HOPE Scholarship

The SC HOPE Scholarship Program was established under the SC Education Lottery Act and was implemented beginning with the 2002-03 academic year. It is a one-year merit-based scholarship created for first-time entering freshmen attending a four-year institution who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, but graduate from high school with at least a B average. Funding for the program is dependent upon the annual proceeds generated by the SC Education Lottery. You may read more about the guidelines for the HOPE Scholarship provided by CHE on their website. We have provided below a link to the list of Frequently Asked Questions from CHE and also at Furman University.

The SC HOPE Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship created for students attending a four-year institution who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded during the freshman year of attendance only.

List of FAQ's for HOPE Scholarship (CHE List)

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Graduate from high school or complete an approved home school program as prescribed by law;
Attend an eligible South Carolina public or private college or university;
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) at the time of high school graduation and be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes at the time of high school graduation;
Be enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking student;
Certify that he or she has never been convicted of any felonies and has not been convicted of any second alcohol or other drug-related misdemeanor convictions within the past academic year;
Verify that he or she is not in default and does not owe a refund or repayment on any Federal or State financial aid; and
Must not be a recipient of a LIFE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, or Lottery Tuition Assistance.

In order to qualify for the SC HOPE Scholarship, first-time entering freshmen must meet the following criteria:

Earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point ratio (GPR) based on the Uniform Grading Policy (UGP) upon high school graduation

Students attending an eligible four-year public or private college or university will receive up to $2,800* towards the cost-of-attendance during the first-year of attendance only.
*Funding is awarded half in the fall term and half in the spring term. The HOPE Scholarship in combination with all other scholarships and grants shall not exceed the cost-of-attendance as defined in Title IV regulations for any academic year.

Students are eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship for no more than two terms (or its equivalent) during the first year of attendance only. The maximum number of terms of eligibility is based on the student’s initial college enrollment date with the exception of credit hours earned during the summer session immediately prior to the student’s initial college enrollment. For example, if a student enrolls in college in Fall 2023, the last term of eligibility to receive the HOPE Scholarship will be Spring 2024.

The HOPE Scholarship award amount is determined annually by the South Carolina General Assembly. Currently, the maximum value is $2,800.
Note: The HOPE Scholarship in combination with all other scholarships and grants may not exceed the cost of attendance as defined by Title IV regulations.
The HOPE Scholarship is credited to your student account to satisfy any charges. Excess aid is refunded to the student. The HOPE Scholarship is only available during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Dropping Below Full-Time or Withdrawing

If you are receiving the HOPE Scholarship or any other financial aid, dropping below full-time status or withdrawing completely may affect your eligibility to receive aid. If you are considering dropping a class (and will be enrolled in less than 12 credits hours as a result) or considering withdrawing from the University, you should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at financialaid@furman.edu to determine the effect on your financial obligations.

LIFE GPA

The LIFE GPA is a grade point average used only for the purpose of awarding the LIFE Scholarship. It represents an all-college GPA, consisting of the combined total of a student’s Grade (Quality) Points divided by the cumulative number of attempted credit hours from all schools attended to earn college credits, even while still enrolled in high school. The LIFE GPA must be 3.0 or better.

Frequently Asked Questions at Furman:

Yes, you may be eligible to receive your scholarship funds as long as you are in a Furman affiliated or Furman sponsored study away program. You must maintain full-time enrollment for the semester. You should complete the Consortium Agreement with the Study Away Office.

Returning to Furman

If you study abroad and your transcripts from a foreign school are not sent back to Furman before the next school year starts, there may be a delay in determining your eligibility and awarding your LIFE Scholarship for the next term. Some students will have enough cumulative credits to award the LIFE scholarship before their study abroad transcript arrives and is posted. Students who don’t have enough earned credit hours won’t have the LIFE Scholarship until the transcript arrives, is evaluated and the transfer credits are posted through the Office of Records and Registration.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the LIFE Scholarship can be awarded after the school term has started.

In the event a student who has been awarded the HOPE Scholarship withdraws, is suspended from the institution, or drops below full-time status during any regular term of the academic year, institutions must reimburse the Program for the amount of the HOPE Scholarship for the term in question pursuant to refund policies of the institution. Collection is the responsibility of the institution.
In the event a student withdraws or drops below full-time status after the institution’s refund period and therefore must pay tuition and fees for full-time enrollment, the award may be retained by the student pursuant to the refund policies of the institution.
There are instances where a student must leave school for documented medical reasons, including psychological reasons. If a student takes a medical withdrawal during the Fall term, they should still be able to enroll and use their HOPE Scholarship as as a full-time student in the Spring.
Regardless of the semester itself, we would advise the student to submit an appeal to the Commission on Higher Education for a review of the student’s eligibility for the next academic year.

To earn the LIFE Scholarship (beginning sophomore year at Furman), students must earn a cumulative 3.0 LIFE grade point average (GPA) and an average of 30 credit hours each academic year. In addition, any credit hours attempted or earned before high school graduation, hours exempted by examination, or advanced placement credit accepted by the institution as academic credit, will be reflected in the total number of cumulative hours earned. Also, remember that the academic year is considered fall, spring and summer. Therefore, you can use the summer to bring up a GPA or earn credit hours. For the LIFE Scholarship Enhancement, the student must continue to be enrolled full-time as a math or science major at a four-year SC institution and be a recipient of the LIFE Scholarship at the time of LIFE Scholarship Enhancement disbursement.

Students who fail to earn a cumulative 3.0 LIFE GPA at the end of the academic year or the requisite number of hours required, may regain eligibility the next academic year if their cumulative LIFE GPA is a 3.0 at the end of the academic year and they have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours if a rising sophomore, 60 credit hours if a rising junior, or 90 credit hours if a rising senior. The academic year is considered fall, spring and summer. Therefore, you can use the summer to bring up a GPA or earn credit hours. Please consult the Office of Financial Aid to verify that credit hours earned during the summer at another institution will be accepted. Students who do not meet the annual credit hour requirement at the end of each
academic year (based on initial date of college enrollment) cannot receive a LIFE Scholarship or LIFE Scholarship Enhancement.

HOPE Scholarship

HOPE Scholarship

Scholarship Specifics:

Dropping Below Full-Time or Withdrawing

LIFE GPA

Frequently Asked Questions at Furman:

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HOPE Scholarship

HOPE Scholarship

Scholarship Specifics:

Dropping Below Full-Time or Withdrawing

LIFE GPA

Frequently Asked Questions at Furman:

May I use my scholarship if I am participating in Study Away?

If I must withdrawal (or take a LOA) from Furman during the semester after I have enrolled and been taking classes what happens to my HOPE Scholarship?

What happens if my cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 or I don’t earn thirty credit hours by the end of the academic year?