What is the difference between Palmetto Fellows, LIFE and HOPE?

They're three tiers of South Carolina merit aid. Palmetto Fellows is the top tier: a 1200 SAT, 3.50 GPA and top-6% rank, or a 1400 SAT and 4.00 GPA, for up to $6,700 freshman year and $7,500 after. LIFE needs two of three -- a 3.0 GPA, 1100 SAT/22 ACT, top-30% rank -- for up to $5,000 a year at a four-year college. HOPE covers students with a 3.0 GPA who don't qualify for LIFE, at up to $2,800 for freshman year only.

How do you apply for South Carolina scholarships?

Palmetto Fellows has its own application, started by your high school counselor and submitted by you; for the class of 2027 the early deadline is May 1, 2027 and the late deadline is July 15, 2027. LIFE and HOPE have no separate application -- your college's financial aid office determines eligibility. File the FAFSA for the need-based grant.

Can you get Palmetto Fellows and LIFE at the same time?

No. You receive one: Palmetto Fellows if you qualify, otherwise LIFE, otherwise HOPE. Students in approved math, science, education or accounting majors can add a scholarship enhancement to Palmetto Fellows or LIFE starting sophomore year.

South Carolina Scholarships: Palmetto Fellows vs. LIFE vs. HOPE, the Need-Based Grant, and the Deadlines That Matter

South Carolina scholarships come in three merit tiers, all funded by the state lottery. Palmetto Fellows, the top tier, pays up to $6,700 your freshman year and $7,500 a year after that. LIFE pays up to $5,000 a year at four-year colleges. HOPE pays up to $2,800, for freshman year only. You get one of them, not more than one. Palmetto Fellows is the only tier with its own application: for the class of 2027, the early deadline is May 1, 2027.

The details below are from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE), which oversees all three: its scholarship pages, the May 2026 Palmetto Fellows regulation, its class of 2027 Palmetto Fellows application materials and its program FAQs.

The three merit scholarships side by side

	Palmetto Fellows	LIFE	HOPE
Qualify with	1200 SAT + 3.50 GPA + top 6% rank, or 1400 SAT + 4.00 GPA	Two of three: 3.0 GPA, 1100 SAT/22 ACT, top 30% rank (four-year colleges)	3.0 GPA, if you don't qualify for LIFE
Amount	Up to $6,700 (year 1), $7,500 (years 2-4)	Up to $4,700 + $300 book allowance at four-year colleges	Up to $2,800 including a $300 book allowance
Length	Up to 8 terms	Up to 8 terms	Freshman year only
Application	Palmetto Fellows application (May 1 early / July 15 late, class of 2027)	None -- your college determines eligibility	None -- your college determines eligibility
To keep it	3.0 GPA and 30 credit hours each year	3.0 LIFE GPA and an average of 30 credit hours a year	--
STEM / education / accounting enhancement	Up to $10,000 a year combined, from sophomore year	Up to $2,500 more a year, from sophomore year	--

Sources: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. GPAs are on the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy (UGP) scale.

Palmetto Fellows: the top tier

Palmetto Fellows rewards the state's highest-achieving seniors. You qualify with either:

1200 SAT (or 25 ACT), a 3.50 UGP GPA, and a top-6% class rank, or
1400 SAT (or 31 ACT) and a 4.00 UGP GPA, regardless of rank.

Your high school counselor starts the application, and you submit it online. The class of 2027's early application closes May 1, 2027. The late application closes July 15, 2027. Palmetto Fellows lets you superscore: your best SAT sections, or best ACT subject scores, can come from different test dates. See Palmetto Fellows requirements and deadlines.

LIFE: the scholarship most students get

LIFE goes to students at four-year colleges who meet two of three criteria: a 3.0 UGP GPA, an 1100 SAT or 22 ACT, or a top-30% class rank. At two-year colleges, a 3.0 GPA alone qualifies. It pays up to $4,700 plus a $300 book allowance at four-year colleges. There's no application: your college's financial aid office determines eligibility. Keeping it takes a 3.0 LIFE GPA and an average of 30 credit hours a year. See LIFE requirements and renewal.

HOPE is the fallback for four-year students with a 3.0 GPA who don't qualify for LIFE: up to $2,800 for the first year only.

The STEM, education and accounting enhancements

If you're in a CHE-approved math or science, education or accounting major, the scholarship enhancement adds money from your sophomore year on:

Palmetto Fellows plus enhancement: up to $10,000 a year combined.
LIFE plus enhancement: up to $2,500 more a year.

For STEM, you must complete at least 14 credit hours of math or life and physical science in your first year. CHE publishes the list of approved programs.

Need-based aid and two-year colleges

SC Need-Based Grant: up to $3,500 a year full-time ($1,750 part-time) at public colleges, awarded by your college from your FAFSA.
Lottery Tuition Assistance: for students at two-year public and some independent colleges who don't have HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows. CHE lists $80 per credit hour toward tuition for the current year, after federal grants and the need-based grant.

CHE says the 2027-28 FAFSA is already open.

What this means for you

Ask your counselor now whether you're on the Palmetto Fellows list. The counselor starts the application; you finish it by May 1 (early) or July 15 (late).
Know which test date counts. The early Palmetto Fellows round accepts scores through the March 6, 2027 SAT and April 10, 2027 ACT.
If you're near LIFE's line, any two of three is enough: a 3.0 GPA plus either an 1100 SAT or a top-30% rank.
Picking a STEM, education or accounting major can add $2,500 or more a year from sophomore year.
Check where your school stands. South Carolina's class of 2026 averaged 1013 on the SAT; see South Carolina high school SAT scores.