Scholarships, Grants and Loans
Your financial need is unique to you! Once you have completed your FAFSA application, we can help you to make informed decisions about your financial needs.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you are looking for here, contact the Financial Aid Office or at 864-503-5340.
Scholarships
Click below for a list of Foundation Scholarships, qualifications, and links to apply.
USC Upstate strongly supports the recognition of students who possess the potential to return the benefits of a quality university education to our society. Scholarships are awarded to students based on demonstrated academic ability, career plans, educational goals and community service.
By applying to the University, you are automatically considered for scholarships unless another application procedure is requested. To qualify for a grant, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
*General Scholarship Application for the Academic Year 2023-2024 Deadline: April 1, 2023
Out-of-State Fee Waivers
Students who are not residents of South Carolina and who receive USC Upstate Athletic or Foundation Scholarships, or USC Upstate Undergraduate Assistantships valued at $250 or more each semester may qualify for a waiver for out-of-state fees. The following conditions must be met to qualify for the fee waiver.
The award must be made in writing to the student before the end of late registration for each semester and prior to the student paying his tuition. Notification of the award must be forwarded to the financial aid office prior to the end of late registration for each semester. Scholarships or undergraduate assistantships that are awarded after the end of late registration for each semester will not result in a refund of out-of-state fees.
Veterans' and Dependents' Benefits
Educational benefits are available to qualified veterans and children of deceased and disabled veterans. Inquiries should be made to the veterans' affairs office in the student's home county seat and the University of South Carolina Upstate Office of Records and Registration.
Vocational Rehabilitation
This award is to conserve the working usefulness of persons with impairments who have reasonable expectations of becoming employed. Students who might qualify for vocational rehabilitation assistance should contact the Offic e of Vocational Rehabilitation in their home county seats.
GRANTS
Grants are gifts that generally do not require repayment. Includes Federal Pell Grants, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) and the State Need Based Grant (SNBG).
Federal Pell Grant
The federal Pell Grant is the largest federally funded student financial aid grant program. It serves as the foundation upon which all other undergraduate aid is awarded. Typically, it is available only to undergraduate students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree. Federal Pell Grant eligibility is determined according to federal law and is based on the financial information you and your family provided on your FASFA.
You are notified of your possible eligibility to receive a federal Pell Grant via the Student Aid Report (SAR). The financial aid office will receive this information directly from the federal processor and determine the amount of your federal Pell Grant. You should carefully review the information on your SAR and, if it is correct, keep it for your records. If you discover mistakes, follow the instructions and submit corrections as soon as possible.
If you or your family experiences a major change in your financial situation after your Pell Grant eligibility has been determined, you should notify the financial aid office immediately. A counselor will be able to determine if you qualify for an adjustment of your Pell Grant award and/or other financial aid.
Visit the Department of Education's page on Pell Grants.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG is a grant that does not need to be repaid. The financial aid office awards USC Upstate' limited allocation of FSEOG funds. Recipients must be undergraduates who have not already earned a baccalaureate degree and who demonstrate exceptional financial need. FSEOG recipients must be eligible to receive a Pell Grant and have the lowest EFC's from among those students being considered for an award.
Visit the Department of Education's page on FSEOG.
State Need-Based Grant Program (SNBG)*
The South Carolina Need-Based Grant is a state-funded grant for undergraduates attending public colleges and universities within South Carolina. Recipients may not have already earned a baccalaureate degree. To be considered, you must be a South Carolina resident, be admitted or currently enrolled with a minimum GPA of 2.00, complete the FAFSA, demonstrate financial need, be of good moral character, and have never been convicted of a felony. Additionally, to renew a state grant award, you must maintain an annual 2.00 GPA and complete 24 semester hours during the fall and spring semesters. Funding is limited and awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis. FAFSA results received by the Financial Aid Office by March 1st will receive priority consideration. Follow-up documents, if required, should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office promptly to ensure consideration for these funds. Awards are made for the entire academic year (fall and spring semesters) only. The State Need-Based Grant does not need to be repaid.
More information about State Need-Based Grants.
* DISCLAIMER: Changes could occur at any time for these programs. You may access the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) web site for the latest information available. Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds to be appropriated by the South Carolina Legislature.
TEACH Grant Program
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program, was established by the federal government in 2007, to provides grants of up to $4,000 per year* to encourage highly qualified teachers, to serve low-income schools in high-need fields. Institutional participation in the program is optional; Upstate began its participation in 2009. Clink the link below or contact the financial aid office, if interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program.
Upstate Education Majors eligible for the TEACH Grant:
Middle Grades – Math and Science emphasis only
Secondary Education – Math
Secondary Education – Sciences
Special Education
Spanish Education
More information about the TEACH grant program.
*amount and information subject to change pending final regulations.
Loans must be repaid, but most not until after the student completes their studies. Includes the Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal PLUS Loan.
Federal Direct Loan-Subsidized
Complete Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling
(You must have your FAFSA Pin Number available to use on the Web site.)
The subsidized Direct Loan Program provides long-term, low-interest, need-based loans to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The interest rate on subsidized Federal Direct Loans will vary according to the dates on which the loans were disbursed and/or the borrower's outstanding federal loan indebtedness. The interest rate during repayment will be different. These rates are subject to change by law.
As an undergraduate, you may borrow up to $3,500 subsidized and $2,000 unsubsidized for your freshman year, $4,500 subsidized and $2,000 unsubsidized for your sophomore year, and $5,500 subsidized and $2,000 unsubsidized for your junior and senior year, not to exceed a maximum of $23,000 subsidized and $8,000 unsubsidized. As a graduate or professional student, you may borrow up to $8,500 per year not to exceed $65,500, including any amount borrowed as an undergraduate. If you receive a subsidized Direct Loan, you will not be required to begin repayment until six months after you cease to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
Students must sign and complete a Direct Loan Promissory Note before any loan funds will be disbursed.
Federal regulations require that we limit or reduce the amount of a Direct Loan under certain conditions. These conditions are as follows: 1) You are an undergraduate and you apply for a Direct Loan and are enrolled less than a full academic year (fall and spring semesters); or 2) you will complete all degree requirements at the end of the semester or term. If both of these conditions occur, the Direct Loan amount may be reduced. The financial aid office will make this adjustment and you may view your award letter on VIP.
We are required to disburse your loan in installments to coincide with the beginning of the enrollment period covered by the loan. Additionally, if after the time your Federal Direct Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) was certified, you receive any type of other financial assistance, or your tuition fee structure changes, your eligibility for the Direct Loan may be reduced. In some cases, you may be required to repay amounts in excess of your eligibility.
Federal Direct Loan-Unsubsidized
The unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan program is similar to the subsidized Direct Loan except that eligibility is not based on financial need and interest payments are not subsidized by the federal government, but rather are the responsibility of the borrower.
If you are a dependent student, your annual unsubsidized and subsidized Direct Loan totals combined cannot exceed the totals previously noted for a subsidized Direct Loan. As an independent student, you have additional unsubsidized eligibility of $4,000 per year for the freshman and sophomore years of study and $5,000 per year for junior and senior years of study. As a graduate or professional degree student, you have an additional $10,000 per year in unsubsidized eligibility, and your career maximum increases to a total of $73,500, including any amounts borrowed as an undergraduate. Medical students and graduate students in public health and clinical psychology may be eligible for additional unsubsidized loan limits. The interest rate is the same as the subsidized Direct Loan; however, interest begins to accrue at the time the loan funds are disbursed. You may choose to pay the interest or request that it be deferred. This results in the deferred interest being capitalized and creating a greater expense to you during repayment.
Some students will need to complete and sign a promissory note before any loan funds will be disbursed.
Federal regulations require that we limit or reduce the amount of a Direct Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized) under certain conditions. These conditions are as follows: (1) You are an undergraduate and you apply for a Direct loan and are enrolled less than a full academic year (fall and spring semesters); or (2) you will complete all degree requirements at the end of the semester or term. If both of these conditions occur, the Direct Loan amount may be reduced. The financial aid office will make this adjustment and you may view your award letter on VIP.
We are required to disburse your loan in installments to coincide with the beginning of the enrollment period covered by the loan. Additionally, if after the time your Federal Direct Loan, (subsidized or unsubsidized) was certified, you receive any type of other financial assistance, or your tuition fee structure changes, your eligibility for the Direct Loan may be reduced. In some cases, you may be required to repay amounts in excess of your eligibility.
Direct Loan Exit Counseling
Students who have graduated or are no longer enrolled who received Federal Direct Loans must complete exit counseling at studentaid.gov.
Direct Loan Forgiveness Program
Education majors may qualify to have a portion of their Stafford loans forgiven:
Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers
Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Nursing
Federal PLUS Loan for Parents
Click here to complete a Plus Loan Promissory Note
The PLUS loan is a non-need-based educational loan program that allows parents to borrow funds for full-time dependent students. Parents may borrow up to the cost of education less any other financial assistance received during the loan period. For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, the interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent. Previous PLUS loans may have a different interest rate depending upon when the loan was first disbursed. Repayment begins within 60 days after the loan is made. The repayment period can be extended up to 10 years with minimum monthly payments to be arranged with the lender.
PLUS loan checks are mailed directly from the lender to the school. Parents/students are advised to exhaust their eligibility for other federal student aid programs before considering the PLUS loan.
Private Loans
Select a Private Loan Lender
Alternative loans or private loans are designed to help students who need additional assistance with educational costs. It is important to understand that these loans do not offer the same advantages that the Federal Loan programs offer and should be used only if all other avenues have been pursued. There are a number of private lenders who offer alternative loans. Loan approval is generally based on creditworthiness and the ability to repay. Most student borrowers will need a credit-worthy, employed cosigner in order to qualify. Each lender offers different rates, fees, repayment terms and approval requirements.
Recommended Private Loan Lenders
South Carolina Teacher Loan Program
This program is available only to residents of South Carolina who are attending college for the purpose of becoming certified teachers employed in the state's school system in areas of critical need as defined by the State Board of Education. For loan recipients who become certified and teach in an area of critical need, the loan shall be canceled at the rate of 20 percent for each full year of teaching, up to 100 percent. Loan recipients who do not become certified and/or do not teach in an area of critical need shall be responsible for repaying the entire amount of loan funds borrowed plus interest.
SC Teacher Loan Forgiveness – SC Student Loan Corporation
Simply click on the link above and follow the instructions. Student Account Services will be notified electronically that you have fulfilled these important requirements. Failure to complete this session will delay your loan funds.
Loan History Page
Your complete federal loan history can be viewed by using your Department of Education PIN number. Visit the site.
Applying for Financial Aid
Students seeking financial assistance should apply early for admission to the University, students may not be awarded financial aid until they have been officially accepted to a degree-seeking program at USC Upstate.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will determine the amount of assistance and which program is appropriate for you. You can obtain this application from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, your high school guidance counselor, or online.
For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships:
800 University Way
Health Education Complex, Suite 2081
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Toll-free: 800-277-8727
864-503-5340
Fax: 864-503-5974
Email
WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS
The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time employment for students who need financial assistance to meet their educational expenses. To be eligible for employment under this federal program, a student must be enrolled in the University or fully accepted for admission and demonstrate financial need.
Students who are enrolled at least half-time work an average of 15 to 20 hours per week. During vacation periods it is sometimes possible to work up to 40 hours per week. Pay rates vary with the job assignment.
Federal Work-Study Award Cancellation Date
If you have been awarded Federal Work-Study (FWS) for the Fall semester and you have not found a job by Sept. 30, your FWS award will be canceled. If you are having difficulty finding a job, contact the Office of Financial Aid or the Human Resources Office for job placement assistance. If you wish to cancel your FWS award, please do so immediately by following the instructions on your award letter for declining your award or by sending a written request to our office.
The College Board
Information about Admissions and Financial Aid.
The Financial Aid Site
An extensive and complete web site regarding financial aid.
Fastweb
An excellent scholarship service.
Entrance/Exit Counseling
Conduct your counseling online at this site.
U.S. Department of Education
General site for the U.S. Department of Education.
FAFSA on the Web
Apply for federal aid at this site.
Selective Service Registration
Males can register for selective service at this site.
SC Student Loan Corporation
You can sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), check on the status of your loans, repayment history, etc.
Citibank
You can sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), check on the status of your loans, repayment history, etc.
Wells Fargo
You can sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), check on the status of your loans, repayment history, etc.