Commission Information

History of the Commission

In 1970, the General Assembly passed a bill that created the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission, an agency that was charged with the responsibility of administering the Tuition Grants Program for state residents attending in-state independent college.  Governor Robert E. McNair signed the bill on May 1, 1970.

The original appropriation was $5,000 and no awards were made the first year.  In 1971-72, the first awards were made as the program aided 43 students.  In its second year of awards, 1972-73, a total of 134 students received grants.  Now, after over 50 years in operation, the South Carolina Tuition Grants Program is awarding in excess of $40 million to about 12,000 students annually.  Since its inception in 1970, over 500,000 Tuition Grant awards totaling over $1.1 billion have been made to South Carolinians attending the college of their choice.

Statutory Authority for the Commission

The General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, during the 1970 session, passed Act 1191 creating the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission. This Commission was created as a State agency charged with the responsibility for overseeing the operation of the Tuition Grants Program.

Our Mission

The mission of the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission is to provide access and opportunity for more South Carolinians to pursue a post-secondary education by providing need-based tuition grants to students who choose an independent higher education.

• Program Goals: The primary goals associated with the agency’s mission are:
  • To provide eligible South Carolinians with the choice to attend the college that best meets their individual academic needs
  • To help offset the cost of attending an independent college or university, just as the state offsets the tuition costs of residents attending its public colleges
  • To preserve the dual system of public and private higher education in our state, which provides healthy competition and innovation among all sectors
  • To support optimal use of college facilities available at independent colleges and universities throughout the state
  • To save the state tax dollars that would otherwise be appropriated at a higher cost, via state subsidies to public colleges, if students choosing to receive an independent higher education migrated into the public college system

Current Annual Report

2021-22 Annual Report

Current Accountability Report

Accountability Report

SC Tuition Grants Law

SC Tuition Grants Law