If you are awarded a State Need Based Grant, your award will be included in your award notification. Eligibility for a State Need Based Grant, and for continued eligibility in subsequent years, is based upon the requirements below. If you are awarded a State Need Based Grant, you must complete a certification statement at https://www.vip.sc.edu

	You must be a legal resident of the state of South Carolina
	You must be a full-time undergraduate student seeking your first baccalaureate degree
	You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have financial need as defined by Title IV regulations
	You must not have been judged delinquent, nor have been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony in any state
	You must not have been convicted of any second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor in any state within the past academic year
	You must not be in default or owe a refund or repayment on any Federal or State financial aid
	You must be making satisfactory academic progress as define in the Terms and Conditions.  Click here to review the Terms and Conditions.

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	You must meet all general eligibility requirements.
	You must enroll in 12 hours for the fall semester and 12 hours for the spring semester.

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	You must meet all general eligibility requirements.
	You must enroll in 12 hours for the fall semester and 12 hours for the spring semester.
	If you received a State Need Based Grant in the previous year, you must have earned 24 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters.
	You must have earned a minimum 2.0 University of South Carolina cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale by the end of the spring semester.
	Only the cumulative grade point average earned at the University of South Carolina - Columbia and the University of South Carolina system campuses will be considered in determining eligibility for continuing students.
	If you have earned a 2.0 University of South Carolina cumulative grade point average by the end of the spring semester and choose to enroll in a summer session(s) you will NOT be eligible to receive a State Need Based Grant if your University of South Carolina cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.0 at the end of that summer session(s).

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If you have been awarded an estimated State Need Based Grant, the award will not become official until a review of your spring grades has occurred. An estimated State Need Based Grant cannot be used for payment of fees.

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You may receive a State Need Based Grant for no more than eight semesters.

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The maximum State Need Based Grant award at the University of South Carolina is $1500 with the minimum being $200. Award amounts are based on financial need as defined by Title IV regulations.

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State Need Based Grant will be disbursed in equal amounts at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. State Need Based Grants are only available during the fall and spring semesters.

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If you are receiving a State Need Based Grant or any other financial aid, dropping a class or withdrawing may affect your potential refund. Depending upon the type(s) of financial aid awards involved, the withdrawal date, the amount of the refund, and other factors, you might receive a portion of the total refund amount or none of the refund amount. Under certain circumstances, if you withdraw or drop classes, you will be required to repay financial aid funds you received including a State Need Based Grant. This is necessary when the refund amount is insufficient to meet the financial aid fund recovery requirements. If you are considering withdrawing or dropping classes, you should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

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A change in your residency and fee payment status to non-resident will lead to the required repayment of your award for any enrollment period in which you are no longer classified as a resident and received a State Need Based Grant.

The information on this document is subject to change by either the South Carolina Legislature or the Commission on Higher Education. You may view the most recent guidelines for the State Need Based Grant program on the Internet at: www.che400.state.sc.us. Click on Student Services and select "State Need Based Grant".

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