Scholarships

PC Scholarships

Presbyterian College is proud to help you achieve your goals by awarding a variety of scholarships. All students are considered for merit scholarships automatically with the submission of their PC Application for Admission. Below are examples of what you may receive or additional aid you may apply to receive. For more details regarding PC scholarships, please see the Financial Aid Handbook.

Full-Ride Scholarship Opportunities

Griffith Scholarship

By invitation only – PC’s most prestigious award, the Griffith Scholarship, covers the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board and is renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study at PC. Two high school seniors are selected each year as Griffith Scholars. These students exhibit exceptional academic achievement and have demonstrated leadership ability as well as outstanding personal character. To be considered, candidates must apply by December 1.

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Service Entrepreneurship Scholarship

The Service Entrepreneurship Scholarship Competition is intended for domestic students interested in social entrepreneurship. There are multiple scholarship recipients. First place covers the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board and is renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study at PC. Runners-up and honorable mentions also receive scholarships. These scholarships are not combined with other merit scholarships. We are currently accepting proposals from high school seniors who will enter college in Fall 2025 as well as transfer students. To be considered, candidates must submit their competition proposal and apply to PC by December 1.

Promise Scholarships

Laurens County Service Scholarship

Students who are Laurens County (S.C.) residents and who meet the admissions requirements for PC are eligible to apply for a $30,000 service scholarship per year. This amount is in addition to any state and federal funding or other outside scholarship aid. Laurens County Service Scholars are required to complete 30 service hours per semester at approved partner service organizations in Laurens County. Laurens County Service Scholarship recipients forego other PC merit scholarships or programs and receive a total of $30,000 from Presbyterian College. Candidates must apply by December 1 to be considered. Learn More >>

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The Laurens County Transfer Promise Scholarship

The Laurens County Transfer Promise Scholarship is offered to students from Laurens County (S.C.) who have completed two years of coursework at Piedmont Technical College. If this describes you, then you could attend PC tuition-free for your third and fourth years as you earn your bachelor’s degree.  Learn More»

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Palmetto Boys State and Palmetto Girls State Scholarships

The Palmetto Girls State and Palmetto Boys State Promise Scholarships are valued at $100,000, awarded as a $25,000 per year scholarship, for a maximum of four years while enrolled at Presbyterian College. The $25,000 per year scholarship is the minimum commitment from Presbyterian College and cannot be combined with other merit scholarships.

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Presbyterian Promise Scholarship

Students who are members of a Presbyterian church or attend a Presbyterian school will receive a scholarship for a minimum of $20,000 per year for up to four years—that’s an $80,000 commitment to you. Learn More >>

Other Scholarship Programs

1880 Student Referral Program Scholarship

Incoming students who are nominated by PC alumni, faculty, staff, current students, current or past parents, or friends of the college prior to their acceptance will receive the 1880 Student Referral Program Scholarship, a $1,880 scholarship awarded annually for up to four years. The amount honors the year PC was founded.

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Emerging Church Leader Scholarship

This scholarship, which totals $1,880 and is awarded for a maximum of four years, is awarded to students who are viewed as leaders in their church community. In order to qualify, students must be recommended by a leader in their church before they are admitted to PC.  The Emerging Church Leadership Scholarship cannot be combined with the Student Referral Program Scholarship or the Legacy Scholarship.

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Legacy Scholarship

Students whose immediate family (i.e. parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles) graduated from Presbyterian College qualify for the Legacy Scholarship. This award is a $1,880 scholarship awarded annually for up to four years. Please note there is a limit of one Legacy Scholarship per student. This scholarship cannot be combined with the Student Referral Program Scholarship or the Emerging Church Leadership Scholarship.

*These three (1880 Student Referral Program, Emerging Church Leader, and/or Legacy Scholarships) may not be combined.

Need-Based Aid

Presbyterian College Grants

PC awards a needs-based grant to students who qualify due to need resulting from the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Awards may be renewable, provided satisfactory progress is maintained.
Presbyterian Scholarship for Undergraduates

You may qualify for one of the following academic-based scholarships if you’re a South Carolina resident at the time you graduate from high school and enroll in college. You must enroll as a full-time student to be considered for these scholarships*.

SC Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship awards $6,700 for freshmen and $7,500 for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, up to a maximum of eight consecutive semesters. You must submit an application to the SC Commission on Higher Education for this award during your senior year of high school. See your high school guidance counselor for details about the application.

Three Requirements for Eligibility:

• A 3.5 GPA at the end of your junior year of high school (state uniform grading scale)
• Score at least 1200 on the SAT or 25 ACT equivalent
• Rank in the top 6% of your class at the end of your sophomore or junior year

Two Requirements for Alternate Eligibility:

• A 4.0 GPA at the end of your junior year of high school (state uniform grading scale)
• Score at least 1400 on the SAT or 31 ACT equivalent

SC LIFE Scholarship

The LIFE Scholarship awards $5,000 per academic year for up to eight consecutive semesters.

Requirements for Eligibility (must meet two of the three following criteria):

• Earn a 3.0 final high school GPA (state uniform grading scale)
• Score at least 1100 on the SAT or 22 ACT equivalent
• Rank in the top 30% of your high school graduating class

SC HOPE Scholarship

The South Carolina HOPE Scholarship awards a one-time grant of $2,800 for first-time entering freshmen.

Eligibility Requirement:

• Earn a 3.0 final high school GPA (state uniform grading scale)

SC LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement

The state of South Carolina has created $2,500 per year Enhancements for Palmetto Fellows and/or LIFE Scholarship recipients majoring in approved science or math fields. To receive the Enhancement, a student must be a second-year student or beyond and meet first-year requirements.

First-year requirements: Complete 14 hours in approved science and/or math courses and declare an approved STEM major. To meet the first-year requirements, students can use credits from AP/IB/CLEP, high school dual enrollment, courses taken the summer before the freshman year and courses taken as pass/fail. Please note that although these types of courses count toward the freshman year requirements for an Enhancement Scholarship, they do not count toward meeting the renewal criteria of Palmetto Fellows.

The approved majors at PC for the SC Palmetto Fellows or LIFE Enhancements are: Biology, General; Biochemistry; Mathematics; Chemistry, General; Physics, General; Medical Physics, and Computer Science.

In addition to defining eligible majors, individual courses must be identified that meet the 14 hours of math and/or science during the freshman year requirement. Eligible STEM courses at PC are any courses taken in Biology, Math, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science. Please note that current interpretation of the new legislation precludes students from ever becoming eligible for the Enhancement if the 14-hour requirement is not met by the end of the freshman year. AP credits and dual enrollment courses (college courses taken while in high school) can satisfy the 14-hour rule.

The Doctor of Pharmacy Program at Presbyterian College is an approved program to receive the SC LIFE or Palmetto Fellows base and enhancement scholarships.  Renewal criteria listed above for undergraduate students apply to the PC PHARMD program.  The limit of 8 consecutive semesters includes all work completed at the undergrad and graduate level.

The Financial Aid Office will determine the remaining terms of eligibility. Please email the Office of Financial Aid if you have eligibility for these state scholarships.

Private Scholarships, also known as non-institutional scholarships, are funded by various individuals, organizations, and companies.

It is Presbyterian College’s policy that all gift aid (grants and scholarships), including Private Scholarships, may not exceed the direct cost of the college. If a student receives funds that exceed the direct cost, institutional and state aid may be reduced according to institutional and state regulations.

List of private scholarships students at PC have earned in the past.

Dates for applications to open and deadlines may vary from year to year. Check the specific scholarship website dates for the application window timeline.

We urge caution when applying for private scholarships. Do not pay to apply and be careful when sharing private information about yourself.

BigSun Scholarship:

Student-athletes could be eligible to receive a $500 BigSun Scholarship regardless of the sport they are engaged in or the capacity in which they participate. The student must be a high school senior or a current PC student and must apply for the scholarship with BigSun Athletics.

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Big South Conference:

You could receive an $8000 Sunbelt Rental Minority Scholarship if you are female, a member of a minority group, an active or former member of the military or disabled. Check in January for the most recent application to be posted. Deadline is typically late February.

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Chapman Foundation, Inc:

Awards scholarships to students who are graduating high school seniors and a US minority citizens.
http://chapmanfoundation.com/application/

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C.G. Fuller Scholarship:

Awards $1250 per semester to current SC residents. You must apply your senior year of high school; complete a current FAFSA; your parents IRS adjusted gross income cannot exceed $60,000. See your SC high school guidance counselor for the application that is due by May 15th

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SC Junior Golf Foundation Scholarship:

Award is $1500 to each of 4 winners. Must attend a SC college; have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75; be a SC resident; have a competitive or recreational interest in golf. Applications open in November and the deadline to apply is early January.
https://www.scholarshipprograms.org/golf/indexcss.php

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Kitty M. Fairey Educational Scholarship Fund:

Receive up to half the cost of tuition, fees, room, board and books. You must attend college in SC but do not have to be a SC resident. Applications open November and the deadline to apply is early January.
www.csascholars.org/kmfr

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Meeting Street Scholarship:

Available to students in SC that live in certain Low Country counties.
https://meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org/apply-now/

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Presbyterian Church USA:

Offering several opportunities up to $4000 for students to be awarded scholarships funds. Eligible applicants will be PCUSA church members seeking a first associates or bachelors’ degree, attending an accredited college or university in the United States full-time. Application windows will vary by scholarship.
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/theology-formation-and-evangelism/financialaid/undergraduate-opportunities/

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Sirrine Scholarship:

Greenville County students may apply for a $2,000 Sirrine Scholarship online. Applications are open each January through mid-April.
https://sirrine.greenville.k12.sc.us/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

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Watson-Brown:

By virtue of your home address in SC or Georgia, you may be eligible for need based funds from the Watson-Brown Scholarship of up to $6000 per year. Applications open in October and the deadline to apply is early February.
https://www.watson-brown.org/scholarship/

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James F Byrnes Foundation:

$4500 award for students that have lost one or both parents by death; be a SC resident and US citizen; be a high school senior. Applications open in December.
https://byrnesscholars.org/foundation/scholarships.php

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SC State Fair:

$10,000 scholarships offered to high school seniors attending any SC college. Applications open early February and the deadline to apply is March 15.
https://www.scstatefair.org/scholarships/

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Transition to College Assistance:

Parent(s) or guardian(s) employed by a PC(USA) congregation who are enrolled in their medical, defined benefit plan, or retirement benefits plan with a certain income threshold, may qualify for this private scholarship.

https://pensions.org/your-path-to-wholeness/assistance-program/receiving-assistance/transition-to-college-assistance-grants

Recommended Scholarship Search Services

Cappex
College Board
College Scholarships
Fast Web
Sallie Mae’s College Answer
US News
Graduate School Scholarship Search

PC is not affiliated with these types of scholarships and we ask that you use caution when using certain scholarship search websites. Some websites may sell your name to other companies. When you register to participate, you should consider whether you want to receive mailings from groups who may buy your name and address from the website owners.