• Colonial Scholarship
• College of Charleston Merit Scholarship
• National Merit Scholarship
• James E. Clyburn Scholarship
• Upward Bound Scholarship

Our scholarship review process is holistic just like our admissions process. Multiple factors will be considered when assessing scholarship awards. We offer both merit and need-based awards.

For maximum consideration of all CofC merit and need based scholarships, priority Honors College consideration and Honors College scholarships, please submit a completed application to CofC by November 1.  Students that apply to CofC by January 15^th will still be considered for merit, need-based and departmental scholarships*.

*Departmental scholarships require a separate application via https://cofc.academicworks.com

International students can expect to receive a minimum of $5,000 and have the opportunity to be considered for additional awards based on factors within a student’s application.

Are you a prospective student and have questions about your merit scholarship eligibility? Reach out to your admissions counselor or email admissions@cofc.edu.

All students must enroll full-time (12 hours) each semester to be eligible for any scholarship funds.

College of Charleston requires students meet renewal criteria for all merit scholarships.

Additional Information

Non-resident scholarships (both merit-based and need-based) are available to out-of-state students and covers part of the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. The College of Charleston Academic Scholarship requires that the student remain a College of Charleston Merit Scholar and meet renewal criteria.

The CofC Academic scholarship will be canceled if a student gains in-state residency; or reduced if a student receives another grant or scholarship that covers the tuition difference (such as DC Tuition Grant).

Acceptance Required

You will be required to read and accept the Terms and Conditions of your scholarship in CofC MyPortal or MyCharleston in order to receive the scheduled disbursements of your scholarship.

Continuing Eligibility

Recipients of the College of Charleston Merit Scholarship must complete 24 credit hours per academic year (fall, spring and subsequent summer). Earned hours do not include repeat courses, AP, IB, CLEP, or Placement hours or transfer hours from a previous academic year.

Recipients of the College of Charleston Merit Scholarship must maintain a cumulative College of Charleston GPA of 3.0.

If the student maintains the required academic standards, the scholarship will be renewed automatically. Renewals are made in the summer of each year for the upcoming year. Students failing to meet the renewal standards will be notified in writing in early summer. Students unable to meet the renewal standards will be given the opportunity to appeal based on mitigating circumstances (e.g. serious health condition, death or serious health condition of an immediate family member, or a traumatic event). Students who wish to appeal may complete the Scholarship Appeal Form. A continuing student that has lost eligibility (or was not previously eligible) cannot regain eligibility.

Recipients of the Access to Excellence Scholarship will be required to submit a FAFSA each academic year prior to March 1^st in order to renew that scholarship. Non-resident students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and earn 24 credit hours per academic year. SC resident students must earn 24 credit hours per academic year and maintain a 2.0 cumulative CofC GPA.