What are the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship requirements?

Either a 1200 SAT (or 25 ACT), a 3.50 GPA on South Carolina's Uniform Grading Policy and a top-6% class rank, or a 1400 SAT (or 31 ACT) and a 4.00 UGP GPA regardless of rank. You must also be a South Carolina resident and enroll full-time at an eligible South Carolina college the fall after graduation.

When is the Palmetto Fellows deadline for the class of 2027?

The early application closes May 1, 2027 and the late application closes July 15, 2027, per the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Your school counselor starts the application and you submit it online before 11:59 p.m. on the deadline. The early round accepts scores through the March 6, 2027 SAT and April 10, 2027 ACT; the late round through the June 5 SAT and June 12 ACT.

Does Palmetto Fellows accept superscores?

Yes. For the SAT, you combine your highest math score with your highest evidence-based reading and writing score. For the ACT, you use your highest English, math and reading scores, which can come from different test dates; a science score can be included but isn't required.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Requirements: 1200 SAT and Top 6%, or 1400 and a 4.0 -- and the May 1, 2027 Deadline

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship requirements come in two versions. You need a 1200 SAT (or 25 ACT), a 3.50 GPA and a top-6% class rank, or a 1400 SAT (or 31 ACT) and a 4.00 GPA, regardless of rank. It's South Carolina's top merit award: up to $6,700 your freshman year and $7,500 a year after, or up to $10,000 a year with the STEM, education or accounting enhancement. For the class of 2027, the early application closes May 1, 2027 and the late application closes July 15, 2027.

All rules below are from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE): the May 2026 Palmetto Fellows regulation and CHE's class of 2027 application timeline and student information packet.

The two ways to qualify

	Standard criteria	Alternate criteria
Test score	1200 SAT or 25 ACT	1400 SAT or 31 ACT
GPA (SC Uniform Grading Policy)	3.50	4.00
Class rank	Top 6%	Not required

Source: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

Which GPA and rank count depends on when you apply. For the early round, CHE uses your GPA at the end of junior year and your rank at the end of sophomore or junior year. For the late round, it uses your GPA at the end of senior year and your rank at the end of sophomore, junior or senior year. Rank is calculated on the Uniform Grading Policy scale, using diploma candidates only. If your high school doesn't rank, you must use the alternate criteria (1400 and 4.00).

Superscores count. For the SAT, combine your highest math and highest reading-and-writing scores. For the ACT, use your highest English, math and reading scores, even from different test dates; science is optional.

Class of 2027 dates

	Early application	Late application
Last SAT counted	March 6, 2027	June 5, 2027
Last ACT counted	April 10, 2027	June 12, 2027
Application closes	May 1, 2027	July 15, 2027

Source: CHE, 2026-2027 Palmetto Fellows Application Timeline.

How it works: your school counselor identifies eligible students and starts the application; you submit it online before 11:59 p.m. on the deadline. CHE says there are no late submissions. Early notifications go out as applications are processed. You can't apply in the late round using the early-round criteria, and per the regulation, students who decline to apply forfeit future eligibility.

What it pays

Freshman year: up to $6,700.
Sophomore through senior year: up to $7,500 a year.
With the enhancement (approved math, science, education or accounting majors): up to $10,000 a year combined, starting sophomore year, for up to six terms. STEM students must complete at least 14 credit hours of math or life and physical science in their first year.

Half is paid in fall and half in spring, toward the cost of attendance after other gift aid. The scholarship covers up to eight full-time terms toward a first bachelor's degree at an eligible South Carolina four-year college.

Keeping it

You must earn 30 credit hours and a 3.0 institutional GPA by the end of each academic year. CHE notes that AP, IB, dual enrollment and exempt hours can't count toward the 30 credit hours.

You also must enroll full-time at an eligible South Carolina college the fall term immediately after high school graduation, unless you complete CHE's gap-year process.

If you don't qualify

Students who don't reach Palmetto Fellows can still qualify for LIFE (up to $5,000 a year with two of: a 3.0 GPA, 1100 SAT/22 ACT, top-30% rank) or HOPE (up to $2,800, freshman year). See LIFE requirements. CHE's workshop materials put it plainly: after the July 15 deadline, students not in the Palmetto Fellows system "can no longer apply and are now LIFE students."

What this means for you

Talk to your counselor now about whether you're on track for the early round; the counselor starts the application.
Your last early-round test dates are March 6 (SAT) and April 10 (ACT). Plan retakes before then.
Superscore your way to 1200 or 1400. Your best sections across test dates count.
Consider the major. An approved STEM, education or accounting major can raise the award to $10,000 a year.
South Carolina's class of 2027 National Merit Semifinalist cutoff is 212; Palmetto Fellows is a separate, state-run award.