible SC home school program of study or a preparatory high school located outside the State while a dependent of a legal resident of South Carolina. They must certify that they have never been convicted of any felonies and have not been convicted of any second or subsequent alcohol or other drug-related misdemeanor offenses within the past academic year by submitting a signed affidavit to the college financial aid office. Applicants must have a 3.5 UGP GPA and an SAT of 1200 and ACT of 25. They must also be in the 6 percent rank in either 10, 11, and 12. Without regard to the ranking, applicants must have a 4.0 UGP GPA and an SAT of 1400 and ACT of 42. For Early Awards, the deadline is April 15th of the student's senior year. For Late Awards, the deadline is June 30th of the student' s senior year. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
South Carolina Farm Bureau Youth Ambassador Scholarship
Due: 10/1/26
|No Recommendations Required
|No min. GPA Required
|No Transcripts Required
$2,000
The South Carolina Farm Bureau (SCFB) Youth Ambassador Scholarship program aims to surface young leaders passionate about agriculture and cultivate their ability to engage in food and farming conversations with a wide variety of audiences. The program also showcases the opportunities for careers in agriculture and its related industries, as well as providing leadership and advocacy training. Youth Ambassadors should complete their year of service more confident as an advocate for agriculture and in leadership roles. Applicants must be any unmarried male or female between the ages of 17 and 21 who resides in a Farm Bureau member home is eligible to compete. They cannot reach their 22nd birthday before the SCFB Annual Meeting. In the event that an Ambassador marries during his/her year of reign, he or she shall forfeit their title and scholarship eligibility to the first runner-up. Children or stepchildren of employees of the SCFB Federation or affiliate companies are not eligible. Past state winners are not eligible to compete. Students must use the scholarship within two years of being awarded, or if still in high school, within the first two years of post-high school education. For the essay, it is required that the applicants interview at least one farmer or agribusiness person on the essay subject and include a portion of the interview in their essay. The in-person component of the competition is comprised of one-on-one interviews with the judges and oral presentations. The scores of the written essay, application and one-on-one interview will be combined to determine six semi-finalists, three males and three females. Each semi-finalist will give a two-minute presentation based on their essay, followed by an extemporaneous question from the judges. The presentation scores of the semi-finalists will be added to their previous scores. The male and female contestants with the highest overall score will be named the SCFB Youth Ambassadors. The State Competition will be held in conjunction with the SCFB Annual Meeting in December. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Golden Door Scholarship
Due: 10/31/26
|No Recommendations Required
Varies
The Golden Door Scholarship is open to graduating high school students or students who have graduated from a United States high school, or have earned or will earn a high school equivalency diploma. Applicants must reside in one of the eligible regional states. They must be willing to relocate to and enroll full-time in a bachelor's degree program. Applicants can not be a current college student. Scholarship recipients will receive funding for a four-year degree at a Golden Door Scholars regional partner school beginning in the Fall 2026 semester. Additional benefits include mentorship and career coaching. Students who have applied to or are interested in other colleges not considered a GDS partner school should still plan to apply. Students at non-partner schools in the regional areas of NC, SC, and GA may still receive support on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must be willing to pursue majors aligned with Golden Door Scholars' preferred majors list. Software engineering, data analytics, business analytics, and digital marketing are a few popular career paths that meet these criteria. Preference is given to applicants interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree that is career-ready and has high earning potential, meaning applicants will not require an advanced degree to begin their careers. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program
Due: 12/1/26
|No essay
|No min. GPA Required
$6,300
The mission of the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program is to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession and to help them develop leadership qualities. Students may receive up to $6,000 of yearly scholarship for four years, including $300 a year for summer enrichment. Qualifying applicants are invited to a regional screening and all applicants are notified as to whether they have been selected for this second phase of the identification process. The regional screening includes an interview, a presentation, and an assessment of writing ability. The purpose of the interview and presentation is to assess the following: communication skills, commitment to education, knowledge of educational issues, leadership potential, originality in responses, and problem-solving ability. Applicants who have been invited to participate in a regional screening also will be scheduled to complete a 30 minute assessment of writing ability. Students will be screened through a written and oral application process, and will be selected based on high academic achievement, a history of service to the school and community, and a desire to teach South Carolina's children. Please visit the award's website for more information.
James Cothran, KD3NI, Scholarship
Due: 12/30/26
|No essay
|No Recommendations Required
$2,000
The James Cothran, KD3NI, Scholarship will be awarded to those with any active Amateur Radio License Class. Applicants must be residents of the Atlantic Division, the Roanoke Division, the Southeastern Division or Washington, D.C. Applicants may be pursuing any field of study in any institution. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.
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What are South Carolina scholarships?
South Carolina scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in South Carolina or looking to go to school in South Carolina. South Carolina scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for South Carolina scholarships
Before you apply for South Carolina scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for South Carolina scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are South Carolina scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over South Carolina scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find South Carolina scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find South Carolina scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
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Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for South Carolina scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
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Tips for writing scholarship essays
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