SC Education Scholarship Fund Reaches Student Cap for Upcoming School Year

State education officials announced that the South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund has reached its student limit for the 2025-2026 school year. This cap was met approximately six months after applications for the program first became available.

The South Carolina Department of Education confirmed that the program provides $7,500 scholarships to income-eligible K-12 students. These funds can be used for a variety of approved educational expenses, including tuition and fees at independent schools, out-of-district public school attendance fees, transportation, uniforms, tutoring, educational therapies, and technology solutions.

This scholarship initiative is a revised version of legislation that was initially struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2024. The current bill successfully passed the state legislature and received Governor Henry McMaster’s signature in early May.

Applications for the program were tentatively opened in mid-January, and the Department of Education expects scholarship distributions to be deposited into student accounts by late July. A waitlist has now been established for any additional applicants.

For the 2025-2026 school year, the program’s cap was set at 10,000 students. However, the state’s Department of Education has already announced plans to expand the program, aiming to award at least 15,000 scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year.

To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be South Carolina residents enrolled in K-12 and must not have graduated or turned 22 years old. Additionally, their household income must be less than or equal to 300% of the federal poverty level, or they must be confirmed Medicaid recipients. Students also cannot be assigned to a resident public school for the academic year in question to qualify for the scholarship.