Eligibility

Student Eligibility

At minimum, a student must live in Greenwood County and attend grades 9 – 12 at a public, private, or homeschool in Greenwood County, SC. When a student reaches 12th grade, they will fill out the online pledge at school to complete the scholarship registration process. Open to all, regardless of family income.   Additional details about student eligibility are below:

• Greenwood County Resident continuously since at least 9^th grade 
• Graduate from high school 
• U.S. citizen/legal permanent resident 
• Enroll Full-time at a Greenwood Promise partner college within 1 year of high school graduation date
• Apply for all federal and state financial aid programs available (FAFSA) Please note, Greenwood Promise offers free assistance in filling out these forms. Call our offices to schedule an appointment, 864-377-8110.
• The student must not have defaulted on any federal student loans
• Be listed in The Greenwood Promise database (you can check by contacting GP) 
• If under 18, a parent or guardian must sign consent paperwork (available in High School Guidance counselor’s office) 

Private, virtual, and homeschool students, please email info@greenwoodpromise.com for a registration form.

Technical Degree Tuition Scholarships

Any eligible Greenwood County high school graduate would be covered at Piedmont Technical College, or another technical college if the program or certification is not offered at PTC. This scholarship is open to all, regardless of family income. There is no application process, except if you plan to attend another technical college. Additional requirements include: 

• Enroll full-time for college classes at Piedmont Technical College or another technical college (if PTC does not offer your program) 
• Maintain a 2.0 GPA (if plan to transfer to a 4-year college, must maintain a 3.0) 
• Fill out FAFSA (financial aid) by August 1 for fall semesters and December 1 for spring semesters.  Please note, Greenwood Promise offers free assistance in filling out these forms. Call our offices to schedule an appointment, 864-377-8110.

The amount of these scholarships is determined by:

• How long the student has been continuously enrolled in a Greenwood County public or private school 
• The tuition balance that remains AFTER state and federal aid are subtracted
• Family income is not a factor in determining the amount of scholarship
• Restrictions: No remedial classes, no summer classes  

Funds paid directly to the college on behalf of the student

• If you attend PTC, you are automatically enrolled in The Greenwood Promise. Occasionally, there may be a technical glitch, so if there is a balance, please reach out to GP to resolve.
• IF ATTENDING A TECHNICAL SCHOOL OTHER THAN PTC, PRE-APPROVAL IS REQUIRED— PLEASE EMAIL INFO@GREENWOODPROMISE.COM TO SHARE YOUr PLAN AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF SCHOOL 

Bachelor’s Degree Tuition Scholarships 

There are a limited number of scholarships available, priority is given to Lander University students in specific majors and engineering majors at SC State-supported universities.

Students with the lowest SAI scores—those who demonstrate the greatest financial need—are selected first. We continue awarding scholarships in order of need until all available funds are used. 

Typically, 20-25 new students each year are awarded scholarships. Our program continues to expand, so check back yearly for changes.  Additional requirements are below: 

• A rising junior or senior at Lander University or Engineering students at South Carolina state-supported school 
• Eligible major in a high-demand field (click link) 
• Recipient of the LIFE scholarship or Palmetto Fellows scholarship 
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA
• Complete at least 30 credit hours per year (full time student)
• Fill out application on Greenwood Promise website in January of your sophomore year (or when student anticipates reaching 60 credit hours) 
• Only 5 years of eligibility after HS graduation date

The amount of these scholarships is determined by:

• How long the student has been continuously enrolled in a Greenwood County public or private schools
• The tuition balance that remains AFTER state and federal aid are subtracted; amounts range from $1000-$8000
• Family income is not a factor in determining the amount of the scholarship
• Scholarships are awarded in order of need (based on SAI score) until funding runs out 
• Funds paid directly to the university 
• We recommend you apply even if you are unsure if you qualify 

• College of Business & Technology
  • School of Business
    • Accounting
    • Healthcare
    • Information Technology
    • Management/Marketing
  • Applied Computing
    • Computer Information Systems (all concentrations)
    • Data Science (all concentrations)
    • Cybersecurity (all concentrations)
• College of Science & Mathematics
  • Biology (all concentrations)
  • Chemistry (all concentrations)
  • Environmental Science (all concentrations)
  • Mathematics (all concentrations)
• School of Nursing
  • Any undergraduate degree
• College of Education
  • Any undergraduate Degree
• Criminology

Majors covered at a South Carolina state-supported university

• Engineering
  • Mechanical
  • Mechatronic
  • Electrical
  • Chemical
  • Civil

FAQs

How Do I “Apply” for the Greenwood Promise?

You must fill out a Promise consent form while in school. Guidance counselors at Dist. 50, 51, and 52 can assist you. Or if you attend a private, virtual or homeschool, reach out to the Greenwood Promise staff at info@greenwoodpromise.com

No formal application for technical degrees.

Bachelor’s degree scholarship applications open January 1^st.

Where Can I Use My Scholarship?

• If the student pursues a technical degree or certification, Promise funds may be used to attend Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, SC or another SC technical college if the desired program is not offered at Piedmont Tech.
• The Greenwood Promise is also offering a limited number of scholarships to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Lander University in 30 specific majors. There are also 10 engineering degree scholarships for students who attend Clemson, USC, SC State, or the Citadel.

How Do I Maintain My Scholarship Throughout College?

• A student must be enrolled full-time, taking a minimum of 12 credit hours of non-developmental courses per semester for technical degrees and 30 credit hours for bachelor’s degrees.
• A student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of each academic year (Fall, Summer, Spring) to be eligible for their second year for technical degrees, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for bachelor’s degrees.
• Students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and State Grant Forms each year.
• A student must obtain an associate’s degree or certificate within 3 years of the date of high school graduation, and a bachelor’s degree within 5 years of the date of high school graduation (Exceptions to this requirement are granted for military service.)

How Much Will I Receive?

The scholarship program provides funds to cover the remaining tuition and mandatory fees for post-secondary education after any state or federal aid is applied to your balance. The amount varies by student. The financial aid office or a Greenwood Promise staff member provides the calculations. Past amounts range from a few hundred dollars to over $5,000 a year.

• The student must be enrolled full-time, taking a minimum of 12 credit hours in non-developmental courses per semester.
• All funds will be paid directly to the educational institution AFTER the drop/add period of the fall, winter, and spring semesters.

Is Summer School Covered?

• No, summer school and remedial classes will not be covered, UNLESS they are REQUIRED by PTC’s Curriculum. Students must submit an appeal online at info@greenwoodpromise.com and contact the Promise office for approval.

Why do I need to fill out the FAFSA?

• The Greenwood Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the amount we pay is based on what type of funding a student receives from the government.  The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form that students fill out to determine their eligibility for federal, state, and college-specific financial aid to help pay for college or career school. It’s the first step in accessing financial assistance for higher education. It’s free to fill out and submit. The Greenwood Promise can assist you or your guardian in filling out this form, just call the office to schedule an appointment. 864-377-8110

Will I need to receive a Pell Grant to be selected for Greenwood Promise?

• No, you do not need to receive a Pell Grant to be eligible.
• We use the SAI score to make funding decisions based on financial need when all other factors are the same. The SAI score from FAFSA is an affordability indicator.

Is there an income requirement?

• No, our scholarships are open to students of every income level. However, due to limited funding for the bachelor’s degree scholarships, we prioritize awards based on financial need until funds run out.

What year did the bachelor’s degree scholarship start?

• The Bachelor scholarship began with the Fall Semester 2023

Do I automatically qualify for bachelor’s degree scholarship if I qualified for technical program?

• No, there will be a separate application process with specific criteria.

How many students will be funded for a bachelor’s degree?

• For the 2025-2026 school year, 50 students will be selected. If selected as a junior, the funding will continue through the senior year, as long as nothing changes in your eligibility.
• The exact number of students each year depends on the funding available in the endowment. Check back every year for updated information.
• The Greenwood Promise will continue to seek investment from donors to grow the number of scholarships available.

How do I maintain my eligibility for the senior year of my bachelor’s degree?

• Maintain the LIFE scholarship and be in good standing in a qualified bachelor’s degree program as a senior.
• Once selected as a junior, you will automatically be eligible as a senior if you still meet basic requirements

Do you cover the room and board?

• No, the Greenwood Promise does not cover room & board.  The Greenwood Promise only covers the remaining amount for tuition and mandatory fees after considering state and federal scholarships and grants.
• Any other private scholarships may be applied to cover other costs.

Can a student attend PTC under Greenwood Promise for the first two years tuition-free and then be eligible for a bachelor’s degree at Lander University?

• Yes, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. The student should plan for this path when they start taking classes at PTC and work with advisors at PTC and Lander from the beginning to ensure they take the correct classes that lead to a bachelor’s degree program.

Which college or university will a student be able to receive funding?

• Lander University is the priority for scholarships due to limited funding, if all the spots are not filled, then Greenwood Promise will move to SC state-supported schools for approved majors.
• Students majoring in engineering can attend any other state-supported university in SC since those majors are not offered at Lander University. Students must still meet all the eligibility requirements.
• If there are additional spots and/or additional funding, Greenwood Promise will message on our website and social media about this change.

Will the eligible majors ever change?

• We will review the list of majors every 2-3 years with the Greenwood area industry and community leaders to determine if these are still the primary needs and will make changes as needed.
• As the endowment grows, the number of students who will be covered with the Greenwood Promise will increase. The number of eligible majors could grow as well.

What is the deadline for bachelor’s degree applications?

• The following dates will apply for students who wish to receive financial assistance from Greenwood Promise.
• The bachelor’s degree scholarship application for 2026-2027 school year will begin to be accepted January 1 with application deadline of March 1st, 2026.
• The applicants will be notified of acceptance as Greenwood Promise students by May 15th, 2026.

How long do students have to use The Greenwood Promise funding? 

• Post-secondary education must be completed within 3 to 5 years of the date of high school graduation, depending on the program. Exceptions to this requirement are granted for military service. Technical degree education has a 3 year window while the bachelor’s degree has 5 years.

How big does the Greenwood Promise Endowment need to be to fully fund 2 years of a bachelor’s degree in perpetuity?

• It is estimated that the costs for the bachelor’s degree scholarship will be about $2 million per year. Therefore, an endowment needs to be about $50 million to fund this program in perpetuity.
• The Greenwood Promise will continue to seek funding from all sources to build to this endowment so that all Greenwood County high school graduates have a tuition free path to a bachelor’s degree.