Lottery Tuition Assistance To Pay Up To $900 for Fall 2008

The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education finalized the Spring Semester per-student dollar amount of lottery-funded tuition assistance.  For Fall Semesters 2008, eligible South Carolina residents can receive up to $900 (full-time) toward tuition at any of the state’s 16 technical colleges provided the student meets all requirements.  Be sure to check the eligibility criteria below.

Lottery Tuition Assistance Program

The Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTAP) was created to supplement financial assistance to students who wish to attend two-year public or independent colleges in the state.  The award is not based on need.  There has been a FAFSA waiver option added to the requirements for applying for the LTAP program. This waiver is described below:

 FAFSA Waiver for Lottery-Funded Tuition Assistance

One important change in the lottery-funded tuition assistance application process that will benefit students has been made. Most students who want to receive lottery funding for fall must complete a 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), however, students may not have to submit a FAFSA if:
1.) they are high school students enrolled in dual enrollment programs;**(See additional information.)
2.) they have already earned a bachelor's degree and provide a transcript or copy of their diploma;
3.) they are not enrolled in a program that is eligible for Title IV aid: or
4.) they are dependent students who cannot obtain their parents' or guardians' tax forms.

If students fall into one of these categories, they may chose to submit a FAFSA Waiver form instead of completing the FAFSA. Support documentation must be submitted with the FAFSA waiver form. If they submit the FAFSA Waiver form only, they will not be eligible for any Title IV financial aid, including Pell grants and loans.

**TTC is using the application document(s) provided by the high school or home school organization in place of the FAFSA Waiver form for dual credit and home schooled student - no FAFSA or FAFSA Waiver for is required. Please contact the Office of High School Programs at 843.574.6312 for additional information.

If you wish to apply for Title IV financial aid, as well as LTAP, then students must meet the following :

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and complete the process to determine eligibility for federal student aid each academic year;
• Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under State residency statutes;
• Be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes;
• Be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement as a degree-seeking student in a minimum of six credit hours for the term and be making satisfactory academic progress*; Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a State Grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan program; and
• Not be a recipient of the HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships.
• Not have completed an associate degree within the last five years.

*Satisfactory Academic Progress for renewal of the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program requires that students who have attempted 24 or more hours must have a  minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. SAP status is determined for LTAP at the end of each summer term. If at the end of the summer term, a student has attempted 24 or more hours and the student's cumulative GPA is less than 2.0, then eligibility to receive the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program is lost until the beginning of the next academic year.  For example, if at the end of Summer 2008 the cumulative GPA is 1.9 with 25 hours attempted, the student will not be considered for LTAP eligibility until Fall 2009.

Trident Technical College is required to apply all Federal and State grants before the Lottery Assistance.  LTAP will only cover tuition and fees not covered by grants up to the amount of the award.  Therefore, if your tuition and fees are covered by grants, you will not receive the LTAP award.  Student loans do not affect your eligibility.  Lottery Assistance cannot be used for books or supplies.

If your tuition and fees are partially covered by grants, the Lottery Assistance award will cover the remaining unpaid amount up to the award limit or your tuition costs, which ever is less.  If you do not receive any grants, you will receive the Lottery Tuition Assistance up to the maximum award amount if you are full-time (12 or more hours) or at a rate of $75 per credit hour if you are less than full-time.  You will be responsible for paying the remaining tuition amount as indicated on our fact sheet.

** If you are applying for Lottery Tuition Assistance after the semester has begun, your FAFSA date of submission must be prior to the end of the semester you are requesting the award for.  For example; you may not apply in January for Lottery Assistance from the Fall semester.  The submission date would have had to have been prior to the end of the Fall semester.

If you feel you have met all of the requirements for the Lottery Tuition Assistance Award (LTA), but did not receive it, please fill out the Lottery Assistance Appeal form and submit for review by the Financial Aid Staff.  You will be notified of the Financial Aid Office's decision by Campus Cruiser.  Check all items on the form that apply and offer information as appropriate.

For more information and frequently asked questions, you may visit the State Technical College System website.

LIFE Scholarship

The Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program which was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor in 1998. The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education awards approximately 20,000 scholarships totaling over $54 million per academic year to South Carolina residents.  There is no application for the LIFE Scholarship, however, there is an affidavit that must be completed and submitted to the College. To view the eligibility requirements and the dollar amount of the scholarship, please visit the Commission on Higher Education website by clicking the Life Scholarship icon below.

LIFE Enhancement Scholarship provides additional funds ($2500) for students who are majoring in certain math and science fields. Second-year students at four-year colleges may receive the LIFE Enhancement Scholarship if they have successfully met the LIFE eligibility and they have earned 14 hours of math and science during their first year in college.  Contact your advisor for further information or questions regarding the LIFE Enhancement Scholarship should be addressed to the  SC Commission on Higher Education.

LIFE Scholarship Update!!

Please be aware of the following LIFE Scholarship requirements for the 2008-2009 academic year.

1. Developmental classes and Bridge classes cannot be counted towards the full-time credit-hour Life Scholarship requirement for the term or the 30 credit-hour requirement for renewal purposes. Students whose initial college enrollment begins spring semester, the renewal requirements will be 15 credit hours. If you need to enroll in a developmental or bridge class during Fall or Spring semester, you must also be enrolled in at least 12 regular credit hours to be eligible to receive LIFE Scholarship funds for that semester.

Developmental and Bridge classes include: ENG 032, ESL 011-019, RDG 032, MAT 032,

ACC 100, BIO 100, COL 104 – 107, CHM 100, ENG 100, EGR 104, IDS101, IDS104, PHY100,

RDG 100, MAT 101, MAT 102, MAT 152

2. For the 2008-2009 academic year; students will have a LIFE GPA calculated to determine eligibility. The LIFE GPA is defined as the cumulative grade point average calculation that includes credit hours and grades earned at all eligible institutions(in-state and out-state) based on a 4.0 scale.  In order for a transfer student to be eligible to renew their LIFE Scholarship, they must have a cumulative LIFE GPA of 3.0. Eligible credit hours and grades for courses that do not transfer must still be included in the LIFE GPA as well as credit hours and grades earned through dual enrollment prior to high school graduation.  The student is responsible for submitting to the Registrar office, transcripts from all eligible institutions they have attended so that we can determine the student's LIFE cumulative GPA. Returning students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and successfully pass the required 30 credit hours for renewal.

3.High school graduates initial eligibility at a two-year institution is a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA based on the SC Uniform grading scale to receive the Life Scholarship.  The standardized test score and class rank requirements are waived only at two-year institutions.

4.Students may only be considered for the LIFE Scholarship for two years from the date of initial college enrollment*, when working towards a two-year degree. (*With the exception of some remedial course work in initial terms of enrollment.)

If you would like to more about the LIFE Scholarship, please visit:

                                                              Life Scholarship          Printable Affidavit

South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program

South Carolina National Guard members who are enrolled or planning to enroll in an eligible institution may qualify for the College Assistance Program (CAP).  To qualify, an applicant must:

1. Be in good standing with the active National Guard at the beginning of each academic year and remain a member in good standing with the active National guard throughout the entire academic year for which benefits are payable;

2. Have valid tuition and fee expenses from an eligible institution;

3. Maintain a cumulative grade point average that the institution requires to remain as a student; and

4. Satisfy any additional eligibility requirements as may be promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education.

Individuals joining the South Carolina National Guard become eligible for CAP grants on the day of enlistment.

South Carolina National Guard members receiving a full Reserve Officer's Training Cops (ROTC) scholarship are not eligible for the CAP grant.

South Carolina Need-based Grant

The South Carolina Need-based Grant (SCAN) is designed to assist the State's neediest students. The public college at which the student is enrolled determines the exact amount, less any other gift aid received.  The Grant must be applied directly towards the cost of attendance at the college for a maximum of eight full-time equivalent terms.  Students must be enrolled in their first one-year program, first associate degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree. Student who are in or have been in the Foster Care System can qualify to receive an additional funding from the SC Need Based Grant Program.  Students must self identify their Foster Care status with the Financial Aid Office.

In order to qualify for consideration for a South Carolina Need-based Grant, a student must meet ALL of the following minimum requirements:

• Be a needy student as defined by Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs for determining eligibility for federal student financial aid.  The student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form;
• Be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes; 
• Be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement in a minimum of twelve credit hours if full-time or six credit hours if part-time for the term at an eligible public or private college or university;
• Certify that he or she has not been convicted of any felonies and has not been convicted of any alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offenses within the past academic year by submitting a signed affidavit to the financial aid office at the institution at which the student is enrolled; and
• Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a State Grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan Programs.

Printable Affidavit