Meeting Street Scholarship goes statewide: What SC high school seniors need to know

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Meeting Street Scholarship, currently available to students in 14 counties through private philanthropy, will now be available to students in all 46 South Carolina counties with support from state funding.

The $18.7 million recurring investment was approved by the General Assembly and included in Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive budget.

Since launching in 2021 for eligible public high school graduates in Charleston County, the scholarship has expanded across 14 counties.

The organization says the expansion will enable nearly 3,000 students in South Carolina’s high school class of 2027 to attend any of the state’s colleges without taking on significant student loans. An estimated 2,300 of those students will be supported with state funding.

“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.”

The scholarship is for South Carolina students who have earned the merit-based LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, qualified for a Federal Pell Grant, and still have a financial gap to cover basic college expenses. The Meeting Street Scholarship covers the gap by providing up to $10,000 per year for tuition, housing, meals, and fees.

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:

1. Reside in South Carolina
2. Graduate from a South Carolina high school in spring 2027
3. Complete the FAFSA and receive a Federal Pell Grant
4. Earn the South Carolina LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
5. 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 here.

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