The federal government and the state of South Carolina offer several grants to defray some of the costs of college education. Unlike a loan, financial aid you receive as a grant does not have to be repaid.

Federal Grants

Pell Grants
Pell Grants provide awards from $445 to $4,731 per year. The actual amount you receive depends on your estimated family contribution (how much you or your family is expected to pay toward your education), your status as a student (whether you're going to school full time or part time), and whether you attend school for the full academic year.

You can learn more about Pell Grants here.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
These grants are for students showing exceptional financial need, and students who receive Federal Pell Grants are given priority. Awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year and depend on several factors, including when you apply for the grant and your level of need.

ACG/SMART Grants

Grants for first and second year students are called "Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)," while grants for third and fourth year students are called "National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants (SMART)."

Eligibility Requirements

Academic year definition:

Eligibility terminates when 120 hours have been earned.

1st academic year undergraduate recipients must (maximum award = $750/year):

• Be Pell Grant recipients
• Be US citizens
• Be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year degree program
• Be full-time
• Graduate high school since January 1, 2006
• Demonstrate need
• Be enrolled for the first time as a regular student
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school curriculum

2nd academic year undergraduate recipients must (maximum award = $1,300/year):

• Be Pell Grant recipients
• Be US Citizens
• Be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year degree program
• Be full-time
• Graduate from high school since January 1, 2005
• Demonstrate need
• Have competed a rigorous secondary school curriculum
• Earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPR

3rd and 4th year undergraduate recipients must (maximum award = $4,000/year):

• Be Pell Grant recipients
• Be US citizens
• Be enrolled in specific majors: (see below)
• Be full-time
• Demonstrate need
• Earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPR

Application Process

ACG - File the FAFSA and complete the questions regarding rigorous secondary course work.

SMART - File the FAFSA. You must be currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies.

To find out more about these types of funding, view the government's guide to Federal Student Aid.

South Carolina Grants

South Carolina Tuition Grant
If you're a resident of South Carolina, you may qualify for the South Carolina Tuition Grant. To be eligible, you must be a South Carolina resident attending a designated independent, non-profit college within the state. Because the size of the grant depends on your family resources, academic record, cost of the college you will attend, and on final funding by the legislature, not all students qualify for this grant program. To learn more, visit the South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission.

State grants awarded to PC students in 2007-08 averaged $3,085.