Financial Aid

SC HOPE Scholarship

The SC HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship created for eligible students attending a four-year SC institution who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. The program was established under the SC Education Lottery Act approved by the General Assembly in 2001. The scholarship is awarded during the freshman year of attendance only. Funding for the program is dependent upon the annual proceeds generated by the SC Education Lottery.
 

Eligibility Requirements

 

Terms of Eligibility

Award Information

 

To Become Eligible for the LIFE Scholarship

Additional Information

 

Eligibility Requirements


First-time entering freshmen must meet the following requirements to qualify for the SC HOPE Scholarship:

  • Graduate from high school with a 3.0 cumulative grade point ratio on the SC Uniform Grading Scale. No other grading policy will be allowed to qualify for the scholarship.

    • The grade point average must be reported to two decimal places (minimum) and cannot be rounded.

    • The GPA must be calculated after official completion of courses required for graduation.

  • Must be one of the following:

    • a member of a class graduating from a high school located in South Carolina; or

    • a home school student who has successfully completed a high school home school program in SC in the manner required by law*; or

    • a student graduating from a preparatory high school outside of SC while a dependent of a parent or guardian who is a legal resident of SC and has custody of the dependent.

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under state residency statutes.

  • Must be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and at the time of college enrollment.

  • Must be admitted, enrolled full-time, and classified as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in an eligible institution in SC. (A USC Aiken student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 USCA credit hours per semester.)

  • Must never have been adjudicated delinquent, nor have been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony in any state.

  • Must not have been adjudicated delinquent, nor have been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor in any state within the 12 months prior to the period of the award;

  • Must not be in default or owe a refund or repayment on any Federal or State financial aid; and

  • Must not be eligible for or be a recipient of a LIFE Scholarship or a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.
     

    * Parents of home schooled students are encouraged to carefully investigate the requirements of the law before  graduation. Contact the SC Commission on Higher Education at (803) 737-2260 if you have questions or concerns about the home school association with which you are affiliated.

TRANSFER STUDENTS:


A student who transfers from one institution to an eligible institution during the freshman year of attendance is eligible to receive the SC HOPE Scholarship if the student met all eligibility requirements at the beginning of the academic year.

 

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Terms of Eligibility


 Students are eligible to receive the SC Hope Scholarship for no more than two terms during the first year of attendance only. The maximum number of terms of availability is based on the student's initial college enrollment. For example, if a student enrolls in college for the first time in Fall 2008, the last term of eligibility will be Spring 2009. If a student enrolls in Spring 2009, the last term of eligibility will be Fall 2009.

A student who initially enrolls mid-year and receives the HOPE Scholarship during the Spring semester and then qualifies for the LIFE Scholarship at the end of the Summer term will not be eligible to receive HOPE for the Fall semester. If the student does not meet the requirements for the LIFE Scholarship, the student may receive the HOPE Scholarship for the Fall semester.

 

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Award Amount


 Eligible students attending a SC four-year public or private institution will receive up to $2,800 during the first year of attendance only.  This amount includes a $300 book allowance.


 Note: The HOPE Scholarship in combination with all other scholarships and grants may not exceed the cost-of-attendance as defined in Title IV regulations.
 

Dropping a Class or Withdrawing


 If you are receiving the HOPE Scholarship or any other financial aid, dropping a class or withdrawing may affect your refund. Depending upon the type(s) of financial aid awards involved, the timing of the withdrawal, the amount of the refund, and other factors, the financial aid recipient might receive a portion of the total refund amount or none of the refund amount.


Under certain circumstances, the financial aid recipient who withdraws or drops classes will be required to repay financial aid funds received. A student who drops below full-time enrollment (a minimum of 12 USCA hours) before the end of the 100% refund period  (the end of the first week of classes), will not be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship for the current semester. Repayment of HOPE Scholarship funds disbursed will be required.


 A student who is considering withdrawing or dropping a class should consult a Financial Aid Administrator before taking this action.

 

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To Become Eligible for the LIFE Scholarship


A student who is eligible to receive the SC HOPE Scholarship as a first-time entering freshman may become eligible to receive the LIFE Scholarship by meeting the following criteria:

  • Meet all general eligibility criteria.

  • Earn 30 credit hours by the end of the academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer), excluding remedial/ developmental courses, non-degree credit courses for an associate degree or higher, and continuing education courses.

    • A student whose initial college enrollment was mid-year may become eligible for the LIFE Scholarship by earning 15 credit hours by the end of the academic year (Spring, Summer).

    • Any credit hours earned before high school graduation, Advanced Placement (AP) credit hours, exempted credit hours, and credit hours earned while on active duty will be used toward the credit hour requirement.

  • Earn a minimum 3.0 LIFE GPA by the end of the academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer):

    • The LIFE GPA is the cumulative GPA earned at all eligible public and independent institutions attended by the student (excluding remedial/developmental courses, non-degree credit courses for an associate degree or higher, and continuing education courses).

    • Students who have earned a 3.0 LIFE GPA by the end of the Spring semester and choose to enroll in a Summer session(s) will NOT be eligible to receive the LIFE Scholarship if their LIFE GPA falls below a 3.0 at the end of the summer enrollment.  

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For Further Information

  • You may access further, more detailed information on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education website at  www.che.sc.gov/New_Web/GoingToCollege/HOPE_Hm.htm. 
     

  • You may also contact the Scholarship Program Coordinator in the USC Aiken Office of Financial Aid if you have further questions or if you need additional information:

471 University Parkway  w  Aiken, SC  29801
Telephone: (803) 641-3476  w  Fax: (803) 643-6840
 E-mail: stuaid@usca.edu
 

 

Please be aware that the information provided here is subject to change by the SC Legislature or the SC Commission on Higher Education. You may view guidelines for the HOPE and LIFE Scholarship Programs at www.che.sc.gov/New_Web/GoingToCollege/FinAsst.htm.

 

 

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Inquiries to StuAid@usca.edu
 Last updated/reviewed 09.20.08