We are committed to offering an affordable private education. Recognizing that college tuition typically increases by 3-4% annually, we have reset our tuition to a more affordable rate and provide various scholarships for eligible students.
Scholarship recipients are chosen by the College's scholarship administrators. The respective departments determine athletic and performing arts awards through tryouts and auditions. To receive these scholarships, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and the required GPA. On-campus students may receive up to $15,500, and off-campus students up to $7,750 per academic year.
Institutional scholarships are directly applied to your CC student account and do not need to be repaid, unlike loans. External scholarships from non-CC sources are also added to your account but may reduce your need-based financial aid per federal regulations, starting with work-study and student loans.
CC-endowed scholarships can replace other CC-funded awards (such as honors and Academic Scholarships) on a dollar-for-dollar basis. All CC-funded scholarships and grants require full-time enrollment (at least 12 credits per semester). Learn more about scholarship opportunities below.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Academic Scholarships
Incoming first-year and transfer students in the Day Program may be eligible for academic scholarships up to the following amounts, based on their grade point average (GPA), for up to four years. For transfer students, we will use the GPA from the last institution attended.
| Award Name & GPA Criteria | Residential | Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Presidential Scholarship Our highest award for outstanding students 3.8+ GPA | $8,000 | $5,000 |
| 1854 Scholarship Named for the year we founded 3.5–3.79 GPA | $7,000 | $4,000 |
| Columns Scholarship A symbol of perseverance on campus 3.0–3.49 GPA | $6,000 | $3,000 |
| Fountain Scholarship Our fondest landmark on campus 2.7–2.99 GPA | $4,000 | $2,000 |
| Koala Scholarship Named for our beloved mascot GPA 2.0 - 2.69 | $2,000 | $1,000 |
Institutional Scholarships at Columbia College are non-refundable and applied towards tuition and fees. To qualify, students must complete the FAFSA, accept all grants and scholarships, and be enrolled full-time. Submission of the final high school transcript is also required.
All other financial aid, including outside scholarships, will be applied first. This may reduce or eliminate the institutional scholarship if the total aid exceeds the billed amount. Scholarship offers may require revisions due to changes in enrollment, eligibility, or external resources. The Office of Financial Aid will notify students of any adjustments.
Failure to meet scholarship requirements can result in cancellation, and once canceled, a scholarship cannot be reinstated. Exceptions to this policy are considered on a case-by-case basis. The scholarship sponsor determines the purposes and responsibilities associated with the scholarship, which are subject to change.
Additional College Scholarships
- Athletic Scholarships
Student-athletes may also receive athletic scholarships in addition to any state or externally-funded scholarship programs. To learn more about Athletic Scholarships connect with a member of our coaching staff today.
- Honors Scholarships
Applying for our Honors program? To learn more about Honors scholarship opportunities, connect with the Dr. John Zubizarreta Honors Director, Dr. Marlee Marsh at mmarsh@columbiasc.edu.
- Program-Specific Scholarships
As a Columbia College student, you may be eligible for an art, dance, music, or major-related scholarship. To check your eligibility for these scholarships, contact your program coordinator or visit your major page.
If you are seeking federal, state, or institutional financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study and/or loans, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Federal Grants
- Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who are enrolled in an eligible program, have not received a bachelor's degree, and who demonstrate financial need. The amount of the grant is determined by the Federal Pell Grant Program based on the applicant's family's financial circumstances.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is awarded by the Director of Financial Aid to students demonstrating financial need. Students showing exceptional need and who complete will be given first consideration for these grants as long as funds are available.
- Irag and Afghanistan Service Grant
If your parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, you may be eligible for an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Like other federal grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants provide money to college or career school students to help pay their education expenses. Recipients of this grant had a parent or guardian who died as a result of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Eligibility
Students are eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if:
- The student is not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of your Expected Family Contribution but
- The student meets the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, and
- The student’s parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, and
- The student was under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.
The grant award is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year but cannot exceed your cost of attendance for that award year. For the 2024–25 award year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025), the maximum Federal Pell Grant award will be $7,395.
- Federal Teach Grant (TEACH)
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants up to the maximum set by the U.S. Congress (currently $3,772 per year for grants disbursed 10/01/21 - 9/30/24) to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must agree to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves students from low-income families for at least four academic years within eight years after completing their degree.
Eligibility
If a student does not complete the service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds are converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid to the Department of Education with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed.
Requirements
Columbia College students will need to meet the following criteria to be eligible for the TEACH Grant:- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Be enrolled in a program of study (including MAT5) that is designed to prepare you to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field that leads to a bachelor's or master's degree. Students seeking a second bachelor's degree are not eligible for the TEACH Grant.
- Federal high-need areas include:
- Bilingual Education
- English Language Acquisition
- Foreign Language
- Mathematics
- Reading Specialist
- Science, including, but not limited to, Computer Science
- Special Education
- South Carolina high-need areas for 2024-2025 include:
- Art
- Dance
- Elementary Education
- English as a Second Language
- Gifted Education
- Health Education
- Library/Media Specialist
- Literacy
- Middle Level/Secondary Education
- Montessori Education
- Music
- Physical Education
- Special Education
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Theatre
- World Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish, etc.)
- School Counseling & School Psychologist majors are not eligible as they do not meet the federal definition of teaching their subject in a classroom K-12 setting.
- Out-of-State High-Need Teacher Subject Areas as of the time recipients receive the grant or as of the time they begin teaching in that field.
- Columbia College has determined that Early Childhood Education is not an eligible program of study for the Federal TEACH Grant.
- Not all TEACH Grant majors are offered at Columbia College.
- GPA or test scores:
- New First-Year Students
- Have a high school GPA of 3.25 or greater on a 4.00 scale OR have a test score on a nationally recognized college admissions test (e.g. SAT or ACT) that is above the 75th percentile. Columbia College's Office of Admissions does not receive the percentile of your scores. You will need to provide this documentation to the financial aid office. You may be charged a fee to receive archived SAT/ACT scores. Therefore, you may want to first check with your high school to see if they can provide the information.
- Note - New Freshmen cannot be reviewed for the TEACH Grant until the final high school transcript has been received and processed by Columbia College.
- Have a high school GPA of 3.25 or greater on a 4.00 scale OR have a test score on a nationally recognized college admissions test (e.g. SAT or ACT) that is above the 75th percentile. Columbia College's Office of Admissions does not receive the percentile of your scores. You will need to provide this documentation to the financial aid office. You may be charged a fee to receive archived SAT/ACT scores. Therefore, you may want to first check with your high school to see if they can provide the information.
- New Transfer Students
- New Graduate Students
- Teachers seeking a Graduate degree
- No GPA is required for current teachers or retirees from another occupation with expertise in a high-need field who are seeking a master's degree, as well as current or former teachers who are completing a high-quality alternative certification, such as Teach for America.
- Continuing Students (Undergraduate and Graduate)
How to Apply
For 2024-25, if you meet the requirements for the TEACH Grant, please complete and submit the 2024-2025 TEACH Grant Application) to the Office of Financial Aid. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing. Students who received the TEACH Grant in the previous academic year will be reviewed in early summer and offered the TEACH Grant award if they meet the TEACH Grant renewal criteria (e.g. eligible major and GPA).
For 2025-26 - the application will be posted here in June 2025.After You Apply
You must complete the Agreement to Serve or Repay (Agreement) and Initial Entrance Counseling before your TEACH Grant can be disbursed. The Agreement and Subsequent Entrance Counseling must be completed each year that you receive the TEACH Grant.The amount of your Teach Grant disbursement each semester will depend on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in (75% of the award for three-quarter time enrollment; 50% of the award for half-time enrollment; 25% of the award for less than half-time enrollment). You must maintain eligibility to receive the TEACH Grant (e.g. eligible major and GPA). A student's eligibility will be reviewed prior to each TEACH Grant disbursement.
Undergraduate students can receive up to $16,000 in TEACH Grant funding during their program. Graduate students can receive up to $8,000 in TEACH Grant funding during their program.
After Graduation or Not Enrolled in School
You will have 8 years to complete your four-year teaching service obligation. It can only be fulfilled at a low income area school. Your teaching service must be in a high-need field.You must provide the U.S. Department of Education with documentation of your progress toward completing your service obligation. If you do not keep them informed or do not meet the requirements of your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed.
South Carolina Scholarships
The State of South Carolina offers a number of scholarships for in-state residents who meet certain criteria:
- South Carolina Palmetto Fellowship
The Palmetto Fellows program is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional scholastic achievement. Students may be awarded a maximum of $6,700 in their first year and up to $7,500 for subsequent years.
Eligibility
A student must be a full-time South Carolina resident and:
- Achieve a minimum SAT math/critical reading score of 1400.
- A minimum 4.0 GPA based on SC Uniform Grading Policy.
OR meet two of the following three criteria:
- A minimum 3.5 GPA based on SC Uniform Grading Policy.
- Be graduating in the top 6% of their class.
- A minimum SAT math/critical reading score of 1200.
The scholarship is renewable for up to four years provided the student maintains state eligibility requirements for renewal.
- South Carolina LIFE Scholarship
The LIFE Scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated scholastic achievement. Students may be awarded a maximum of $5,000 per year, which includes a $300 book allowance.
Eligibility
A student must be a full-time South Carolina resident and meet two of the following three criteria:
- A minimum SAT math/critical reading score of 1100.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA (UGP).
- Be graduating in the top 30% of their class.
The scholarship is renewable for up to four years provided the student maintains state eligibility requirements for renewal.
Maintaining the Award
For the LIFE Scholarship, full-time students must earn thirty (30) non-remedial semester credit hours per year and enroll in twelve (12) non-remedial hours each semester. You must complete thirty (30) non-remedial hours for a rising sophomore, sixty (60) non-remedial hours for a rising junior, and ninety (90) non-remedial hours for a rising senior and meet the 3.0 GPA requirement.
- South Carolina Hope Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated scholastic achievement. Students may be awarded a maximum of $2,800 per year, which includes a $300 book allowance.
A student must be full-time South Carolina resident and have a minimum 3.0 GPA based on the SC Uniform Grading Policy.
- South Carolina Tuition Grant
The South Carolina Tuition Grant is awarded to students who have demonstrated financial need determined by their FAFSA. Students may be awarded a maximum of $4,800 per year. The amount of the Grant is determined yearly by the SC State Legislators.*
Eligibility
A student must be:
- meet Admission requirements
- register as a full-time student each semester
- be a South Carolina resident.
- complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by August 1st.
To remain eligible for SC Tuition Grant, full-time students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Outside Scholarships
Outside scholarships are private sources of money offered from non-Columbia College-affiliated organizations. Outside scholarship sources may include local clubs, businesses, organizations, and churches.
Use Caution on Scholarships Sites. Find thousands of outside scholarships that can help you pay for college. As you search, keep in mind that scholarship search websites should not charge you to search. Also, be sure to consider if you want to receive mailing from groups who may buy your personal information like your name, email address, or address form website owners. Below is a list of sites that you can use to search.
- United Methodist Higher Education Foundation
The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) aims to make higher education financially possible for the leaders of tomorrow. Since 1965, UMHEF has been a leader in church-related foundations and agencies in providing scholarship support to qualifying students attending the 100+ United Methodist-related higher education institutions. Last year, over $1.9 million in scholarship aid was awarded to nearly 800 students.
- American Association on Health and Disability Scholarship Program
AAHD's scholarship program supports students with disabilities in higher education. Preference is given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in public health, health promotion or disability studies, including disability policy and disability research.
- American Indian College Fund
This organization provides information about resources for Native American.
- Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Scholarships are awarded based on character, personal merit and commitment.
- Gates Millennium Scholars
This scholarship is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Giva Scholarships
Giva's Corporate Student Scholarship and Worldwide Community Ambassador Award is open to students enrolled in any college or university around the globe. This scholarship is designed to help undergraduate and graduate students advance their education while also encouraging a broader commitment to social responsibility and community service. Students of all majors and fields of study are welcome to apply.
- The United Negro College Fund
This link provides a list of some of the scholarships available from the UNCF.
- Watson-Brown Foundation
The Watson-Brown Foundation Inc. offers renewable scholarships of $3,000 and $5,000 to high school seniors and current college students. Eligible applicants must be from one of the following Georgia counties: Burke, Columbia, Elbert, Glascock, Hart, Jefferson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, or Wilkes, or from the South Carolina counties of Aiken, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenville, McCormick, or Spartanburg. Recipients must plan to attend any accredited, four-year college in the United States.
- The J.E. Sirrine Scholarship Program
The J.E. Sirrine Scholarships are offered to high school graduates from the Greenville County School District in South Carolina, awarded based on financial need and academic achievement.
- James F. Byrnes Scholars Scholarship
All applicants must have experienced the loss of one or both parents, demonstrate financial need, and intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
- Hispanic College Fund
This organization provides information for funding resources for Hispanic Americans.
- $5K Scholarship Giveaway
High school juniors and seniors, current college students, and parents are encouraged to enter and apply every month for an additional opportunity to win.
Outside Scholarship Database and Search Engines
- Center for Scholarship Administration
Fill out the short questionnaire, and Scholarship Search will identify potential opportunities from a database of over 2,300 funding sources, offering nearly $3 billion in available aid!
- CollegeNET
Free scholarship search.
- FastWeb
This well-known scholarship site allows you to search for available scholarships and create a student profile. The site will then send you scholarship opportunities that align with your profile information.
- Petersons.com
This is one of the largest free online scholarship databases, offering access to over 1.6 million scholarships.
- CareerOneStop.org
CareerOneStop.org, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides a database of over 8,000 scholarships, grants, and fellowships. You can refine your search by keyword, location, and study level.
- Scholarship.com
Scholarships.com offers a database of more than 3.7 million scholarships and grants. By creating a profile, you can receive matches to potential opportunities from colleges, private companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. (AKA EAF)
Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. (AKA EAF) awards scholarships, fellowships, endowments, and community assistance awards to undergraduate and graduate students. AKA EAF has awarded over $6 million to students pursuing higher education through a variety of merit and need-based programs.
Avoid Scams
Beware: scholarship scams do exist. Check out this scholarship scam information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Accepting Your Scholarship
Please note that although scholarships are considered free financial aid, they may still impact the amount of need-based aid you are eligible for. Your awards might need to be adjusted, so it's important to inform the financial aid office if you anticipate receiving an outside scholarship.
All non-institutional scholarship checks should be sent to the following address:
Columbia College
Office of Tuition Accounts
1301 Columbia College Drive
Columbia, SC 29203