South Carolina · CHE proposed regs 5475, 5476, 5479

Proposed changes to LIFE, Palmetto Fellows and HOPE scholarship rules: residency timing, a "State Scholarship GPA" and how renewals work

Proposed Sept. 25, 2026

Published October 18, 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026

What the proposals would change

These are proposed regulations, not final rules. They were published in the State Register on September 25, 2026. (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 9)

• Residency timing (LIFE and HOPE). CHE would remove language so that S.C. residency, and legal permanent residency, can be “obtained by the time initial college enrollment. This will give more time for students to qualify for residency.” (Doc. 5479, Section 62-1200.10; Doc. 5476, Section 62-900.95)
• “State Scholarship GPA.” The LIFE rules would replace the term “LIFE GPA” with “State Scholarship GPA” throughout. The Palmetto Fellows rules would add a new section on how to calculate it: quality points divided by total attempted hours, counting all college coursework but not continuing education or remedial courses. (Doc. 5479; Doc. 5475, Section 62-336)
• Palmetto Fellows renewal. CHE would “revise the renewal methodology for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship to align with the LIFE Scholarship renewal methodology.” Renewal would require a 3.0 State Scholarship GPA and an annual credit-hour requirement of at least 30, 60, 90 and 120 hours by the end of years one through four. AP, IB, CLEP and dual-enrollment hours would count toward that requirement. (Doc. 5475, Section 62-335)
• Internships, co-ops, study abroad and military leave (LIFE). Students in these situations could use earlier summer hours, or AP, IB, CLEP or dual-enrollment hours, to meet the 30-credit-hour yearly average. (Doc. 5479)
• Military training. Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training “may be treated the same as military mobilization.” (Docs. 5479, 5475, 5476)
• HOPE to LIFE transfer. A SC HOPE recipient who transfers to an eligible two-year school in the same academic year could receive LIFE upon transferring. (Doc. 5479, Section 62-1200.10; Doc. 5476, Section 62-900.95)

Who it affects

High school and college students who receive or hope to receive LIFE, Palmetto Fellows or SC HOPE, along with their families and the colleges that award the scholarships. (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 9)

What it means for you

• Nothing changes yet. CHE says the revisions “will take effect upon approval by the General Assembly and upon publication in the State Register.” (Doc. 5479, Plan for Implementation)
• If you want to weigh in, written comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on October 26, 2026. Send them to Dr. Karen Woodfaulk, Director of Student Services, S.C. Commission on Higher Education, 1122 Lady Street, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29201. The Palmetto Fellows notice also lists [email protected]. (Docs. 5479, 5475, 5476)

Cost

For Palmetto Fellows, CHE’s preliminary fiscal impact statement estimates “an estimated annual increase in state expenditures of approximately $287,500” from aligning renewal with the LIFE method. For the LIFE and HOPE changes, CHE says there will be no cost to the state or local governments. (Docs. 5475, 5479, 5476)

Current status

Published as proposed regulations on September 25, 2026, with comments due October 26. (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 9)

What happens next

CHE will hold a public hearing on December 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at 1122 Lady Street, Suite 400, Columbia. After that, the regulations go to the General Assembly for review. (Docs. 5479, 5475, 5476)

Sources

• SC State Register, Vol. 50, Issue 9 (Sept. 25, 2026), Proposed Regulations, Document Nos. 5479, 5475, 5476 (PDF)
• SC General Assembly regulation search (full text)
• S.C. Commission on Higher Education

Every statement above is drawn from the official source text linked here; section references are shown in grey. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.