Scholarship Fund Opens Applications Statewide
Eligible South Carolina high school seniors in all 46 counties can now apply for up to $10,000 for the 2027-28 academic year.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Scholarships
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The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund opened its statewide application for the 2027-28 academic year, offering up to $10,000 to high-achieving South Carolina students with demonstrated financial need. The award can cover housing, food and fees, not only tuition.
Why it matters
The fund expanded statewide after the South Carolina General Assembly approved recurring state funding in August, funded alongside a public-private partnership and private philanthropy. About 3,000 new students are projected to earn the scholarship for 2027-28.
The maximum award is $10,000, and the fund received more than 4,300 interest forms during outreach that presented to over 5,000 students across 100 high schools. Final applicant counts and award totals have not yet been reported.
The players
Meeting Street Scholarship Fund
A South Carolina scholarship program funded through a public-private partnership, private philanthropy and state appropriations, which expanded statewide to support high-achieving students with financial need.
South Carolina General Assembly
The state legislature of South Carolina, which approved the recurring state funding that enabled the Scholarship Fund's statewide expansion.
The details
Students apply through the online portal at myportal.meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org, with a new simplified application introduced this cycle. Applicants must reside in South Carolina, graduate high school in spring 2027, earn the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, complete the FAFSA and qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, and enroll full-time at one of 16 in-state colleges.
Timeline
August (2026): South Carolina General Assembly approved recurring state funding.
November 9, 2026: Application window opened statewide.
Spring 2027: Eligible students graduate high school.
2027-28 academic year: Scholarship recipients projected to enroll.
Market Landscape
The statewide expansion follows the General Assembly's August decision to make state funding recurring, shifting the Scholarship Fund from a limited pilot toward a sustained public-private model. Its reach now extends to every county, aligning with the state's broader push to keep high-achieving students in-state for college.
Eligible high school seniors should complete the FAFSA and confirm Federal Pell Grant qualification early, since both are prerequisites. Students planning full-time enrollment should verify their college is among the 16 eligible in-state institutions before applying.
The takeaway
Students who meet the residency, FAFSA, Pell Grant and full-time enrollment requirements can use this award to cover housing, food and fees, not just tuition. Starting the FAFSA early keeps the path to this scholarship open.
What happens next
Applicants will be notified within two weeks of the application window closing whether they are candidates for the scholarship.
Further reading
Explore more Scholarships options for South Carolina students planning their college financing.
More information
Review the Meeting Street Scholarship eligibility requirements on the official Scholarship Fund website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
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