Skip to content

Automatic merit · By state

Automatic Merit Scholarships in South Carolina

12 colleges in South Carolina automatically consider every admitted student for merit aid, with no separate scholarship application — 7 public and 5 private. Every award below is drawn verbatim from that school's own verified merit-aid page.

Verified Jul 20263 days ago· MP

What this page shows

12 South Carolina colleges award merit automatically, with no separate application.

Each school below publishes an automatic merit rule — an award the school hands out based on your admitted GPA and test score, or on your academic record at admission, with no separate scholarship form. Amounts are the school’s own verbatim figures, and each school links to its full published ladder, renewal rules, and stacking policy. Schools without a published automatic tier aren’t listed.

Every South Carolina school with automatic merit

SchoolTypeAutomatic tiersSample automatic awards
CharlestonPublic1Cougar Advantage Scholars: Minimum $4,000 per year in merit scholarship funding
Coastal CarolinaPublic6Presidential Scholarship: $6,000 per year (in-state) / $19,662 per year (out-of-state)President's Scholar Award: $5,000 per year (in-state) / $13,000 per year (out-of-state)Provost's Scholar Award: $4,000 per year (in-state) / $10,000 per year (out-of-state)+3 more on the school page
Francis MarionPublic1Academic Distinction Award (Automatic Minimum): Minimum $1,000 per year
LanderPublic8President's Award — In-State: $6,000/yearPresident's Award — Out-of-State: $4,000/year + $8,000 abatementTrustee's Award — In-State: $4,500/year+5 more on the school page
South CarolinaPublic3Valedictorian Scholars (Resident): $3,000/year (four-year value $12,000)Presidential Scholars Award (Resident, Palmetto Fellows Add-on): $1,000/year (four-year value $4,000)USC STEM Supplement (Resident, Palmetto Fellows STEM): $3,300 (one-time, freshman year only)
The CitadelPublic3SC HOPE Scholarship (SC state portable — first-time freshman only): $2,800/yearSC LIFE Scholarship (SC state portable): $5,000/year (up to $7,500/year with STEM Enhancement)SC Palmetto Fellows Scholarship (SC state portable): $6,700/year (freshman); $7,500/year (soph/jr/sr); up to $10,000/year with STEM Enhancement
WinthropPublic10Winthrop Premier Scholarship (In-State): $8,000 per year ($32,000 four-year value)Winthrop Gold Scholarship (In-State): $6,500 per year ($26,000 four-year value)Winthrop Garnet Scholarship (In-State): $5,000 per year ($20,000 four-year value)+7 more on the school page
AndersonPrivate (religious)2AU Merit-Based Scholarships (President's / Founder's / Provost's / Dean's / AU Grant): $12,000-$18,000Transfer Scholarship: $12,000-$14,000
BJUPrivate (religious)1Academic Scholarship (BJU Merit Scholarships): $7,000-$14,000
North GreenvillePrivate (religious)2NGU Academic Scholarships (Founder's / President's / Dean's): $5,000-$12,000Transfer Scholarships (Levels 1-4): $5,000-$12,000
Presbyterian (PC)Private (religious)1Transfer Merit Scholarships (Transfer Award / Trustee Award / Scotsman / True Blue) — Fall 2026: $22,000-$28,000
FurmanPrivate2Bell Tower Scholarship: Variable, awarded across a tier ladder based on academic achievement and potentialNational Merit Scholarship: $2,000 per year (university-sponsored, renewable)