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South Carolina scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$39,364per year · 2025-2026 · ResidentNon-resident $64,052
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

South Carolina is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 15 published awards, and 3 are based on those numbers.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
8 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Stamps Scholars (Nonresident)Approximately $24,700/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate + $15,000 one-time enrichment fund (four-year value approximately $225,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Stamps Scholars (Nonresident)

    Approximately $24,700/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate + $15,000 one-time enrichment fund (four-year value approximately $225,000)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 4.8 weighted (top 1%)
    SAT
    Average 1550
    ACT
    Average 35
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Stamps Scholars (Nonresident)

    Who qualifies

    Honors College application required by Nov. 15. Up to 5 Stamps named annually for nonresidents. Mandatory interview process.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Top OOS award. Carries the Stamps Scholars national network membership. The in-state tuition reduction alone is worth roughly $22,000/year over OOS rates.

  2. McNair Scholars (Nonresident)$22,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate + $12,000 one-time enrichment fund (four-year value > $198,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    McNair Scholars (Nonresident)

    $22,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate + $12,000 one-time enrichment fund (four-year value > $198,000)

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 4.8 weighted (top 1%)
    SAT
    Average 1550
    ACT
    Average 35
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for McNair Scholars (Nonresident)

    Who qualifies

    Up to 20 McNair Scholars named annually for nonresidents. Honors College application required by Nov. 15. Mandatory interview process.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Established in 1998 with a $30 million gift from Robert C. McNair. Same Honors College community as Stamps and Horseshoe Scholars.

  3. Horseshoe Scholars (Nonresident)$11,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate (four-year value > $142,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Horseshoe Scholars (Nonresident)

    $11,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate (four-year value > $142,000)

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 4.8 weighted (top 1%)
    SAT
    Average 1550
    ACT
    Average 35
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Horseshoe Scholars (Nonresident)

    Who qualifies

    Up to 20 Horseshoe Scholars named annually for nonresidents. Honors College application required by Nov. 15.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    The OOS Horseshoe Scholarship is functionally a four-year in-state tuition reduction package with cash on top. The in-state tuition rate is the largest line item.

  4. Carolina Scholars (Resident)$15,000/year (four-year value $70,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Carolina Scholars (Resident)

    $15,000/year (four-year value $70,000)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.3 weighted (top 1%)
    SAT
    Average 1530
    ACT
    Average 34
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Carolina Scholars (Resident)

    Who qualifies

    Honors College application required by Nov. 15. Up to 80 Carolina Scholars named annually for SC residents.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Established 1969. Stackable with the SC Palmetto Fellows Scholarship per state regulations.

  5. 1801 Scholars (Resident)$10,000/year (four-year value $40,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    1801 Scholars (Resident)

    $10,000/year (four-year value $40,000)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.3 weighted (top 1%)
    SAT
    Average 1530
    ACT
    Average 34
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for 1801 Scholars (Resident)

    Who qualifies

    Up to 25 in-state 1801 Scholars annually. Honors College application required by Nov. 15.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

  6. Stamps Scholars (Resident, In-State)Approximately $20,000/year (four-year value approximately $95,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Stamps Scholars (Resident, In-State)

    Approximately $20,000/year (four-year value approximately $95,000)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.3 weighted (top 1%)
    SAT
    Average 1530
    ACT
    Average 34
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Stamps Scholars (Resident, In-State)

    Who qualifies

    Honors College application by Nov. 15. Stackable with Palmetto Fellows.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

  7. Trustees' Endowment Scholars Award (Resident)$5,000/year (four-year value $20,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Trustees' Endowment Scholars Award (Resident)

    $5,000/year (four-year value $20,000)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.3 weighted (top 3%)
    SAT
    Average 1480
    ACT
    Average 34
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Trustees' Endowment Scholars Award (Resident)

    Who qualifies

    Honors College application required by Nov. 15. Awarded based on academic merit AND financial need.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    One of the few merit-need hybrid awards in the SC ladder. Stacks with Palmetto Fellows.

  8. Alumni Scholars (Resident and Nonresident)$8,000/year for residents (four-year $32,000); $8,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate for nonresidents (four-year > $130,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Alumni Scholars (Resident and Nonresident)

    $8,000/year for residents (four-year $32,000); $8,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate for nonresidents (four-year > $130,000)

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.4 weighted (top 2%)
    SAT
    Average 1550
    ACT
    Average 35
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Alumni Scholars (Resident and Nonresident)

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Available to both residency categories. The OOS version's in-state-tuition reduction component is the heavyweight line item.

  9. Provost Scholars Award (National Merit Finalists)Up to $10,000/year for residents (four-year up to $40,000); up to $6,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate for nonresidents (four-year up to $122,800)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Provost Scholars Award (National Merit Finalists)

    Up to $10,000/year for residents (four-year up to $40,000); up to $6,000/year + tuition reduction to in-state rate for nonresidents (four-year up to $122,800)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Provost Scholars Award (National Merit Finalists)

    Who qualifies

    Must be a National Merit Finalist as designated by NMSC and list USC as the institution of choice with NMSC.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters. Provost/National Merit recipients who fall below the required GPA may continue to receive a minimum $500/year scholarship.

    Worth knowing

    May be combined with another general university award (Presidential Scholars and USC STEM Supplement are the only other awards that stack with most general awards). The OOS Provost in-state-tuition reduction is the structural value.

  10. Dean's Scholars (Resident)$3,500/year (four-year value $14,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Dean's Scholars (Resident)

    $3,500/year (four-year value $14,000)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.17 weighted (top 3%)
    SAT
    Average 1382
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Dean's Scholars (Resident)

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Palmetto Fellows recipients automatically receive a minimum $3,500 Dean's Scholars award.

  11. Valedictorian Scholars (Resident)$3,000/year (four-year value $12,000)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Valedictorian Scholars (Resident)

    $3,000/year (four-year value $12,000)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Valedictorian Scholars (Resident)

    Who qualifies

    Class rank: first in class.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

  12. University Scholars (Resident)$2,500/year (four-year value $10,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    University Scholars (Resident)

    $2,500/year (four-year value $10,000)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 5.0 weighted (top 10%)
    SAT
    Average 1323
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for University Scholars (Resident)

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

  13. Garnet Scholars (Resident)$1,000/year (four-year value $4,000)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Garnet Scholars (Resident)

    $1,000/year (four-year value $4,000)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Average 4.78 weighted (top 15%)
    SAT
    Average 1286
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Garnet Scholars (Resident)

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Entry tier of the SC-resident automatic merit ladder.

  14. Presidential Scholars Award (Resident, Palmetto Fellows Add-on)$1,000/year (four-year value $4,000)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Presidential Scholars Award (Resident, Palmetto Fellows Add-on)

    $1,000/year (four-year value $4,000)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    SAT
    1450+
    ACT
    33+
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Presidential Scholars Award (Resident, Palmetto Fellows Add-on)

    Who qualifies

    Must be a named SC Palmetto Fellow.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for 8 semesters with USC GPA ≥ 3.0

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of any other general university award. Combined with Palmetto Fellows ($6,700–$7,500), this builds a $7,700+/year base before adding any other USC merit.

  15. USC STEM Supplement (Resident, Palmetto Fellows STEM)$3,300 (one-time, freshman year only)Automatic
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    USC STEM Supplement (Resident, Palmetto Fellows STEM)

    $3,300 (one-time, freshman year only)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    Open award details for USC STEM Supplement (Resident, Palmetto Fellows STEM)

    Who qualifies

    Must be a Palmetto Fellows recipient enrolling in a STEM-eligible major (science, math, technology, or engineering).

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on any general university award. After freshman year, the STEM Supplement role is taken by the multi-year Palmetto Fellows STEM Enhancement (state-funded), which adds approximately $2,500/year sophomore through senior year for students who earn 14 hours of math/science by end of freshman year.

Lights up against South Carolina's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office.

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The fine print

Cutoff cliffOne ACT point can move the award by +$14,000/yr (Garnet $1,000 → Carolina Scholars $15,000)

South Carolina publishes a tier ladder where crossing Resident · entry Garnet → top-1% Carolina changes the marginal value by +$14,000/yr (Garnet $1,000 → Carolina Scholars $15,000). Spans the SC-resident merit ladder from its entry rung to its top competitive award; both are Honors-track, not automatic on stats.

Aid capHard $64,052 cost-of-attendance ceiling

Institutional aid at South Carolina cannot push the package past $64,052. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

What makes South Carolina different

Public flagship with two parallel merit ladders: a stat-driven general university scholarship for in-state and out-of-state freshmen, plus the invitation-only Top Scholars program (Stamps, McNair, Carolina, Horseshoe, 1801) that pairs a six-figure four-year package with the Honors College. Out-of-state Top Scholars uniquely receive the in-state tuition rate for four years.

Read our full reasoning

Worth optimizing for if your student is a top-1% nonresident, because USC's Top Scholars pair a cash stipend with a tuition reduction to the in-state rate — and at the very top (Stamps) the cash even clears the reduction.

USC's real out-of-state play is the Top Scholars tier. Every Top Scholar shares one structural floor: a tuition reduction to the in-state rate, worth roughly $22,000/year over OOS tuition (USC lists ~$35,294 OOS vs ~$12,950 in-state). The cash stipend then scales hard on top: Horseshoe pays $11,000/year (below the reduction), McNair pays $22,000/year (roughly equal to it), and Stamps pays about $24,700/year (above it) plus a $15,000 one-time enrichment fund. The entry bar is brutal and identical across all three: roughly top-1% rank, ~1550 SAT / 35 ACT, an Honors College application by Nov. 15, plus an interview for Stamps and McNair. Biggest computable cash step among the OOS tiers: Horseshoe to McNair, +$11,000/year (a doubling). Stacking: general awards are one-only (three named exceptions); state Palmetto Fellows/LIFE/HOPE stack on top, capped at cost of attendance, with Palmetto Fellows adjusted first on overaward.

Merit tiers153 based on grades or scores
First-year students with school awards30%First-year students, CDS 2024-2025 (school-estimated)
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take South Carolina's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

Straight from the aid office

What South Carolina's aid office says

Per the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, University of South Carolina, August 2026. How we verify

Reaching the larger awards

Is a separate scholarship application needed, and what unlocks the bigger awards?

The initial application covers scholarship review with no extra materials. But the higher-level awards run through the Honors College application, which only appears in the admissions portal if the student indicated interest in Honors on the initial application. Skip that checkbox and the top of the ladder never becomes reachable.

“We evaluate all students for scholarships based on their initial application, no additional materials are needed. If students are interested in the higher level scholarships, they will need to complete the Honors College Application, which become available to them in their admissions portal if they select they are interested in applying on the initial application.”
Outside scholarships

Does an outside award lower what the family pays, or replace university aid?

It lowers what the family pays. The office stated directly that outside scholarships do not decrease a university-sponsored scholarship — so a community award at South Carolina is additive rather than absorbed.

“Outside scholarships will lower what families pay and not decrease a student's University sponsored scholarships.”
Whether a scholarship deadline exists

Is there a separate scholarship deadline to treat as the real one?

No — in a follow-up on August 10, 2026 the office said there is no scholarship deadline at all, because every student is evaluated for scholarships from the initial application. The effective deadline is therefore the Regular Decision date, and the office called that the technical deadline for consideration.

“There is not a scholarship deadline, all students are evaluated with their initial application for scholarships, so the technical deadline for consideration would be the same as the Regular Decision Deadline.”
Early Action date

When is the Early Action deadline?

October 15, as listed by the office on August 10, 2026 for the general application. The office gave the date without a year, so confirm it against the current cycle before planning to it.

“October 15th- General Application Early Action Deadline”
Honors College date

When is the Honors College application due?

November 15, per the same August 10, 2026 list. This is the one that carries scholarship consequences: the Honors College application is the gate to the Top Scholars awards, so it matters more than its position on a date list suggests. Stated without a year — confirm for the current cycle.

“November 15th- Honors College Application Deadline”
Regular Decision date

When is the Regular Decision deadline?

December 1 for the general application, and because there is no separate scholarship deadline, this is the last date that preserves scholarship consideration. Stated without a year — confirm for the current cycle.

“December 1st- General Application Regular Decision Deadline”

What families often miss

  1. The South Carolina Honors College application is due Nov. 15. The Top Scholars selection (Stamps, McNair, Carolina, Horseshoe, 1801) is gated by this deadline; students who file later are not eligible for the highest-tier scholarships even if their general university award is sizable. The Honors application requires two additional essays and one letter of recommendation.

  2. USC's published rule: when total gift aid (federal, state, USC, private) exceeds COA, the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is adjusted DOWN first to prevent overaward. Need-based grants and merit are not the first to be cut; the Palmetto Fellows amount itself is. High-stat SC students piecing together Palmetto Fellows + Trustees + Presidential + STEM Supplement should model the COA cap rather than assume each award lands at its sticker amount.

  3. The in-state tuition rate is part of the Top Scholars award package and only applies to selected Top Scholars. Receiving a general university scholarship as an OOS student does NOT trigger the in-state rate; that's a Top-Scholars-only feature. The financial gap between an OOS Trustees recipient ($5,000/year, full OOS tuition) and an OOS Horseshoe ($11,000/year + in-state rate) is roughly $25,000+ per year.

  4. Per USC's scholarship FAQ: students who apply by the regular decision deadline AND submit required credentials by Jan. 15 will be automatically considered for merit. Students applying later compete on a space-available basis. The non-binding Early Action deadline of Oct. 15 is the path to a mid-December admission decision and earlier scholarship review.

  5. USC is test-optional for admission and merit scholarships through Spring 2026 terms. BUT the test-optional policy does NOT apply to state scholarships; students must submit ACT or SAT scores to receive Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, or HOPE per state rules. SC residents pursuing Palmetto Fellows should plan to test even if applying test-optional to USC.

See award cutoffs and special programs

What each profile actually lands at USC

Outcomes map to named tiers and their own published dollar values. Top Scholar awards also reduce nonresident tuition to the in-state rate on top of the cash shown; the ~$22,000/yr reduction figure is a derived OOS-vs-in-state differential, not an award line item.

Student profileLikely outcome
Resident · top 15% · ~4.78 wGPA · ~1286 SATGarnet Scholars — $1,000/yrEntry rung of the SC-resident merit ladder.
Resident · class rank #1Valedictorian Scholars — $3,000/yrOne of the few truly automatic-on-stats USC awards (rank-based).
Resident · top 1% · ~5.3 wGPA · ~1530 SAT / 34 ACT · Honors app by Nov. 15Carolina Scholars — $15,000/yrTop resident competitive award; stacks with state Palmetto Fellows.
Nonresident · top 1% · ~1550 SAT / 35 ACT · Honors app by Nov. 15Horseshoe Scholars — $11,000/yr + in-state tuition rateFloor of the OOS Top Scholar tier; here the ~$22,000/yr tuition reduction is the larger half, above the cash.
Nonresident · top 1% · ~1550 SAT / 35 ACT · Honors app + interviewMcNair Scholars — $22,000/yr + in-state tuition rate + $12,000 one-time enrichmentUp to 20 named annually; cash roughly equals the ~$22,000 tuition reduction. Same stat bar as Stamps.
Nonresident · top 1% · ~1550 SAT / 35 ACT · Honors app + interviewStamps Scholars — ~$24,700/yr + in-state tuition rate + $15,000 one-time enrichmentTop OOS award; only up to 5 named annually. Cash (~$24,700) edges above the ~$22,000 reduction.

Where the dollars actually move

Each marginal value is a subtraction between two named USC tiers above. Top Scholar steps also carry the same in-state tuition reduction (a ~$22,000/yr derived differential, hedged), so the cash deltas here understate total value.

ThresholdMarginal value
Resident · entry Garnet → top-1% Carolina+$14,000/yr (Garnet $1,000 → Carolina Scholars $15,000)Spans the SC-resident merit ladder from its entry rung to its top competitive award; both are Honors-track, not automatic on stats.
Nonresident Top Scholar · Horseshoe → McNair+$11,000/yr ($11,000 → $22,000, a doubling)Largest single cash step among the OOS Top Scholars; same ~top-1% / 35 ACT profile, so it is selection-driven, not a test-prep target.
Nonresident Top Scholar · McNair → Stamps+$2,700/yr ($22,000 → ~$24,700, approximate) plus +$3,000 one-time enrichment ($12,000 → $15,000)Small marginal gain for the same stat bar; the real differentiator is being one of up to 5 Stamps vs up to 20 McNair. Stamps cash value is approximate, so this delta is approximate.
See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

South Carolina residents who want the Palmetto Fellows + USC general university scholarship stack: a Palmetto Fellow with a 1450 SAT/33 ACT picks up the Presidential Scholars $1,000 supplement and any one general university award (Trustees, Alumni, Carolina, etc.) on top of the state scholarship. Out-of-state high-stat applicants who can hit the Honors College Nov. 15 deadline should target Top Scholars (Stamps, McNair, Horseshoe); the in-state tuition rate alone is worth roughly $90,000 over four years before the cash stipend on top. STEM-eligible Palmetto Fellows can also chain the freshman-year STEM Supplement ($3,300) into the multi-year Palmetto Fellows STEM Enhancement.

Cost of attendance$39,364–$64,052 for 2025-2026Each bar is the full published cost for that scenario, sized against the highest figure so totals compare at a glance.
Out-of-state, on-campus$64,052
In-state, on-campus$39,364
  • Tuition & fees
  • Housing & food
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Personal

Official figures higher than the rough input total; official used. Tuition & fees combines tuition, tech fee, and weighted-average program fees.

South Carolina cost-of-attendance source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at South Carolina, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at South Carolina, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$12,634
$30,001–$48,000$14,953
$48,001–$75,000$19,859
$75,001–$110,000$24,478
$110,001+$28,125
All income levels (average)$22,811

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$12,688
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$35,972
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$22,811

That works out to roughly a 28% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $31,638 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

South Carolina is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
79%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
92%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$21,500 (~$228/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$62,177
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
20%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
46%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

USC's general university awards are mostly mutually exclusive: recipients receive only one general award, with three explicit exceptions (the Provost Scholars Award, Presidential Scholars Award, and USC STEM Supplement, each of which can combine with another general award). State scholarships (Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE) explicitly stack on top of general university awards per state regulations. Total aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.

Per USC's published scholarship policy: 'Recipients may receive only one General University Scholarship with the following exceptions: Provost Scholar, Presidential Scholar, and USC STEM Supplement.' State of South Carolina scholarships (Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE) stack with general university awards per state regulations governing those programs. Outside scholarships are reported to USC and applied against the COA cap. If total gift aid exceeds COA, Palmetto Fellows is adjusted FIRST to prevent overaward (the state's published rule). Need-based grants follow. Institutional merit is generally protected unless total aid is materially over COA. Out-of-state Top Scholars (Stamps, McNair, Horseshoe) receive a tuition reduction to the in-state rate that compounds with the cash stipend; this is structurally distinct from a flat scholarship dollar amount.

Source

More school data

From the South Carolina Common Data Set 2024-2025 (school-estimated figures):

Merit penetrationHow likely is merit aid here?From South Carolina’s Common Data Set: the share of first-year students who receive institutional merit and the average dollar amount when they do.
30%of admitsget merit
Average award$4,430Covers ~7% of $64,052 cost of attendance

At South Carolina, roughly 1 in 3 first-year admits receive institutional merit aid. The average award is $4,430 — about 7% of total cost.

As filed in South Carolina's CDS Section H2A: of 7,266 first-time, full-time degree-seeking freshmen, 2,199 had no financial need and received institutional merit (non-need) scholarship or grant aid, averaging $4,430. Across all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates: 5,822 of 29,197, averaging $4,821. Athletic awards are excluded per the CDS definition.

The 2024-2025 column is marked "estimated" in the school's own CDS filing — school-projected figures, not final audited counts.

Receive institutional merit30%First-year students, Common Data Set 2024-2025 (school-estimated)
Average merit award$4,430Across recipients, Common Data Set 2024-2025 (school-estimated)

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025 (verified 2026-07-23)

Other South Carolina scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountNo direct cash award; $150/semester program feeEligibilityProfile: middle-50% HS GPA 4.6–5.0, class rank 4–12%, SAT 1300–1410, ACT 29–32. Invitation-only based on freshman application; no separate application required. Notification in March.

Capstone Scholars is the two-year academic enrichment community for students who fall below the Honors College stat bar but above the general admission profile. There is no scholarship dollar attached, but invitation grants access to enrichment grants (Undergraduate Research Campus Partner Grant up to $1,500, Passport Travel Grant up to $1,500, Adventure Grant for spring break/Maymester study abroad). Capstone is invitation-only and the scholarship received with admission is granted independently.

Source

AmountApproximately $2,500/year sophomore through senior yearEligibilitySC resident Palmetto Fellow enrolled in a STEM-eligible major, having completed 14 hours of eligible math and/or science courses during freshman year.

Distinct from the freshman-year USC STEM Supplement ($3,300 one-time). USC's financial aid office automatically reviews for eligibility.

Source

Amount$5,000/yearEligibilitySC resident with specific academic credentials (GPA, test, class rank; see SCCHE rules). No application; awarded automatically by USC.

Renewable with cumulative LIFE GPA ≥ 3.0 and average 30 credit hours per year. Stacks with one general university award. Cannot be combined with Palmetto Fellows.

Source

Amount$2,800/year (non-renewable, freshman year only)EligibilitySC resident with cumulative weighted GPA ≥ 3.0 who does not qualify for Palmetto Fellows or LIFE.

If you earn LIFE-qualifying credentials at USC during freshman year (≥ 3.0 LIFE GPA + 30 credits), you can transition to LIFE for sophomore year forward.

Source

AmountUp to $6,700 first year, up to $7,500/year for years 2-4 (four-year value up to $29,200)EligibilitySC resident with exemplary academic credentials (PSAT/SAT/ACT thresholds set by SCCHE; class rank). Apply via high school guidance counselor.

There is a state-set cap on the total amount awardable annually to each student; if Palmetto Fellows + all other gift aid exceeds COA, the Palmetto Fellows amount is adjusted DOWN first to prevent overaward. Renewable with cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0 and 30 credit hours per year (excluding AP/CLEP). Cannot be combined with LIFE or HOPE.

Source

South Carolina merit aid FAQ

  • Do I need a separate application for USC merit scholarships?

    No separate application for general university merit scholarships; USC's Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews every freshman application by the deadline. Honors College and Top Scholars consideration require a separate Honors College application by Nov. 15 (added to the USC Admissions Portal ~48 hours after submitting the freshman application; requires two additional essays and one letter of recommendation).

  • How does the Top Scholars in-state tuition reduction work for OOS recipients?

    Out-of-state Stamps, McNair, and Horseshoe Scholars receive a tuition reduction to the in-state rate as part of their package, plus the cash stipend ($24,700 / $22,000 / $11,000 respectively). The in-state-rate component is structurally worth approximately $22,000+ per year compared to OOS sticker tuition, which is why the Top Scholars four-year values run $142,000–$225,000.

  • Can I combine Palmetto Fellows with a USC general university scholarship?

    Yes. Per USC's policy: state-funded scholarships (Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE) stack with one general university award per state regulations. The Presidential Scholars Award ($1,000) and USC STEM Supplement ($3,300 one-time) are the two USC awards that explicitly add on top of any other general university award; the Provost Scholars Award is the third stacking exception, available only to National Merit Finalists.

  • What is Capstone Scholars, and is there a scholarship attached?

    Capstone Scholars is a two-year invitation-only academic enrichment program for students whose stat profile (HS GPA 4.6–5.0, class rank 4–12%, SAT 1300–1410, ACT 29–32) sits below the Honors College bar but above general admission. It is NOT a scholarship in itself; there is a $150/semester program fee. Members access enrichment grants (Undergraduate Research Campus Partner Grant up to $1,500, Passport Travel Grant up to $1,500). Any USC scholarship received at admission is granted independently of the Capstone invitation.

  • Does USC accept superscored test results for scholarship consideration?

    Yes. USC superscores both SAT and ACT (ACT English, Math, and Reading sections only) regardless of when the exams were taken. Multiple sittings of either test are combined into the highest superscore for both admission and merit scholarship review. SAT code: 5818. ACT code: 3880.

  • What GPA is required to maintain a USC merit scholarship?

    Most USC merit scholarships require a 3.0 USC GPA for renewal, with an 8-semester cap. Reasonable progress toward the degree is also required. Out-of-state recipients of tuition-reduction scholarships must enroll in 12+ credits each semester to maintain eligibility. Provost / National Merit recipients who fall below the required GPA may continue to receive a minimum $500/year scholarship rather than full termination.

See sources and other schools

How South Carolina compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    South Carolina is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    South Carolina is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

  • 63 of 749 verified schools publish a marginal-value cliff table we can quantify.

    South Carolina is one of them. Most schools won't tell families what one ACT point is actually worth. At the schools that do, a strategic retake is sometimes mathematically more valuable than test-optional positioning.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against South Carolina’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

How South Carolina compares

Families looking at USC typically also evaluate Clemson and three SEC peers:

  • Clemson Lyceum and National Scholars. Clemson and USC are the two SC publics, and they treat in-state and OOS merit very differently. Clemson does not publish a stat-driven general university ladder; it relies on Palmetto Fellows + Resident Merit for in-state and a more donor-funded named-scholarship structure for OOS. USC's published table is more predictable; Clemson's National Scholars and Lyceum ($60K) are higher-ceiling competitive awards.
  • Alabama's automatic OOS ladder. Alabama publishes one of the most aggressive OOS automatic ladders (Crimson Legends through Presidential Elite). USC's OOS ladder is smaller in $-amount but adds the in-state tuition reduction for Top Scholars, a structural difference worth modeling against Alabama's flat $/yr tiers.
  • Kentucky Singletary and Patterson. Kentucky's automatic merit covers the $0–$15,000/yr OOS range cleanly. USC pushes higher-stat OOS students toward the Top Scholars track; if your student doesn't make Top Scholars, Kentucky may be the better automatic-ladder pick.
  • Auburn's restructured Fall 2026 ladder. Auburn's Spirit of Auburn now runs into full-tuition territory at the top. USC competes with the in-state-rate package for OOS Top Scholars but doesn't have a true full-tuition automatic for OOS at the lower stat bands.
  • Ole Miss 1848 Award. Ole Miss's 1848 (full nonresident fee elimination at 32 ACT/3.75 GPA) is the closest analog to a USC Horseshoe Scholar from a tuition-burden standpoint. The two awards target similar applicants but USC adds the Honors College and Capstone Scholars community.
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