Palmetto College Will Seek New State Funding

The University of South Carolina system will request budget increases for its dual enrollment program in January.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Financial Aid

Palmetto College Will Seek New State Funding

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Should states provide more funding for high school dual enrollment programs to lower college costs?

Starting in January 2027, the University of South Carolina's Palmetto College will petition state legislators for increased taxpayer funding. The institution warns it may otherwise be forced to discontinue its dual enrollment program for high school students due to rising costs.

Why it matters

The program has faced significant financial strain as lottery-funded scholarship support per credit hour has declined while student participation has surged. Palmetto College currently absorbs the majority of the cost per credit hour to maintain access for disadvantaged students.

Palmetto College enrolls 4,300 students at a cost of $300 per credit hour, with the state currently covering only 25% of that expense. Scholarship funds have dropped 32% since 2019, despite a 55% increase in program participation.

The players

Palmetto College

This institution is a division of the University of South Carolina that manages regional campuses and educational access.

University of South Carolina

This is the flagship public research university system that oversees the Palmetto College network.

The details

Palmetto College operates through regional campuses in Allendale, Lancaster, Sumter, and Union, allowing students to take courses at their high schools or hub locations. University leadership has signaled that existing tuition freezes are no longer sustainable without additional legislative support.

2013 was the year Palmetto College was founded.
2019 saw scholarship payments at $110 per credit hour.
2025 was the year technical colleges received $3 million in state funding.
January 2027 is when the college will seek increased funding.

Roadmap

The potential funding shift reflects broader institutional challenges in maintaining low-cost pathways for first-generation students in the South Carolina higher education landscape. This development follows a pattern set by the South Carolina Lottery-funded scholarship program, which provides the primary financial framework for these dual enrollment courses.

High school students across South Carolina may see changes to their dual enrollment course availability or tuition costs depending on the success of the funding request. Families relying on these credits to reduce future college expenses should monitor potential shifts in program enrollment requirements.

The takeaway

Maintaining access to dual enrollment remains a critical challenge as educational institutions balance rising operational costs against limited state scholarship pools. Students and parents should explore all available state-level workforce industry scholarships while monitoring potential changes to course offerings.