Student Financial Aid Federal School Code: 003425

Palmetto Fellows

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship offers up to $6,700 in renewable scholarship assistance to entering freshmen. The amount of the award increases to $7,500 for upperclassmen and may be "Enhanced" to $10,000 for upperclassmen in declared science and mathematics related majors. Selection and initial notification is made by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE). Application is made during the senior year of high school through the high school guidance office.

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 was a dependent of a parent or guardian who was at the time of the student's high school graduation a legal resident of South Carolina.
  • 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 second 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.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

Application for Early awards must be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education by the established date in December of each year. Students who meet the following three academic criteria in order to be eligible to apply for early awards:

  • Score at least 1200 on the SAT (27 on the ACT). Test scores must be submitted to CHE by no later than the established deadline in December;
  • Earn a cumulative 3.50 GPR on the Uniform Grading Scale at the end of the junior year; and
  • Rank in the top six percent of the class at the end of either the sophomore or the junior year.

Application for final awards must be submitted to Commission on Higher Education by the date established in June of each year. Students must meet the following three academic criteria to be eligible to apply for final awards:

  • Score at least 1200 on the SAT (27 on the ACT). Test scores will be accepted through June of the senior year;
  • Earn a cumulative 3.50 GPR on the Uniform Grading Scale at the end of the senior year; and
  • Rank in the top six percent of the class at the end of the senior year.

Renewal Eligibility Requirements

  • Must earn a total of 30 credit hours each academic year (fall, spring, summer). Any hours earned prior to high school graduation, hours exempted by examination and advanced placement credit do not count towards the 30 hour requirement.
  • You must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPR on all courses taken at Clemson. Courses taken at other institution will not effect the grade point ratio requirement for Palmetto Fellows.
  • If you do not meet the above criteria at the end of the spring semester, your Palmetto Fellows award will be withdrawn. If you make up the deficiency during summer school, please notify us and the award will be reinstated.
  • Course work taken at other institutions and accepted for credit by Clemson University can be used to satisfy the 30 hour requirement.
  • If you have a cumulative 3.0 GPR at Clemson at the end of the spring semester and choose to attend summer school at Clemson, you will NOT be eligible for Palmetto Fellows if your cumulative GPR drops below a 3.0 at the conclusion of summer school.

Terms of Eligibility

You may receive Palmetto Fellows for up to eight semester of undergraduate study. Landscape Architecture students may be eligible for the LIFE Scholarship during their 9th and 10th semesters.

Award Amount

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship award amount is determined annually by the South Carolina General Assembly. Currently, the maximum value is $6,700. Sophomore, junior and senior students may receive a maximum of $10,000 provided they are in a declared science or mathematics major and other conditions are met.» More information

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

Disbursement

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is credited to your student account to satisfy any charges. Excess aid is refunded to the student. The Palmetto Fellows 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 Palmetto Fellows Scholarship during the term of participation. You may, however, elect to receive the Palmetto Fellows 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 Palmetto Fellows Scholarship during the summer, you will only be expected to earn 27 hours (rather than 30) for that academic year for renewal purposes. If you co-op during a fall or spring semester and do not attend summer school, you are only required to earn 15 hours for that academic year.

Dropping below Full-Time or Withdrawing

If you are receiving the Palmetto Fellows 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 [here]

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 Palmetto Fellows program at http://www.che.sc.gov/New_Web/GoingToCollege/PF_Hm.htm

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