Welcome to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's resource page for high school counselors! Our goal is to enhance college access by providing resources to support our counselors as they help students on their higher education journey. As a partner for counselors across the state, the CHE Office of Student Affairs is committed to supporting your efforts in shaping the academic and personal growth of students as they pursue their higher education dreams.
Palmetto Fellows Workshops fall schedule announced
CHE is excited to offer virtual workshops tailored for high school counselors and administrators as we support the Early Application cycle for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.
This cycle will include two workshop formats to better meet the needs of participants:
- A Palmetto Fellows Early Application Workshop, which provides a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of the updated digital application process, including guidance on successfully submitting Early Applications electronically.
- A Palmetto Fellows Basics & Updates Workshop, designed as a quick refresher for experienced users, highlighting key eligibility reminders, recent updates, and common issues to avoid during the Early Application cycle.
Dates:
Application Workshops (Full Process Overview)
• September 29, 9:30 a.m. – Meeting Registration
• October 2, 11 a.m. – Meeting Registration
Basics & Updates Workshop (Refresher Session)
• September 24, 10 a.m. – Meeting Registration
• October 7, 12 p.m. – Meeting Registration
To ensure a smooth and informative session, we encourage high school counselors, association partners, and school administrators to register for their preferred date and workshop format. Simply click the “Register” link corresponding to your selected session.
For any inquiries about the workshops, feel free to reach out to:
Ms. Kathryn Harris, Program Manager for State Scholarships, at kharris@che.sc.gov or (803) 856-0738 or
Ms. Tanya Weigold, Program Manager for State Scholarships, at tweigold@che.sc.gov or (803) 856-0672
Fall FAFSA Ready Workshops: Presented by FAFSA experts. Designed for your success.
CHE will host three one-hour special training sessions featuring key financial aid experts. Each session offers constituents a chance to gain practical tips and clear guidance to better support students and families through the financial aid process. Our next session is September 22, 2:30 p.m. with Zachary Christian
Additional information is available on the event registration page.
Related Video and Article: Financial Aid How-To: Start early, know your costs and make a plan to pay for college
College prerequisite, exam-based credit policies revised
CHE approved the revision of two policies in September which standardize preparatory course requirements for public four-year institutions and the award of college credit for nationally recognized examinations. The policies begin to take effect in fall 2026. See below for additional information:
2025-26 CHE FAFSA First Challenge Results
The CHE is excited to facilitate this friendly statewide competition to encourage schools to support completion of the FAFSA, opening the door to grants, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities. The goals of the competition are to increase the number of South Carolina seniors completing the FAFSA and celebrate schools that go above and beyond in supporting college and career readiness.
- SC CAN GO College Access Events and Campaigns
SC CAN GO, facilitated by the CHE Office of Student Affairs, is a campaign designed to promote a college-going culture for students in our state, and also raise needed college access awareness. Each year, SC CAN GO facilitates access-related events such as College Application Month, FAFSA First (FAFSA completion), financial readiness workshops, and College and Career Decision Day each spring.
Visit the SC CAN GO web page to learn more or sign your school up for events.
- Important Memos and Policies
- SC Residency Information for Tuition and Fees
- CHE Memo - ACT Concordance (PDF)
- CHE Memo - Final 12th Grade Ranking Reports Memo (PDF)
- College Preparatory Course Prerequisite Requirements for Entering College Freshmen Policy - September 2026 (PDF)
- South Carolina Exam-Based Credit Awards Policy - September 2026 (PDF)
- South Carolina Department of Education Memo - Transcripts for South Carolina State Scholarships (PDF)
- CHE Memo to Financial Aid Directors - Final Transcripts (PDF)
- FAFSA
2025-26 FAFSA resources from Federal Student Aid:
- Read the “6 Things Students Need Before They Fill Out the FAFSA Form” article to learn what to gather to access and complete the FAFSA form.
- Visit the Pro Tips for the FAFSA Form webpage for key information that will help students fill out their forms and avoid issues.
- Use the FAFSA Help Center to find frequently asked questions, help articles, videos, infographics, webinars, and more.
- Watch the “What Happens After Submitting Your FAFSA Form?” video for information on next steps and communications students should look for while their FAFSA forms are being processed.
Additional resources
- 2025–26 Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid
- 2025-26 FAFSA: A How-To Guide (National College Attainment Network)
- CHE New FAFSA Toolkit web page for students and families
- New FAFSA Explained Series (YouTube)
- CHE New FAFSA Prep Flyer (PDF)
- NCAN Better FAFSA Toolkit
- Discussing FAFSA With Your Students (PDF)
- CHE FAFSA Simplification Fact Sheet
- FAFSA Application Video Series
- College Access Guides
- Paying for College
- Apply for College
- South Carolina's Higher Education Institutions (with interactive map)
- CHE Transfer Student Success Guide (Reminder: Dual enrollment and AP courses are considered transfer credits!)
- State Lottery Scholarship Information and Resources
Note: General information on state scholarships and grants is located on our Scholarships and Grants Page
- Late Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Student Invite (PDF)
- Early Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Application Student Invite (PDF)
- Video: Class of 2026 Early Application Tutorial
- ACT Science Optional Update (PDF)
- Palmetto Fellows Application Status Report Guide (PDF)
- Palmetto Fellows 2026-27 Application Timeline (PDF)
- 2027 Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Student Info Packet (PDF)
- Class Rank for Scholarships Regulatory Guides (PDF)
- Class Rank Reports Process (PDF)
- Scholarship Regulations
- State Lottery Scholarships and Grants Printable Flyer (PDF)
- Act 156 Enhancements Guidance for Education and Accounting Majors - Fall 2024 (PDF)
- South Carolina College Graduate Earning Trends
- Visit our Post Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer which shows the one, five and ten-year earning trends of South Carolina graduates by institution and program.
- Academic Common Market: In-State Tuition For Out-Of-State Programs Not Available At State Institutions
The Academic Common Market allows South Carolina residents who are enrolled in specific programs at out-of-state institutions to be charged only the applicable in-state tuition by the institution in which the student is enrolled. Eligible programs must be at least 50 percent different in curricular content than programs offered in South Carolina. Participating states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia (Florida and Texas participate only at the graduate level.)
For additional information, visit our Academic Common Market page.
- CHE College Process Ambassador Program
Visit the CHE College Process Ambassador Page to see current Ambassadors and learn about the application process.
Featured Videos:
| College Goal Site Coordinator Training
| NEW FAFSA Explained Series (FSA ID)
(Worksheets can be found under NEW FAFSA Tab below) |
