Scholarships

South Carolina LIFE Scholarship - Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence

Eligibility for this state scholarship is determined by academic merit. This award does not require completing a FAFSA, but it is highly recommended. Students are reviewed for eligibility when a final high school transcript has been provided to GTC Admissions.

Entering freshmen requirements include the following:

• Must be a South Carolina resident.
• Must be a South Carolina high school graduate.
• Must have a 3.0 high school grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated under the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy (SCUGP).
• Must have no felony convictions.
• Must have no drug or alcohol convictions in preceding 12 months/calendar year.
• Must be a full-time undergraduate student in an eligible program.
• Must take 12 non-developmental credits (100-level and below courses are developmental).

Additional requirements for continuing or transfer students include the following:

• Must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA (all colleges attended).
• Must have completed a minimum of 30 curriculum credit hours in prior academic year (15 credit hours, if enrollment started in January).
• Must have no felony, drug or alcohol convictions in preceding 12 months/calendar year.

The LIFE Scholarship is the cost of 30 credit hours tuition (not to exceed the scholarship maximum of $5,000 @ $2,500 per semester). LIFE Scholarships are available for the following:

• One-year diploma/certificate program = two semesters
• Two-year degree = four semesters
• Third-year degree = six semesters (must be an eligible 68 or more credit hour program)
• Four-year degree = eight semesters

LIFE Scholars will be identified by the Financial Aid Office.

More about LIFE Scholarship requirements and summer term guidelines »

LIFE Scholarship application (transfer students and early high school grads) (pdf) »

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship program administered by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The scholarship must be applied directly toward the cost of attendance, less any other gift aid received.

• First year: $6,700
• Year 2: $7,500

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipients must complete and submit the Palmetto Fellows Certification Form.

Palmetto Fellows Continuing Eligibility Requirements

Once a student has been awarded a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, they must do the following to maintain their Scholarship each academic year:

1. Earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the student’s home institution by the end of each academic year (fall, spring and summer); and
2. Earn at least 30 nonremedial credit hours for graduation purposes by the end of each academic year. Exempted credit hours (i.e., AP, IB, CLEP), credit hours earned before high school graduation (i.e., dual enrollment courses) and credit hours earned the summer term immediately following high school graduation cannot be used to meet the annual credit hours requirement.  Credit hours earned before high school graduation including Advanced Placement (AP) credit hours, International Baccalaureate (IB) credit hours, exempted credit hours earned on active duty, must be placed on the student’s official high school transcript by the institution at which they are earned, and be counted toward the annual credit hours requirement. Eligible Palmetto Fellow Scholarship requirements may prorate their award for the term of graduation (see section 62-330-B3).

• Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipients must also maintain SC residency, cannot be in default or owe a refund/repayment on any state or federal financial aid, student is also required to certify affidavit on conviction of felonies and submit any required documentation to the financial aid office.
• Palmetto Fellows recipients attending two year colleges in SC are not eligible for Palmetto Fellows Enhancement amounts. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipients must complete and submit the Palmetto Fellows Certification Form each award year they intend to receive the scholarship.
• In determining the amount awarded for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, all other sources of gift aid, including federal, State, private and institutional funds, must be applied to the unmet cost-of-attendance before calculating the Scholarship amount.

The Career Pathways Scholarship at Greenville Technical College is designed to address workforce shortages for specific programs determined at the State level.

Get details and requirements for the Career Pathways Scholarship »

Organized in 1973 with the purpose of seeking community support for Greenville Technical College and our students, the Greenville Tech Foundation envisions a future where everyone has the resources and support they need to attain an advanced education — driving the success of Greenville Technical College, its students, and our community. One of the primary ways the Foundation supports our students is through scholarship assistance.

Thousands of dollars in scholarship money – don’t miss out!

In 2023, the Greenville Tech Foundation awarded more than $784,000 in scholarships to assist nearly 800 students with the cost of higher education, including tuition, fees, and other expenses.

There are many scholarship opportunities available based on criteria established by generous donors, including areas of study, community and/or school involvement, and life challenges – just to name a few! If you are planning to enroll at GTC for the 2024-25 academic year, complete the general scholarship application by May 12 (apply only one time; no essays; easy to complete). You’ll be automatically matched with any of the scholarships for which you are eligible.

These scholarships require completion of the FAFSA for the upcoming academic year. More about FAFSA »

Apply for scholarships »

External Scholarship Process

Where to send scholarship checks

All outside scholarship checks for students attending Greenville Technical College (GTC) should be sent to:

Greenville Technical College
Bursar's Office
MS 1026
P.O. Box 5616
Greenville, SC 29606-5616

Make all scholarship checks payable to Greenville Technical College. If a check is made co-payable to GTC and the student, the student will be required to sign the check which may delay the application of the funds to the student’s account.

What to include with a scholarship check

Please include the following with each check:

• Student’s name
• Student’s Greenville Technical College ID number (no social security number)
• Scholarship donor’s name, address and telephone number and/or email address
• Directions on how the funds are to be disbursed, i.e. fall only, spring only, or for the full academic year (fall, spring, & summer)
• Any restrictions of the fund, i.e. tuition only, tuition and fees only, or toward the total cost of attendance including books.

Students: if you are sending/bringing an outside scholarship check(s), please include your GTC student ID number.

When to send scholarship checks

In order for a scholarship to credit a student’s account before their charges are due, we recommend that checks be received by the college as follows:

• August 1 for fall semester
• December 1 for spring semester
• May 1 for summer sessions

Scholarship disbursement

Unless otherwise stipulated, all outside scholarship checks received in the fall will be disbursed equally between the fall and spring semesters.

Scholarship funds first pay a student’s outstanding GTC charges.  After a student’s current charges are paid, any resulting credit balance is refunded to the student by the Bursar's Office unless otherwise stipulated by the scholarship donor.

Effects of scholarships on other aid

In accordance with federal regulations, our office is required to monitor whether a student’s total financial assistance remains within their financial budget and general awarding eligibility. Whenever possible, self-help awards (such as student loans) may be reduced if gift aid, such as scholarships, is awarded and may exceed the student’s budget.

Information for Donors

• Refunds to donors: Once an award has credited a student’s account for the current semester, the student’s enrollment status is not monitored. If a student withdraws from school after he/she has received an award, the donor is responsible for collecting any scholarship funds disbursed. However, if a student withdraws from school before he/she received the award, any non-disbursed funds are refunded back to the donor.
• Confirmation of check receipt: The endorsed scholarship check serves as the donor's receipt. If donors need further documentation of their donation for tax purposes, the may contact the Office of Financial Aid.
• Verification of enrollment: If a donor requires verification of enrollment, the student must request through Student Records.  Please note that verification of enrollment cannot be confirmed until approximately 10-30 days from the beginning of the semester when the student is responsible for all charges.

If you have questions please contact the Financial Aid Office: financialaid@gvltec.edu

Greenville Technical College
Financial Aid Scholarship Coordinator
P. O. Box 5616
Greenville, SC 29606
864-250-8000 phone
864-250-8750 fax

The Lillian Simpson, Laurel, and Business Scholarships outlined below each have a value of up to $1,500 for an academic year upon maintenance of a "C" average. The scholarship is redeemable for three consecutive semesters at $500 per semester and covers partial tuition only.  Applicants may receive only one of the scholarships below.

Lillian Simpson Eligibility/Qualifications:

• Applicant must be a Greenville County Schools senior who will complete high school in the current school year and will attend Greenville Technical College starting in the Summer or Fall Semester after graduation.
• Applicant must be ranked in the top 50% of graduating class at the end of the seventh semester.

Laurel Scholarship Eligibility/Qualifications

• Applicant must be ranked in the top 50% of his/her graduating class at the end of the seventh semester.
• A recommendation is to be completed and signed by the student's senior counselor or principal and attached with the application.  

Business Scholarship Eligibility/Qualifications

• Student will enroll in a business-related program at Greenville Technical College.
• A recommendation is to be completed and signed by the student's senior counselor or principal and attached with the application. 

In order for the application to be considered, the following steps must be taken:

• Submit Application for Admission to the Admissions Office.
• Take Greenville Technical College placement examination or submit SAT scores of 480 or higher on the verbal, 480 or higher on the math or ACT Math and English scores of 19 or higher by March 29.
• Submit a copy of state high school transcript.
• Each award does not require completing a FAFSA, but it is highly recommended.
• Completed applications are emailed to financialaid@gvltec.edu 

While Greenville Technical College does not endorse a specific service, we encourage students to make use of these free scholarship search services:

National Scholarship Search
View a list of national scholarship options and tips for applying.

Fast Web 
Free Scholarship Search that includes more than 600,000 scholarships worth more than $1 billion. Fast Web is provided completely free, and Greenville Technical College is a proud Fast Web member school.

Sallie Mae
Quick and easy scholarships to apply for.

More scholarship search resources and tips on a successful search »