S.C. Code Ann. § 59-150-360 – Attendance of state technical college or public two-year institution tuition-free; definitions; fees; county funding for technical colleges

(A) A person who qualifies for in-state tuition rates pursuant to Chapter 112, Title 59 may attend, tuition-free, a technical college of this State or a public two-year institution of higher learning. A person who qualifies for in-state tuition rates pursuant to this title may attend an independent two-year institution of higher learning and receive lottery tuition assistance each year up to the maximum in-state tuition rate at a two-year public institution. In order to qualify, a student must:
1. (1) be a South Carolina resident for a minimum of one year;
2. (2) be enrolled and maintain six credit hours each semester in a certificate, degree, or diploma program;
3. (3) make reasonable progress toward completion of the requirements for the certificate, degree, or diploma program; and
4. (4) complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.
  The South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education or the Commission on Higher Education, as appropriate, may provide regulations for the implementation of this section.
(B) For purposes of this chapter, a "public or independent institution" which a student may attend to receive a scholarship as provided in this chapter includes South Carolina two-year public institutions, as defined in Section 59-103-5, including branch campuses and two-year independent institutions, as defined in Section 59-113-50.
(C) Institutions whose sole purpose is religious or theological training, or the granting of professional degrees, do not meet the definition of "public or independent institution" for purposes of this chapter.
(D) "Tuition" for purposes of this section means the amount charged for registering for credit hours of instruction and academic fees and does not include other fees, charges, or costs of textbooks.
(E) Notwithstanding subsection (D), technical colleges and public two-year institutions may charge students an additional amount for academic or related fees not to exceed eight dollars per credit hour for academic fees, without increasing the fee reduction required by the Commission on Higher Education.
(F) Each county must maintain its level of funding for technical colleges. If any county fails to maintain this level of funding for its technical college, the college may add, for students who reside in that county, an impact fee sufficient to offset the reduction in county funds.