Types of Assistance

Financial aid options to help students succeed.

Scholarships are financial aid awards that do not have to be repaid.

Please note: to apply for these scholarships, grants, or loans, you will need to fill out your FAFSA, and separate application for MTC Foundation Scholarships. That's it!

Get details on How to Apply for Financial Aid.

Scholarships | Financial Aid

Scholarships are often based on academic or other achievements and do not have to be repaid. 

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is a merit-based program established to recognize the most academically talented high school seniors and encourage these students to attend college in the State.  The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education administers the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program and determines initial eligibility for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. Students can apply for the state-awarded Palmetto Fellows Scholarship if they are a South Carolina high school student with exemplary academic credentials. Palmetto Fellows recipients are not eligible for the LIFE Scholarship.

Students are highly encouraged to review all of the eligibility requirements as well as the Frequently Asked Questions about the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.

SC National Guard College Assistance Program

Description

Provides financial assistance to members of the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard by providing incentives for enlisting or remaining for a specified time in either the South Carolina Army or Air National Guard. Recipients may receive up to a maximum of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4500) for the Army National Guard and up to a maximum of nine thousand ($9000) for the Air National Guard per year. The cumulative total of all college assistance program benefits may not exceed eighteen thousand ($18,000).

Who is eligible?

Members of the South Carolina National Guard who are active and in good standing 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. A SCNG CAP recipient shall not qualify for college assistance program benefits for more than one hundred thirty (130) semester hours or related quarter hours from the time of initial eligibility into the SCNG CAP.

How to apply

Contact the Educational Officer at the Guard and complete the application.

South Carolina LIFE Scholarship

Description

South Carolina provides students in S.C. Technical Colleges 4 terms of LIFE scholarship if South Carolina high school students graduate with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and the student meets college-level (101 or above) course load and academic progress requirements. A maximum of 4 semesters of LIFE eligibility is allowed for associate degrees and two semesters for one-year diplomas and certificates. SAT scores are not required for technical college students.

Who is eligible?

Scholarship Criteria for all Students

• Citizen of the United States of America.
• South Carolina resident or parent/parents who were residents at time of student's High School graduation
• No drug or alcohol or felony convictions.
• He/she has not been legally judged to be a delinquent, been convicted of or pled guilty to any felonies or any second or subsequent alcohol/drug related offenses under the laws of South Carolina, or any other state or under the laws of the United States.
• Graduated from high school or completed a home school program as prescribed by law.
• Enrolled in an eligible institution as a full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student.
• Enrolled in at least 12 non-developmental/non-remedial hours of coursework (101 level or above).
• Entering Freshmen
• Earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) based on the S.C. Uniform Grading Policy (UGP) upon high school graduation.
• Be enrolled full time (courses below 101 can not be counted towards full-time enrollment.)
• Final high school transcript must reflect a 3.0 cumulative GPA based on the S.C. Uniform Grading Policy (UGP) and must be received by the college prior to a final L.I.F.E. Scholarship award.

Scholarship Criteria for Training / Continuing Education Students

• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative college grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be enrolled in at least 12 hours of non-developmental credits
• Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, excluding Developmental (below 101 level) and remedial course work during the previous award year - (Fall and Spring).  L.I.F.E Scholarship is not offered during the summer and L.I.F.E. eligible students do not qualify for S.C. Lottery Tuition Assistance in the same award year.
• Not to exceed a maximum of two terms for a one-year educational program or a maximum of four terms for an associate's degree program.

Summer Semester LIFE Eligibility

Beginning summer 2015, students who are in two-year programs of study may be eligible to receive one of their remaining two terms of eligibility during the summer to accelerate to graduation. To participate in summer scholarship disbursement, at the end of the spring semester a LIFE Scholarship recipient must:

• Earn a cumulative 3.0 LIFE GPA
• Earn at least 30 non-remedial coursework during the fall and spring terms, including AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, CLEP or exempted credit hours.
• A summer term cannot be a scholarship recipient’s first term of enrollment.
• First-time entering freshmen will not be penalized for any credit hours earned during the summer session immediately prior to the student’s initial college enrollment. The credit hours earned will not count against the terms of eligibility. The credit hours will be used toward the annual credit hour requirement.

A student must demonstrate having attempted and/or enrolled in a total of at least 12 credit hours over the course of the entire summer term to be awarded.

SC LIFE Scholarship recipients having met the continued eligibility requirements at the end of the spring term are eligible for a fall award regardless of their academic performance over the summer.

How to apply

Apply to the college, be admitted to an eligible program of study, and submit a high school transcript showing graduation and a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All students must submit all transcripts from all other S.C. Colleges or Universities to be considered for L.I.F.E. renewal.

South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance Program

Description

Provides partial tuition to students attending South Carolina Technical Colleges. Federal and State need-based funds must be awarded prior to LTAP funds.

Who is eligible?
LTAP is not need-based. South Carolina residents who are enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours) in an eligible academic program. Students must meet academic progress requirements. Not available to S.C. LIFE Scholars.

How to Apply
Fill out a FAFSA

South Carolina Workforce & Industrial Needs Scholarship

Description

The SC Workforce and Industrial Needs Scholarship (SC WINS) covers any remaining tuition, fees and required course-related expenses left after applying all other scholarships or grants.

Programs

A student must pursue a professional certificate, industry-recognized credential (IRC), diploma or degree from one of the SC Technical College System's 16 colleges. Students can receive the SC WINS for only one certificate, diploma or degree unless the additional certificate, diploma or degree constitutes progress in the same field of student. NOTE: All majors eligible except AA/AS: 24.0101 and 24.0102.

Criteria

Qualifying students must:

• Be a South Carolina resident
• Be enrolled in an eligible program
• Students must complete the required SC WINS Affidavit form

Meet one of the following criteria:

• Be employed,
• Take a financial literacy course offered at the technical college, or
• Complete 100 hours of voluntary time contributing to a nonprofit or public service organization

GPA/Continued Eligibility

All credit-seeking students must maintain a 2.0 GPA each academic year. Eligibility is for three years (9 terms max) on associate degrees, and two years (6 terms max) on certificates or diplomas.

Changing Majors

Changing majors could impact your award eligibility. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Services prior to making any changes.

Covered Expenses

Recipients can receive up to $5,000 per academic year after applying all other scholarships or grants. The scholarship may cover the cost of tuition, fees and course-related expenses.

Questions?

Contact Financial Aid at asksfs@midlandstech.edu or at 803-738-7792.

How to Apply
Fill out a FAFSA

The Fairfield Promise Program

The Fairfield Promise Program provides assistance to eligible citizens of Fairfield County to attend Midlands Technical College and enroll in and complete curriculum degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs. The amount of the scholarship is allowable (based on available funds) to cover the cost of tuition and related fees per semester after Federal and State Aid has been applied. Books and supplies may be included pending availability of funds.

Student Eligibility:

• Must be a Fairfield County resident with a valid high school diploma (or GED).
• Must have graduated from an eligible Fairfield County public high school, charter school, private school, or home school program.
• Must meet eligibility requirements for admission to the college.
• Must be a Fairfield County resident for at least 12 months and governed by applicable residency laws and requirements for MTC students.
• Must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA at MTC to remain eligible for the scholarship.
• Must enroll at MTC within thirty-six (36) months of high school graduation or GED completion.
• Must complete the academic undertaking in no more than three (3) academic years or (9) semesters.
• Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Must consult with an Academic and Career advisor each semester.

How to Apply:
Fill out the FAFSA.

Sponsorships

Each term, sponsorship documentation must be submitted to the Accounts Receivable Department two weeks prior to the end of fee payment deadline, in order to hold students’ classes. This information may be sent via email to bafaaccountsreceivable@midlandstech.edu.

Accounts Receivable will need to know what will be paid by the sponsor. (Tuition only, Tuition and Fees, Books and/or Supplies (where applicable), or all charges.) Book and supply charges are handled through the Barnes & Noble bookstore and correspondence should be sent directly to Barnes & Noble.

Sponsors will be billed the week prior to Financial Aid disbursement, unless the authorization indicates that Financial Aid is to pay first.
 

Students need to be aware of the term start date and refund deadlines. If they decide not to attend, they will need to drop classes before the term begins or before refund deadlines in order to not to be responsible for any tuition and fees. Fees are non-refundable and students will be responsible for payment.
 

Other Scholarships

Description

Students will be automatically matched with federal and state aid just by filling out a FAFSA, and MTC will let students know which MTC Foundation Scholarships they may be eligible for. But there are many private organizations that also offer scholarships. These can be based on a variety of factors, such as your grades, gender, ethnic background, extracurricular activities, or planned field of study. You can find a comprehensive list of all these scholarships and application criteria at The College Board website.

MTC Foundation Scholarships

The Midlands Technical College Foundation offers MTC students more than 100 scholarships totaling more than $100,000 every year thanks to the generosity of alumni, individuals, corporations, and organizations in our community.

Applying for MTC Foundation scholarships is easy. The Foundation uses an online application to streamline the process. The scholarship application system will automatically match you to scholarships for which you may be eligible. New students must submit a MTC admissions application before applying for scholarships to receive a student ID number and an email account.

Some MTC scholarships are based on financial need. The college encourages all students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov before applying for MTC Foundation scholarships.

Spring Semester 2025 Timeline

• Applications open: October 1, 2024
• Applications close: October 31, 2024
• Recipients must turn in Spring Semester scholarship award packages by January 17, 2025.
• The next application window is for Fall Semester 2025: Applications open March 1 and close April 15.

Apply for MTC Foundation Scholarships Online

The application window for scholarships to be awarded to students in SpringSemester of 2025 begins in the fall. Complete your application between October 1 - October 31, 2024.
Note: You'll need your MyMTC credentials to log in. 

MTC Foundation Scholarship FAQs 

How do I apply for scholarships?

Complete the online MTC Foundation Scholarship Application by the required deadline to determine which scholarships you are qualified to receive. Remember, only one scholarship application is needed to apply for all scholarships.

Who can receive scholarship awards?

Midlands Technical College Foundation scholarships are awarded to new and continuing MTC students.

How do current students apply?

If you are a current student, or have applied to the college and received your acceptance letter, please login and create an account to apply for scholarships. Click here to apply.

How do prospective students apply?

If you have not applied to the college and received your acceptance letter, please apply to the college and complete the enrollment steps.

When can I apply?

You can apply October 1 - October 31, 2024 for the scholarships that will be awarded for the Spring 2025 Semester.

Is there assistance available to apply for scholarships?

The MTC Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is helping students apply for scholarships. This includes navigating the application and writing the personal statement.

What are the minimum criteria to be eligible for a scholarship?

The minimum criteria, unless otherwise stipulated by the donor, are:

2.0 grade point average (GPA) Enrolled at least part time (six credit hours)

How do they return my completed recommendation?

The recommender will receive an email request to complete the Recommendation Questionnaire and submit it directly in Award Spring.

Is there a recommendation form available on the website?

No, all recommendations and recommendation requests are submitted electronically through the scholarship application system. 

• Click on a scholarship, enter the recommender’s information and send the request.

What happens if I change my enrollment status after receiving a scholarship award?

Dropping below the required enrollment status at the time of disbursement can cause cancellation of the total award amount.

Are recommendations required for consideration?

Yes, recommendations are required for all applicants. Continuing students must have recommendations from their academic program chair or representative faculty member. New students must have recommendations from a non-MTC community member.

How do I send someone a recommendation request?

To send someone a recommendation request, the applicant will enter the email address of the chosen person in AwardSpring to complete their Recommendation Questionnaire.

If you have questions or need additional information, call 803.738.7140.

What are the expectations of the scholarship recipient?

Following notification of scholarship award:

Sign the Scholarship Agreement and write a thank-you letter to the scholarship donor. Make plans to attend the Annual Scholarship Breakfast in the spring for scholarship donors and recipients. Agree that your award, name, and photo may be released for publicity or correspondence regarding MTC Foundation activities.