Credit Hours 

• You must earn a total of 30 credit hours for each academic year (fall, spring, summer). Any credit hours earned before high school graduation, hours exempted by examination and advanced placement credit do not count toward the 30-hour requirement.

GPA Requirement 

• You must earn a minimum 3.00 University of South Carolina cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale by the end of the academic year (fall, spring, summer).
• Only the cumulative grade point average earned at USC and the USC system campuses will be considered in determining eligibility for continuing students.

Dropping a Class or Withdrawing 

• If you are receiving the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or any other financial aid, dropping a class or withdrawing may affect your potential refund. Depending upon the type(s) of financial aid awards involved, the withdrawal date, the amount of the refund, and other factors, you might receive a portion of the total refund amount or none of the refund amount.
• Under certain circumstances, if you withdraw or drop classes, you will be required to repay financial aid funds you received including the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. This is necessary when the refund amount is insufficient to meet the financial aid fund recovery requirements.
• If you are considering withdrawing or dropping classes, you should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships before taking this action.

Changes in Residency 

• A change in your residency and fee payment status to nonresident will lead to the required repayment of your award for any enrollment period in which you are no longer classified as a resident and received the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.