Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence Scholarship Program (LIFE)

The LIFE Scholarship program is a merit-based scholarship program. Undergraduate students attending two-year colleges or technical colleges in South Carolina are eligible to receive the amount of tuition and mandatory fees assessed to all students plus a $300 book allowance beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year. Half of the scholarship award will be disbursed in the Fall semester and the other half in the Spring semester. In order to be considered for a LIFE Scholarship, students must meet the following general eligibility requirements:

1. Attend an eligible South Carolina public or private senior college or university;

2. Be a legal resident of the state of South Carolina;

3. Have not been convicted of any felonies or alcohol/drug related convictions;

4. Be a US citizen or a permanent resident;

5. Be a full-time, degree seeking, undergraduate student in an eligible program of study;

6. Must not be a Palmetto Fellow recipient; and

7. Must not be in default, owe a refund, or repayment on Federal or State financial aid.

First time entering freshmen must have graduated from high school with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, calculated after the eighth semester. There are no SAT or ACT requirements for two-year colleges or technical colleges.

Transfer students must have earned a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale at all transferring institutions. A student must have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours (second year transfer), 60 credit hours (third year transfer), or 90 hours (fourth year transfer) or an annual equivalent for a student who begins mid-year at the participating institution and all prior institutions for the previous academic year to be eligible for the scholarship.

When you are awarded the LIFE Scholarship, you will receive it for one year because it is an annual award. In order to receive the scholarship in subsequent years, you must meet the credit hour requirements and have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the academic year. The credit hour requirements are as follows:

1. Students completing first year of college must have earned 30 credit hours;

2. Students completing second year of college must have earned 60 credit hours; and

3. Students completing third year of college must have earned 90 credit hours.

All of the above requirements pertain to two-year colleges and technical colleges. Please note that there are additional requirements for four-year colleges and universities.