Scholarship Description
The Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship. Its purpose is to increase access to higher education, improve employability of South Carolina students, provide incentives for students to be better prepared for college, and encourage students to graduate from college on time. The scholarship may be used towards the cost of attendance for up to eight terms, based on the student’s initial college enrollment date.
Awards: Vary depending on type of institution
Eligibility: Entering freshmen must meet two of three academic criteria. Students may retain or earn the LIFE scholarship.
General Eligibility Requirements:
• Graduate from high school or complete a home school program as prescribed by law;
• Attend an eligible South Carolina public or private college or university;
• Be a South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and at the time of college enrollment;
• Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident (who meets the definition of a eligible non-citizen according to State
Residency Statutes);
• Be enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking student;
• Certify that he or she has never been convicted of any felonies and has not been convicted of any second of
subsequent alcohol or other drug-related misdemeanor convictions within the past academic year;
• Verify that he or she is not in default and does not owe a refund or repayment on any Federal or State financial aid;
• Must not be a SC HOPE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or Lottery Tuition Assistance recipient.
• For a LIFE Scholarship Enhancement, students must attend an eligible four-year South Carolina public or private
college or university.
Initial Eligibility Requirements for a LIFE Scholarship:
In order to qualify for the LIFE Scholarship, first-time entering freshman attending an eligible four-year institution must
meet two of three of the following criteria:
1. Earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) based on the SC Uniform Grading Scale upon high school graduation
a. The grade point average must be reported to two decimal places (minimum) and cannot be rounded. The
GPR must be calculated after official completion of courses required for graduation.
2. Score an 1100 on the SAT or an equivalent 24 on the ACT
a. SAT/ACT scores will be accepted through the June national test administration of the high school graduation year.
b. It is permissible to select the highest SAT Critical Reading score (formerly known as SAT Verbal) combined with the highest SAT Math score from different test administrations. Students cannot use the SAT Writing subsection score to meet the minimum 1100 SAT requirement.
c. The ACT composite score must be at one test sitting.
3. Rank in the top 30% of the graduating class
a. The ranking percentages must be reported in two decimal places (minimum) and cannot be rounded. The
class rank must be based on the SC Uniform Grading Scale.
b. The rank must be based on all students who received their diploma during the traditional graduation
ceremony typically in May/June. The graduating class cannot include any students who graduated during the summer.
First-time entering freshmen attending an eligible two-year or technical institution must earn a cumulative
3.0 GPA based on the UGS as described in (1a) above. The standardized test score and class rank requirements
are waived.
Year of Need: College Freshman,
Type: Merit Based
Num Awards: Multiple
Min Award:
Max Award:
Deadline: 2022-12-31
Website: http://ed.sc.gov/
Sponsoring Organization
South Carolina Department of Education
1429 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Contact Person:
Phone: 803-734-4397
Fax:
Web: http://ed.sc.gov/
Email:
