1. A. Students who were U.S. Citizens or legal permanent residents, and South Carolina residents at the time of high school graduation and college enrollment, but were not initially eligible upon high school graduation or failed to meet the continued eligibility requirements can earn or regain eligibility for the LIFE Scholarship if they:

   1. 1. Meet all eligibility requirements as stated in the “Student Eligibility” Section;
   2. 2. Earn at least a 3.0 “LIFE GPA” by the end of the academic year;

   3. 3. Meet the annual credit hour requirement by the end of the academic year based on Initial college enrollment:

      1. (a) earn a minimum of 30 (or the equivalent) credit hours if entering the second year; or
      2. (b) earn a minimum of 60 (or the equivalent) credit hours if entering the third year; or
      3. (c) earn a minimum of 90 (or the equivalent) credit hours if entering the fourth year; or
      4. (d) earn a minimum of 120 (or its equivalent) credit hours if entering the fifth year of an approved five-year bachelor’s degree program.
      5. (e) earn the required number of credit hours as stated in Section 62-1200.15 (C) for students who initially enroll mid-year.
2. B. A student who has earned a GED diploma may be eligible to earn the LIFE Scholarship at the end of the first academic year of a non-GED program. The student must meet the annual credit hour requirement (or equivalent) and a 3.0 “LIFE GPA” at the end of the first academic year. To qualify for subsequent years, the student must meet all eligibility requirements as stated in Section A above.
3. C. A student who has graduated from a homeschool association not approved by the state of South Carolina may be eligible to earn the LIFE Scholarship at the end of the first academic year based on initial college enrollment. The student must meet the annual credit hour requirement (or equivalent) and a 3.0 “LIFE GPA” at the end of the first academic year. The student may also qualify in subsequent years by meeting all eligibility requirements as stated in Section A above.
4. D. Students who have met the initial eligibility criteria for the LIFE Scholarship and initially enroll in college mid-year (spring term) may be eligible to receive the LIFE Scholarship the next academic year, if the student earns a minimum of fifteen credit hours and earns a cumulative 3.0 “LIFE GPA” at the end of the academic year. For subsequent years, the student must meet the annual credit hour requirement for renewal (refer to Section 62-1200.15 (C) for the required number of credit hours for mid-year students). The student may be eligible to receive the maximum number of terms of eligibility based on initial college enrollment.

5. E. Students who were not initially eligible for a LIFE Scholarship (as stated in this section) upon high school graduation or failed to meet the continued eligibility requirements for a LIFE Scholarship may earn or regain eligibility for a LIFE Scholarship Enhancement if they:

   1. 1. Meet all eligibility requirements as stipulated in Section 62-1200.10 and are recipients of a LIFE Scholarship;
   2. 2. Earn at least a 3.0 “LIFE GPA” and meet the annual credit hour requirement by the end of each academic year based on initial college enrollment to receive a LIFE Scholarship; and
   3. 3. Be a recipient of LIFE Scholarship funds at the time of LIFE Scholarship Enhancement funds disbursement.

Editor's Note

See SCSR 44-6 Doc. No. 4966, effective May 18, 2020 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing high school students with an opportunity to take the ACT test examination through July 2020, and to use the earned scores to meet the qualifications for state scholarships, and the opportunity to take a break in enrollment during the Fall 2020 academic term and still maintain their remaining terms of LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement eligibility.

See SCSR 44-8 Doc. No. 4973, effective August 14, 2020 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing high school students with an opportunity to take the ACT test examination through July 2020, and to use the earned scores to meet the qualifications for state scholarships, and the opportunity to take a break in enrollment during the Fall 2020 academic term and still maintain their remaining terms of LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement eligibility.

See SCSR 48-7 Doc. No. 5274, effective July 9, 2024 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing institutions the ability to award and disburse the LIFE Enhancement Stipend for education and accounting majors, effective for the Fall 2024 term.

See SCSR 49-1 Doc. No. 5368, effective January 2, 2025 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing institutions the ability to award and disburse the LIFE Enhancement Stipend for education and accounting majors, effective for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 terms.

HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 2009. Amended by State Register Volume 35, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 2011; SCSR 45-5 Doc. No. 5004, eff May 28, 2021; SCSR 46-5 Doc. No. 5052, eff May 27, 2022; SCSR 49-5 Doc. No. 5321, eff May 23, 2025.