Office of Undergraduate Admissions

All freshmen who apply by December 1 are automatically considered for our general university merit-based scholarship packages. Nonresident students may receive only one general university merit-based scholarship, with the exception of the Provost Scholars Award. For each incoming class, scholarship eligibility and award amounts are determined based on the student's academic achievement and size and competitiveness of the applicant pool.

The information below reflects last year’s recipient averages and should not be interpreted as minimum requirements or guarantees. The SAT and ACT scores reported in each section represent the averages for those students who chose to have their test scores considered in the previous year’s admission process. The GPA and ranking figures represent the average from the prior year’s class.

• Stamps, McNair and Horseshoe Scholars Awards*

  Stamps Scholars Award annual value: approximately $25,810 + tuition reduction to in-state rate  
  Four-year value: approximately $219,000 + $15,000 enrichment fund
  
  McNair Scholars Award annual value: $24,000 + tuition reduction to in-state rate 
  Four-year value: more than $199,000 + $14,000 enrichment fund

  Horseshoe Scholars Award annual value: $11,000 + tuition reduction to in-state rate
  Four-year value: more than $147,000

  The Stamps, McNair and Horseshoe Scholars Awards are the most prestigious awards offered by the university to nonresident students. Forty-five students with strong academic records and leadership qualities are offered a Top Scholar award each year. Five will be named Stamps Scholars, 20 will be named McNair Scholars, and up to 20 will be named Horseshoe Scholars. Candidates for these awards will be invited to participate in a mandatory interview and an in-person Top Scholar Weekend. Last year, nonresident Top Scholars had an average SAT score of 1550 (ACT score of 35) and an average high school GPA of 4.8 and were in the top 1% of their high school class.

  To apply for these awards, you must submit both a general university application and a South Carolina Honors College application to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline for the Honors College application is Nov. 15.

• Provost Scholars Award

  Eligible National Merit Finalists who designate USC as their first-choice institution will receive the Provost Scholars Award, valued at $6,000 annually ($24,000 over four years).

  Competition for these awards begins with taking the PSAT/NMSQT in a student's junior year of high school. To be eligible, National Merit Finalists must list the University of South Carolina as their first choice through the National Merit Corporation by the stated deadline. The annual award value includes $500 sponsored by the National Merit Corporation, if applicable.
  
  The Provost Scholars Award may be combined with any other university merit-based scholarship.

• Academic Scholar Award*

  All freshmen who apply by December 1 are considered for one of our general university merit-based scholarship packages which includes an Academic Scholar Award and an additional USC Scholarship with a value of at least $500.

  Academic Scholar Award packages range in value from $6,500 to $30,000 annually. The total four-year value of these scholarship packages range in value from $26,000 to $120,000. 

  Scholarship eligibility and award amounts vary by incoming class and are based on the size and competitiveness of the applicant pool, available funding and academic achievement. The information below reflects last year’s recipient averages and should not be interpreted as minimum requirements or guarantees.  

  • Recipients who received a scholarship valued between $26,000 - $30,000 annually ($104,000 - $120,000 over four years) had an average SAT of 1450 (ACT score of 33) and an average high school GPA of 4.7 and were in the top 6% of their high school class, on average.

  • Recipients who received a scholarship valued between $16,000 - $18,000 annually ($64,000 - $72,000 over four years) had an average SAT of 1390 (ACT score of 31) and an average high school GPA of 4.5 and were in the top 11% of their high school class, on average.

  • Recipients who received a scholarship valued between $6,500 - $12,000 annually ($24,000 - $48,000 over four years) had an average SAT of 1300 (ACT score of 28) and an average high school GPA of 4.4 and were in the top 14% of their high school class, on average. 

*May not be combined with any other general university merit-based scholarship offered by the University of South Carolina Office of Undergraduate Admissions, except for Provost Scholars Award.