State Aid

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR STATE PROGRAMS:

All state programs require students to:

  • Meet state residency requirements as outlined in SC statue 59-112
  • Be enrolled in a diploma, certificate or associate degree program
  • Certify that he or she has not been convicted of any felonies, has not been convicted of any alcohol or drug related misdemeanor offenses within the past academic year, and is of good moral character.
  • Certify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on any State or Federal Grant and is not in default on a student loan.
SC Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTA)

The SC Lottery Tuition Assistance Program was established in 2001 under the SC Educational Lottery Act and implemented for the first time during 2002-03 academic year. It was created to provide a supplemental resource to South Carolina residents attending two-year public or independent institutions.

LTA is available to S.C. residents who meet the required eligibility criteria (explained below).

For 2022-2023, full- and part-time students are eligible for $85 per credit hour (with a six-credit-hour minimum and a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester).

  • LTA is not available to assist with book expenses.
  • Students whose tuition is fully covered under another grant are not eligible for LTA.

SC Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTA) Criteria

Students still in High School or students with a bachelor’s degree:

  • Complete the Lottery Certification Form
  • Be enrolled and maintain six credit hours each semester in a certificate, degree or diploma program.

All other students:

  • Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Be enrolled and maintain six credit hours each semester in a certificate, degree or diploma program.
  • Students cannot receive the LIFE, HOPE, or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship in addition to lottery funded tuition assistance.
  • Federal and state grants will be applied against tuition before LTA can be applied.

As a returning student, the additional eligibility requirements are:

  • After attempting 24 credit hours, required GPA is at least a 2.0
  • Only one certificate, diploma or degree within a five year period can be funded through LTA unless the additional program constitutes progress in the same field of study.
  • Maintain satisfactory progress toward the completion of the program of study
Life Scholarship

The LIFE scholarship program for SC high school graduates who earned a cumulative 3.0 GPA and meet all LIFE eligibility requirements (explained below).  The Piedmont Technical College LIFE Certification form is used to determine LIFE Scholarship eligibility.

  • LIFE is a fall and spring scholarship program that covers up to $5,000 in tuition, including a book stipend of up to $300.
  • LIFE recipients are not eligible for LTA in the summer.

LIFE Criteria:

As a first year student in college:

Ensure that the Enrollment Center has a copy of your high school transcript.  If you are a not a recent high school graduate, further information may be required

Complete a PTC Life Certification Form.

  • Enroll in at least 12 credit hours for the fall and spring terms of non-remedial courses; however, to retain the scholarship, 30 credit hours have to be earned within the academic year (fall – summer).  Remedial courses are RDG, ENG or MAT 010-099.  These are not counted toward the 30 credit hour requirement
  • All 100 level courses count in the eligible hours to receive the LIFE scholarship if students are seeking a certificate or a diploma in the first year of college; however, the hours earned in 100 level courses are not counted toward the 30 credit hour requirement to retain the scholarship for the following year.
  • Students have 2 terms of eligibility for a diploma or certificate program or 4 terms of eligibility in an associate degree program.  Terms of eligibility begin with the students’ first term of enrollment.

**All college credits and GPAs earned at South Carolina colleges/universities will be counted towards LIFE eligibility.**

As a returning student:

LIFE Scholarship eligibility for 2022-2023 will be automatically calculated to include grades earned at all public or independent institutions for all students.  It will be the student’s responsibility to submit transcripts from all institutions attended to determine eligibility for the LIFE scholarship.  Institutions will verify this information.

  • Students can progress from a certificate or diploma into an associate degree but must be in the associate degree program by the 2nd year of eligibility.
  • Students can receive the LIFE Scholarship in addition to Federal PELL; therefore, all students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Once a student receives the LIFE Scholarship, the student cannot receive LTA within the same academic year (fall-summer).

The LIFE Scholarship award will be up to $5,000 in tuition, including a book stipend of up to $300.

SC Need-Based Grant Program

The purpose of the SC Need-Based Grant is to provide additional financial aid to South Carolina’s neediest students.  The financial aid office on each public college campus administers the Need-based Grant Program.  A student may receive up to $2,500 annually if enrolled full time and up to $1,250 annually if enrolled part time at Piedmont Technical College.  The grant must be applied directly towards the cost-of-attendance at the college for a maximum of eight full-time equivalent terms. Students must be enrolled in their first one-year program, first associate degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree.  See specific eligibility criteria below.

SC Need-Based Grant Criteria:

  • Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Complete a PTC SC Need Based/Federal Program Certification Form.
  • Be a South Carolina resident for a minimum of one year if an independent student.  If a dependent student, parents must have resided in South Carolina for a year.
  • Have financial need as determined by the FAFSA
  • Be enrolled and maintain six credit hours fall and spring semester in a certificate, degree or diploma program.

As a returning student:

  • As a returning student, must have successfully completed prior year enrollment
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Cannot have previously received a certificate, diploma, associate or baccalaureate degree.
  • Cannot receive this grant for more than 8 semesters.

Graduate from a SC High School with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Student can be a graduate of an approved home school program or a graduate of a preparatory school outside this State if a dependent of a parent or guardian who is a legal SC resident who has custody of the dependent.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is a merit-based program established in 1988 and is administered by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.  Half of the Scholarship is awarded in the fall term and half in the spring. The Scholarship must be applied directly toward the cost of attendance, less any other gift aid received. 

REQUIREMENTS

General Eligibility Requirements:

  • US Citizen/Legal Permanent Resident at the time of high school graduation
  • SC Resident at the time of graduation
  • No felony convictions
  • No second or subsequent alcohol/drug misdemeanors
  • Not in default of any state or federal loans
  • Enroll in a degree-seeking program at an eligible SC institution
  • Cannot be a recipient of the LIFE Scholarship, SC HOPE Scholarship or Lottery Tuition Assistance in the same academic year

Academic Eligibility Requirements
Students are eligible to apply if they meet one of the following sets of academic requirements:

1. Score at least 1200 on the SAT (27 on the ACT)1 by the March national test administration, earn a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA2 on the SC Uniform Grading Policy (SC UGP) at the end of the junior year, and rank in the top 6% of the class at the end of either the sophomore or the junior year;

OR

2. Score at least 1400 on the SAT (32 on the ACT)1 by the March national test administration and earn a minimum 4.00 cumulative GPA2 on the SC UGP at the end of the junior year.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Amounts:

  • First year: $6,700
  • Years 2, 3, and 4: $7,500/year

Maintaining Eligibility
Once a student has been awarded a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, they must do the following to maintain their Scholarship each academic year: 

  • Earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the student’s home institution by the end of each academic year (fall, spring and summer); and
  • Earn at least 30 nonremedial credit hours for graduation purposes by the end of each academic year. Exempted credit hours (i.e., AP, IB, CLEP), credit hours earned before high school graduation (i.e., dual enrollment courses) and credit hours earned the summer term immediately following high school graduation cannot be used to meet the annual credit hours requirement. No waiver for 1st year.

HOW TO APPLY

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship requires an application to be completed on behalf of the student. The application must be completed by the high school counselor/school representative. The school counselor/school representative is responsible for identifying each eligible applicant.

There are two periods when an eligible applicant can be a part of an application period. The Early Award opens May of a student’s junior (3rd) year and closes April 15th of a student’s senior year. The Late Award opens mid-May of a student’s senior year and closes June 30th.

Should the deadline fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the deadline is the preceding Friday. All application materials must be at the office of the SC Commission on Higher Education office by 5:00 p.m.