Mount Pleasant Magazine July/August 2019

www.CharlestonsPrivateSchools.com | www.CharlestonSchoolDirectory.com | www.ed.sc.gov INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CISD 191 Taming TUITION A Guide to Local and State Scholarships A ccording to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2017-2018 school year was $34,740 for private colleges, $9,970 for state residents at public colleges and $25,620 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. College scholarships, both big and small, can help defray that expense. With a little digging, you might be surprised how many monetary awards are available. Each university offers several of its own general scholarships based on a student’s qualifications. In addition, the state of South Carolina provides the lottery- funded HOPE, LIFE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships to qualified residents. Local and national organizations and companies also offer student scholarships. It’s important to develop a list of scholarships, understand the requirements and know the deadlines. Below is a short list to get you started. JOE BRINSON SCHOLARSHIP Value : $5,000. The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce offers this memorial scholarship to Mount Pleasant residents to encourage and support students aspiring to a career in business. ALLANHAMILTONMEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Value : $1,500 first year and may be renewed by $2,000, $2,500 and $3,000 for successive years. The Mount Pleasant Rotary Club annually awards this scholarship to an outstanding student who is a resident of the East Cooper area. PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP Annual value : up to $6,700 for the first year and $7,500 for each of the next three years. Four-year value : up to $29,200. Available to a South Carolina high school student with exemplary academic credentials. LIFE SCHOLARSHIP Annual value : $5,000. BY TONYA MCGUE Four-year value : $20,000. If you meet two of the following three requirements, you are eligible for this scholarship: 1. Your final, cumulative grade point average is at least a “B” (3.00). 2. Your SAT score is at least 1100 on critical reading and math sections combined (ACT composite score of at least 24). 3. You graduate in the top 30% of your class. SC HOPE SCHOLARSHIP Annual value : $2,800. If your final, cumulative GPA is at least a “B” (3.00) and you do not qualify for a Palmetto Fellows or LIFE scholarship, you are eligible to receive this freshman-only scholarship. STAMPS SCHOLARS, CAROLINA SCHOLARS AND 1801 SCHOLARS AWARDS Annual value : $10,000-15,000. Four-year value : $40,000-$90,000. These awards are the University of South Carolina’s most prestigious bestowed on South Carolina residents. If you have a strong academic record and are a leader in your high school and community, USC encourages you to apply. Twenty students receive these scholarships each year. GATEWAYTO SUCCESS SCHOLARSHIP Annual value : varies. This College of Charleston scholarship was established to increase enrollment of first-generation, underserved and economically disadvantaged students with strong, competitive academic credentials. EMERGING SCHOLARS PROGRAM Annual value : $18,880. Four-year value : $75,000. Clemson’s Emerging Scholars Program has made higher education a reality for students who have not seen college in their future. It establishes a college-going culture among students in families from the state’s economically disadvantaged areas.