Federal School Code: 003425
LIFE Scholarship
   

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Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarships

The LIFE Scholarship is a renewable scholarship for residents of South Carolina who are enrolled full-time. Awards are made automatically; no scholarship application is required.

General Eligibility Requirements

  • U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen under state residency statues.
  • South Carolina resident at the time of high school graduation and during the period of the award.
  • Graduated from a South Carolina high school or graduated from a high school outside of South Carolina while a dependent of a parent or guardian who is/was a legal South Carolina resident.
  • Full-time undergraduate seeking a first baccalaureate degree.
  • Must not have been judged delinquent, nor have been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony in any state.
  • Must not have been convicted of any alcohol or drug related misdemeanor in any state for 12 months prior to the period of the award.
  • Must not be in default or owe a refund or repayment on any federal or state financial aid.

Eligibility Requirements for Entering Freshmen

  • Must meet all general eligibility requirements
  • Must meet two of the three requirements listed below:
    • A 3.0 final high school grade point average based on the Uniform Grading Scale.
    • A minimum SAT score of 1100 (or 24 on the ACT).
    • Graduated in the top 30 percent of your high school class

 

Eligibility Requirements for Continuing Students

  • Must meet all general eligibility requirements
  • Earn an average of 30 credit hours per academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer). A total of 30 hours is required for a rising second year student, 60 for a rising third year student and 90 for a rising fourth year student.

    Any credit hours earned before high school graduation, hours exempted by examination and advance placement credit approved by Clemson University will be used toward the credit hour requirement. Duplicate credit courses do not count in the total.

  • Earn a minimum cumulative LIFE GPR of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale by the end of the academic year.

    The LIFE GPR must include all grades earned at Clemson University plus all grades attempted (excluding remedial) at all other institutions, both in-state and out-of-state.

    If you have earned a 3.0 LIFE GPR after the spring semester and choose to enroll in summer school at Clemson or any other institution, you will NOT be eligible for the LIFE Scholarship if your LIFE GPR falls below a 3.0 at the end of summer school.

    The LIFE GPR is used for determining eligibility for the LIFE Scholarship only. It is distinctively different from your cumulative Clemson GPR that is used for graduation purposes and the awarding of other merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility Requirements for Transfer Students

  • Must meet all general eligibility requirements
  • Eligibility for the first year at Clemson is based on your initial college enrollment and the cumulative GPR and hours earned (non-remedial) all your previous institution(s). This will include both in-state and out-of-state institutions.
  • After your first year at Clemson, all of the requirements for continuing students (above) will apply.

Terms of Eligibility

You may receive the LIFE Scholarship through the eighth consecutive semester following initial college enrollment. The eight semester limit is a time limit only. The limit is not determined by the number of semesters the LIFE Scholarship has actually been received and may include periods of non-enrollment. An exception is granted to Landscape Architecture majors to allow for ten semesters since this is a published five-year program.

Award Amount

The LIFE Scholarship award amount is determined annually by the South Carolina General Assembly. Currently, the maximum value is $5,000 ($4,700 related to tuition plus $300 based on the costs of textbooks).

Note: The LIFE Scholarship in combination with all other scholarships and grants may not exceed the cost of attendance as defined by Title IV regulations.

Disbursement

The LIFE Scholarship is credited to your student account to satisfy any charges. Excess aid is refunded to the student. The LIFE Scholarship is only available during the fall and spring semesters with the exception of Co-op/Internship students.

Co-op/Internship Students

If you participate in the Cooperative Education Program and/or certain sanctioned internship programs, you are not eligible to receive the LIFE Scholarship during the term of participation. You may, however, elect to receive the LIFE Scholarship in the seceding summer term at Clemson provided that you take at least 12 credit hours during the summer. You may also elect to move the award that you would have received during your participation semester to the term immediately following your eighth normal semester (provided that you continue to meet all other eligibility requirements). If you elect to use the LIFE Scholarship during the summer, you will only be expected to earn 27 hours (rather than 30) for that academic year for renewal purposes.

Summer Courses

Summer transient courses (non-remedial) taken at any institution (in-state or out-of-state) may be used toward the hours requirement. Any courses taken at Clemson or any other LIFE eligible institution in-state or out-of-state will effect your LIFE GPR. Please note that your LIFE GPR cannot be recalculated until official transcripts have been received and processed by the Student Records Office.

Dropping below Full-Time or Withdrawing

If you are receiving the LIFE Scholarship, or any other financial aid, dropping below full-time status or withdrawing completely, may affect your eligibility to receive aid. Under some circumstances, withdrawing from the University may require you to repay part or all of any financial aid received. Before taking this action, you should contact the Office of Revenue and Receivables (G-08 Sikes Hall) to determine the effect on your financial obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

This information is subject to change by either the South Carolina General Assembly or the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. You may view the most recent guidelines for the LIFE program at http://www.che400.state.sc.us/StudentServices/LIFE/LIFESchHome.htm

 

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