The Office of Undergraduate Admissions awards scholarships to first-time, first-year freshman applicants. Students who apply by regular decision and submit required credentials by Jan. 15 will be automatically considered for the university's merit-based scholarships. Students who wish to be considered for the university's most prestigious scholarships must also complete the South Carolina Honors College application by Nov. 15.
For more information, visit our pages on scholarships for residents and nonresidents.
General university scholarship offers, including merit scholarships will be issued by mid-March. Scholarship recipients will receive an email notification when their award offers are posted online. Departmental award notifications vary; check directly with the department for details.
To accept your award, submit your nonrefundable $200 enrollment deposit by May 1. Applications for admission are subject to cancellation if we do not receive the enrollment deposit by May 1. If you are a South Carolina student claiming S.C. residency for in-state tuition purposes, please complete the S.C. Residency Certification Form.
Due to the competitiveness of the scholarship awarding process and financial aid pool, the university is unable to negotiate aid or scholarship awards.
The USC STEM Supplement, Presidential Scholars Award and the Provost Scholars Award are the only scholarships that can be combined with another scholarship from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Note that total university aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance, even if the student is eligible for departmental awards or “stackable” university scholarships, such as the Provost Scholars Award.
Due to the competitiveness of the scholarship awarding process, we are unable to award any additional scholarships at this time. You are welcome to complete our scholarship appeal form by April 22 and we will consider your request should additional funds become available.
No. The freshman applicant pool is one of our most competitive on record, and we carefully allocated scholarships in accordance with our scholarship budget and institutional enrollment goals.
All general university scholarships are awarded based on academic merit. We only consider choice of major when evaluating a freshman applicant for the USC STEM Supplement, which applies to students pursuing degrees in science, math, technology and engineering fields (STEM fields). The USC STEM Supplement is a one-time, freshman-year only supplement available to admitted in-state freshmen who are named Palmetto Fellows Scholarship winners and who enroll in a STEM-eligible major. The USC STEM Supplement may be added to any other general university scholarship.
All students will be considered for merit scholarships even if they choose to apply test-optional.
Students may be considered for awards and should submit the FAFSA online at fafsa.gov as early as Oct. 1, but no later than April 1. Be sure to list the University of South Carolina code on the application: 003448.
Visit Financial Aid and Scholarships to review the departmental scholarships as well as information about non-university scholarships.
Scholarships are awarded to first-time, first-year freshmen for the fall semester only. Scholarships cannot be deferred to the spring semester.