Every graduating senior in South Carolina will soon be eligible to apply for funds from the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, following an $18.7 million state investment.
The Meeting Street Scholarship launched in 2021, providing funds to under-resourced students in 14 counties through private philanthropy. With the new investment, which was recently approved by the General Assembly and Gov. Henry McMaster, the scholarship will now be an option for students in all 46 South Carolina counties.
"This is a transformational moment for South Carolina students statewide who will now have the opportunity to earn a college degree without worrying about cost," said Ben Navarro, founder of the Meeting Street Scholarship. "We are incredibly grateful to our state leaders and generous donors who’ve made this Scholarship possible for all students, and we are committed to ensuring every eligible high school senior is aware of this Scholarship as they consider their options for college."
South Carolina’s hard-working, under-resourced students who have earned the merit-based LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and qualified for a Federal Pell Grant still owe an average of $7,870 annually to cover basic college expenses. The Meeting Street Scholarship covers that gap by providing up to $10,000 per year for tuition, housing, meals and fees.
“Higher education must remain affordable and accessible for the sons and daughters of South Carolina,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “By combining private donations with lottery revenue, we can help ensure more students can afford a college education and earn a degree without taking on significant debt. The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund is an example of the power of public-private partnerships and how they can give South Carolina students more opportunities to succeed.”
The Meeting Street Scholarship will continue to be funded by private philanthropy in 14 Legacy counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Charleston, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Spartanburg or Williamsburg.
To renew the Scholarship in those counties and continue receiving up to $10,000 annually, students must maintain eligibility for the SC LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, remain Pell eligible, stay enrolled full-time at an eligible college, and complete 250 hours of part-time work during their second and third years of college.
For Expansion counties, the $18.7 million in state funding will make one year of the Scholarship available to high school seniors who graduate in May 2027 and meet the eligibility criteria; it will not be available to current college students in Expansion counties. The criteria are:
Reside in South Carolina
Graduate from a South Carolina high school in spring 2027
Complete the FAFSA and receive a Federal Pell Grant
Earn the South Carolina LIFE or Palmetto Fellows scholarship
Enroll in an eligible in-state college
Students can check their eligibility for the Scholarship or fill out an interest form to be alerted when applications are available at meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org.
