High school seniors across South Carolina can now apply for up to $10,000 through the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund for the 2027-28 school year.

The scholarship, founded in Charleston County in 2021, expanded from 14 counties to all 46 statewide through a public-private partnership, according to WCBD News 2. The South Carolina General Assembly approved $18.7 million in recurring state funding, which was included in Gov. Henry McMaster's executive budget, according to the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund.

For North Charleston families, the scholarship is not new. Charleston County is one of 14 "Legacy" counties where the program has operated since 2021 through private philanthropy. Students in those counties can earn up to $40,000 over four years. The statewide expansion extends a one-year, up to $10,000 award to seniors in the remaining 32 "Expansion" counties who graduate in spring 2027.

Approximately 3,000 students statewide are projected to earn the scholarship for the 2027-28 year, according to WCBD. An estimated 2,300 of those students will be supported with state funding, according to the scholarship fund.

What it covers

The scholarship pays for tuition, housing, meals and fees. It works as a last-dollar award. After a student's LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, Pell Grant and any other aid are applied, the fund covers the remaining gap, up to $10,000 a year, according to the scholarship fund's eligibility page.

Students who qualify for merit-based state scholarships and a Federal Pell Grant still owe an average of $7,870 annually to cover basic college expenses, according to the fund. The Meeting Street Scholarship is meant to close that gap.

Who qualifies

The scholarship is not a competition with a limited number of awards. Every student who meets all five criteria receives it, according to the fund. The requirements:

  • Reside in South Carolina
  • Graduate from a South Carolina high school in spring 2027
  • Earn the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship (requires meeting two of three benchmarks: a 3.0 GPA, top 30 percent class rank, or a 1100 SAT/22 ACT score)
  • Complete the FAFSA and qualify for a Federal Pell Grant
  • Enroll full-time at one of 17 eligible in-state colleges

Eligible colleges include Clemson University, College of Charleston, the University of South Carolina-Columbia, The Citadel, Furman University and Wofford College, among others. The University of South Carolina-Upstate is eligible only for students living in Spartanburg County.

Key difference by county

North Charleston seniors graduating from public high schools in Charleston County can renew the scholarship for up to four years. Students in the 32 Expansion counties receive a one-year award for the 2027-28 school year. The fund said it hopes to secure additional state funding to continue the scholarship in Expansion counties in future years.

Ben Navarro, founder of the Meeting Street Scholarship, said in a statement on the fund's website, "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."

Josh Bell, president of Beemok Education, which operates the scholarship and other nonprofit education initiatives, said the program's "impact goes far beyond individual students," according to WCBD.

Beemok Education covers all operating costs of the scholarship. All public and philanthropic funds go directly to student awards, according to the fund.

How to apply

Applications are open. Students can apply at myportal.meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org. Applicants will be notified within two weeks if they are a candidate, according to WCBD.