Tuition Gap Scholarship Program

2025-2026 Bill 959: Tuition Gap Scholarship Program - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 959
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Sutton
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4741
Document Path: SMIN-0118MW26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on February 25, 2026
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Education
Summary: Tuition Gap Scholarship Program
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/25/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 7
)

2/25/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Education
(
Senate Journal-page 7
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/25/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
59-150-385
SO AS TO CREATE THE TUITION GAP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE
OF ENSURING THAT ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVING LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS,
OR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE THEIR REMAINING TUITION COSTS FULLY
COVERED DURING ANY SEMESTER IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE SUCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
C
hapter 150, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

S
ection
59-150-385
.
(
A) There is
established the Tuition Gap Scholarship Program for the purpose of ensuring
that eligible students receiving LIFE Scholarships, HOPE Scholarships, or
Palmetto Fellows Scholarships have their remaining tuition costs fully covered
during any semester in which they receive such scholarship awards.

(
B)
A student who is enrolled at a public institution of higher learning in South
Carolina and who receives a LIFE Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship, or Palmetto
Fellows Scholarship is eligible to receive a Tuition Gap Scholarship for each
semester in which they remain eligible for and receive one of these
scholarships.

(
C)
The amount of the Tuition Gap Scholarship must be equal to the difference
between:

(
1)
the actual cost of full-time tuition for in-state students at the eligible
public institution of higher learning in which the student is enrolled; and

(
2)
the total value of the LIFE, HOPE, or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship awarded to
the student for that semester, including any STEM supplements.

(
D)
The Tuition Gap Scholarship may not be used to pay any fees, room and board,
books, or other nontuition expenses.

(
E)
The Commission on Higher Education shall administer the Tuition Gap Scholarship
Program and shall:

(
1)
develop application and verification procedures;

(
2)
ensure coordination with public institutions of higher learning to calculate
tuition costs and scholarship shortfalls; and

(
3)
annually report to the General Assembly on the number of recipients,
disbursements, and fiscal impact.

(
F)
The Tuition Gap Scholarships must be funded exclusively from proceeds of the
South Carolina Education Lottery. No general fund appropriations may be used
for this purpose.

(
G)
The commission shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement and
administer the provisions of this section.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor and first applies to the academic year beginning in the Fall
Semester of 2027.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 25, 2026 at 2:40 PM