The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers a number of merit scholarships to help make college more affordable. The State of South Carolina also provides the lottery-funded HOPE, LIFE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships to qualified residents of South Carolina. All requirements for eligibility, renewal, scholarship funding and enhancement are under review by the South Carolina General Assembly and are subject to change. Students may qualify for only one of the state scholarships listed below.
S.C. Programs
Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is the state’s most prestigious scholarship, valued at $6,700 for the first year and $7,500 for subsequent years. To receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, students must apply through their high school guidance counselor and meet specific academic requirements.
LIFE Scholarship
The LIFE Scholarship is valued at $5,000 per year. To receive the LIFE Scholarship, students must meet specific academic requirements. There is no application process for the LIFE Scholarship. Students will automatically be reviewed and awarded the scholarship by Furman.
HOPE Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship is valued at $2,800 and is nonrenewable. To receive the HOPE Scholarship, students must graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA on the uniform grading scale. After the initial award year, eligibility may be established for the LIFE Scholarship.
LIFE & Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement
Scholarship Enhancements are awarded to eligible students majoring in approved mathematics and science programs beginning in their second/sophomore year based on their date of initial college enrollment (freshman are not eligible for Enhancement funds). LIFE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and Scholarship Enhancements funds must be used toward the cost-of-attendance at an eligible four-year institution in South Carolina.
Test Optional Information
We believe that your potential for success cannot be determined solely by standardized test scores. Therefore, submitting your SAT or ACT scores is optional for admission purposes to the university. However, if you still wish to be considered for eligibility for the LIFE Scholarship based on your SAT or ACT test scores then you must still submit your official SAT or ACT scores to Furman. By submitting test scores for state aid purposes, this will not affect a test optional status for admissions.