Graduating seniors in Greenville County will now have access to the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund.
The privately funded scholarship program was established in Charleston County in 2021. The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund was previously available to students in 14 counties across South Carolina: Spartanburg, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Charleston, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg.
Officials announced Aug. 13 that the scholarship program will now serve students across all 46 counties in South Carolina. The expansion was made possible by a $18.7 million recurring investment approved by the South Carolina General Assembly and included in Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive budget.
“Higher education must remain affordable and accessible for the sons and daughters of South Carolina,” McMaster Said. “By combining private donations with lottery revenue, we can help ensure more students can afford a college education and earn a degree without taking on significant debt.”
The state funding will cover a one-year scholarship for high school graduates in the program’s expansion counties. The students must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the scholarship program, such as:
- Must reside in South Carolina
- Graduate from a South Carolina high school in spring 2027
- Complete the FAFSA and receive a Federal Pell Grant
- Earn the South Carolina LIFE or Palmetto Fellows scholarship
- Enroll in an eligible in-state college
The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund is expected to provide scholarships to 2,336 students across the expansion counties, including 273 students in Greenville County. Approximately $2.18 million is estimated to be used for scholarships in Greenville County.
“This is a transformational moment for South Carolina students statewide who will now have the opportunity to earn a college degree without worrying about cost,” said Ben Navarro, founder of the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship program will continue privately funding scholarships in its original 14 counties. The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund will provide up to $10,000 per year to qualifying students for college tuition, housing, meals and other fees.
For more information about the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, visit meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org.
