South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTAP)

During the 2002 Legislative session, the South Carolina General Assembly established the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program. The purpose of the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program is to provide resources that supplement, not supplant, existing resources for educational purposes to South Carolina's students. The program provides tuition assistance. The program will assist students who wish to attend two-year public or independent colleges in the State. In calculating the amount awarded in Lottery Tuition Assistance, any federal grants and Need-based Grants must be awarded first before determining the amount eligible in Lottery Tuition Assistance to be used for payment towards cost-of-tuition. A student may receive up to the cost-of-tuition. The college at which the student is enrolled will notify each student of the exact award amount.

Initially in order to qualify for Lottery Tuition Assistance, a student must meet ALL of the following minimum requirements before being awarded:

1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and complete the process to determine eligibility for federal student aid each academic year;

2. Is a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes;

3. Be a full-time or part-time degree-seeking undergraduate student and be making satisfactory academic progress towards an associate's degree;

4. Have no felony or drug/alcohol convictions;

5. Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a State Grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan program; and

6. Not be eligible for or a recipient of the LIFE Scholarship.

To retain Lottery Tuition Assistance Program funds, a student must have a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) by the end of the academic year, after attempting 24 hours.

In addition, students shall not be eligible to receive Lottery Tuition Assistance for more than one certificate, diploma, or degree earned within any five-year period.

The financial aid office administers the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program and the exact award amount is dependent upon the number of eligible recipients and the amount of funding each academic year. Please note that Lottery Tuition Assistance Program statues and regulations are subjected to change by the South Carolina legislature.