South Carolina Law > Code of Laws > Title 59

SECTION 59-111-10. Scholarship for winner of essay contest sponsored by Governor's Committee on Employment of Physically Handicapped.

Each year the first place winner of the essay contest sponsored by the Governor's Committee on the Employment of the Physically Handicapped shall receive a four-year scholarship from the State-supported institution of his choice, provided he is otherwise qualified. The scholarship shall be granted by the governing body of the particular institution upon certification by the Governor's Committee of the first-place winner and that the winner is in financial need. The scholarship shall provide free tuition and fees, and may be cancelled if a recipient does not maintain general scholastic and conduct standards established by the institution.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-55; 1960 (51) 2084; 1961 (52) 91.

SECTION 59-111-15. Tuition assistance for permanent faculty and staff.

State-supported colleges or universities and state-supported post-high school vocational or technical colleges are authorized to provide assistance for educational expenses, including the payment, reimbursement, or remission of tuition or fees, to its permanent faculty and staff. The assistance authorized by this section is not considered a perquisite of office or employment. Permanent faculty and staff are not entitled to assistance provided in this section for more than four credit hours a semester. The credit hours generated by individuals receiving assistance under this section may not be used in computing the higher education funding formula and may not have an impact on the level of funding an institution receives.

HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 373, SECTION 1.

SECTION 59-111-20. Free tuition for certain veterans' children.

(A) A child of a wartime veteran, upon application to and approval by the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs, may be admitted to any state-supported college, university, or post high school technical education institution free of tuition so long as his work and conduct is satisfactory to the governing body of the institution and if one of the following is met:

(1) the veteran was a resident of this State at the time of entry into service and during service;

(2) the veteran has been a resident of this State for at least one year and still resides in this State;

(3) the veteran is deceased and resided in this State for one year before his death; or

(4) the veteran's child has been a resident of this State since birth.

(B) Additionally, the veteran must have served honorably in a branch of the military service of the United States during a war period, as those periods are defined by Section 101 of Title 38 of the United States Code and:

(1) was killed in action;

(2) died from other causes while in the service;

(3) died of disease or disability resulting from service;

(4) was a prisoner of war as defined by Congress or Presidential proclamation during such war period;

(5) is permanently and totally disabled, as determined by the Veterans Administration from any cause;

(6) has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor;

(7) is missing in action;

(8) the applicant is the child of a deceased veteran who qualified under items (4) and (5); or

(9) has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

(C) The provisions of this section apply to a child of a veteran who meets the residency requirements of Chapter 112 of this title, is twenty-six years of age or younger, and is pursuing any type of undergraduate degree.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-56; 1952 Code SECTION 22-56; 1942 Code SECTION 5711; 1932 Code SECTION 5711; 1930 (36) 1287; 1938 (40) 1882; 1940 (41) 1911; 1941 (42) 148; 1947 (45) 41; 1965 (54) 330; 1968 (55) 2821; 1969 (56) 126; 1972 (57) 2163; 1974 (58) 2077; 1976 Act No. 727, SECTION 1; 1978 Act No. 445, SECTION 1; 1993 Act No. 151, SECTION 1; 2001 Act No. 39, SECTION 2; 2026 Act No. 135 (H.3453), SECTION 1, eff May 15, 2026.

Effect of Amendment

2026 Act No. 135, SECTION 1, rewrote the section.

SECTION 59-111-25. Scholarships exempted from mid-year budget reduction.

If a mid-year budget reduction is imposed by the General Assembly or the State Executive Budget Office, the Commission on Higher Education appropriations for the LIFE Scholarship, need-based Grants, and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship are exempt.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 353, SECTION 2, Pt 1.D, eff July 1, 2009.

SECTION 59-111-30. South Carolina defense scholarship fund.

The South Carolina defense scholarship fund is hereby created for which the sum of one hundred twenty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated from the general fund for the fiscal year 1962-1963. Additional appropriations to the fund may be made in annual general appropriation acts. The State Fiscal Accountability Authority shall administer the fund and shall allocate to State-supported institutions of higher learning which have elected to make loans to students under the provisions of subchapter II of chapter 17 of Title 20, United States Code, Annotated, their equitable share of the funds appropriated, so as to enable the institutions to contribute to the fund created as required by Federal law, a sum equal to one ninth of the total Federal capital contributed. The allocations made to institutions of higher learning shall be deemed loans by the State to the institutions and payment on the loans shall be made as directed by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. Interest on the loans shall not exceed three per cent per annum.

Appropriations to the South Carolina defense scholarship fund may also be used for participation as loan guarantees provided under the college reserve program of the United Student Aid Funds, Incorporated.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-57; 1962 (52) 1979; 1964 (53) 2307.

SECTION 59-111-40. South Carolina defense scholarship fund; Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1963 and Nurse Training Act of 1964.

The provisions of Section 59-111-30 shall apply to students and institutions of higher learning which otherwise qualify under the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1963 (P.L. 88-129) and the Nurse Training Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-851).

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-58; 1965 (54) 717.

SECTION 59-111-50. Persons defaulting on certain student loans precluded from employment by State.

No person who has wilfully defaulted on a National Direct Student Loan, a National Defense Student Loan, a Guaranteed-Federally Insured Student Loan, a Nursing Student Loan, a Health Professions Student Loan or a Law Enforcement Educational Loan shall now or hereafter be employed by the State or any of its departments, agencies or subdivisions until all defaults are cured and loan payments made current; provided, however, that if such person and his lender voluntarily enter into an agreement after default under which terms the debt will be repaid and the lender confirms this agreement in writing with the state agency, department or subdivision, the loan shall not be considered in default and the default shall be considered as cured so long as the person complies with the terms of the agreement.

HISTORY: 1980 Act No. 375, SECTION 1.

SECTION 59-111-60. Scholarship, free tuition, and other financial assistance for trustee or member of immediate family prohibited; exceptions.

(A) No person who is a member of the board of trustees or other governing body of a state institution as defined in Section 59-112-10 or member of his immediate family may receive a scholarship, free tuition, or other financial assistance except as provided in subsection (B).

"Immediate family" includes the spouse, natural or adoptive child, stepchild, or legal dependent.

(B) Nothing in subsection (A) prohibits a person from obtaining a scholarship, free tuition, or other financial assistance based on criteria applicable to all persons eligible for scholarships, free tuition, or other financial assistance.

HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 325, SECTION 1.

SECTION 59-111-75. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled College loan program for National Guard members, had the following history: 2000 Act No. 387, Part II, SECTION 60; 2001 Act No. 41, SECTION 1; 2007 Act No. 40, SECTION 2, eff June 4, 2007, applicable beginning with the 2007-2008 school year. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 188, SECTION 9, eff May 18, 2026.


SECTION 59-111-110. Tuition not charged children of firemen, law enforcement officers, and government employees totally disabled or killed in line of duty.

No tuition may be charged for a period of four school years by any state-supported college or university or any state-supported vocational or technical school for children of:

(1) firemen, both regularly employed and members of volunteer organized units, organized rescue squad members, members of the Civil Air Patrol, law enforcement officers, or corrections officers, as defined herein, including reserve and auxiliary units of counties or municipalities who become totally disabled or are killed in the line of duty on or after July 1, 1964;

(2) government employees who become totally disabled or are killed in the line of duty while working on state time on or after July 1, 1996, as a result of a criminal act committed against them which constitutes a felony under the laws of this State.

The tuition authorized to be paid by this section applies only to undergraduate courses or curriculum and may be paid for a period not exceeding four years, regardless of the number of state-supported colleges, universities, or state-supported vocational or technical schools the child attends.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-71; 1968 (55) 2300; 1969 (56) 659; 1971 (57) 457, 481; 2000 Act No. 281, SECTION 1.

SECTION 59-111-120. "Fireman" defined.

For the purposes of this article, a fireman shall be defined as any person performing general fire-fighting duties who is either employed by an official State, municipal or county fire department in this State, or is a member of any organized volunteer fire department within this State, whose name has been entered on an official roster of such volunteer organization prior to the time such person is totally disabled or killed in line of duty.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-72; 1968 (55) 2300.

SECTION 59-111-130. "Law enforcement officer" defined.

For the purposes of this article, a law enforcement officer means a:

(1) person performing law enforcement duties at the request of and under the supervision of an official state, municipal, or county law enforcement agency in South Carolina when the person is totally disabled or killed in the line of duty;

(2) person performing law enforcement duties at the request of and under the supervision of a federal agency when the person is totally disabled or killed in the line of duty if he has been a resident of South Carolina for at least eighteen years. This item applies whether or not the law enforcement officer was disabled or killed in South Carolina or another state.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-73; 1968 (55) 2300; 1992 Act No. 459, SECTION 1.

SECTION 59-111-140. "Corrections officer" defined.

For purposes of this article a corrections officer shall be defined as any person who performs duties of security, control, or discipline over inmates at the request of and under the supervision of any official State, municipal, or county correctional institution and who was performing such duties at the time of his death or total disability.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-73.1; 1971 (57) 481.

SECTION 59-111-145. "Government employee" defined.

For the purposes of this article, a government employee means a person who is required to participate in the state retirement system.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 281, SECTION 2.

SECTION 59-111-150. "State-supported college or university" defined.

For the purposes of this article, a State-supported college or university shall be defined as any two-year or four-year college or university supported by the State of South Carolina, including colleges or universities offering postgraduate or professional courses of study.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-74; 1968 (55) 2300.

SECTION 59-111-160. "Total disability" defined.

For the purposes of this article, total disability shall mean the physical inability to perform work in any gainful occupation, which disability directly results from any injury received in line of duty. In cases of such total disability, the free tuition provided for herein shall be extended only while such fireman or law-enforcement officer continues to be totally disabled.

This article shall not apply to a child or children born after the first year of total disability as herein defined.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-75; 1968 (55) 2300.

SECTION 59-111-170. Application for free tuition.

Application for the free tuition provided for in this article shall be filed with the governing body of the institution and shall be accompanied by proof or evidence of the death or total disability of the parent of the applicant and such proof or evidence that the injury or death occurred in the line of duty as considered necessary by such governing body, which shall have sole discretion in granting or not granting free tuition.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-76; 1968 (55) 2300.

SECTION 59-111-180. Penalties for misrepresenting eligibility.

Any applicant who wilfully misrepresents his eligibility for the free tuition provided for under this article, or any person who knowingly aids or abets such applicant in misrepresenting his eligibility for such benefits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than six months.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-77; 1968 (55) 2300.


SECTION 59-111-310. "Tuition" defined.

As used in this article, "tuition" shall mean the amount charged for registering for a credit hour of instruction and shall not be construed to mean any other fees or charges or costs of textbooks.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-81; 1974 (58) 2844.

SECTION 59-111-320. Persons age sixty and over may attend classes without payment of tuition.

State-supported colleges and universities, and institutions under the jurisdiction of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, are authorized to permit legal residents of South Carolina who have attained the age of sixty to attend classes for credit or noncredit purposes on a space available basis without the required payment of tuition, if these persons meet admission and other standards deemed appropriate by the college, university, or institution.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-82; 1974 (58) 2844; 1978 Act No. 503, SECTION 1; 1992 Act No. 263, SECTION 1; 2015 Act No. 50 (S.261), SECTION 1, eff June 3, 2015.

Effect of Amendment

2015 Act No. 50, SECTION 1, deleted ", and if these persons do not receive compensation as full-time employees".

SECTION 59-111-330. Rules and regulations.

The State Commission on Higher Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this article.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-83; 1974 (58) 2844.

SECTION 59-111-340. Institutions to which article applies.

The provisions of this article apply to:

(1) those institutions enumerated in Section 59-107-10 and to the branches and extensions of those institutions;

(2) those institutions under the jurisdiction of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-84; 1974 (58) 2844; 1988 Act No. 510, SECTION 7.

SECTION 59-111-350. Persons attending under article not counted in computing enrollment.

Persons attending classes under the provisions of this article, on a space available basis without payment of tuition, shall neither be counted in the computation of enrollment for funding purposes nor considered on a formula basis for the issuance of capital improvement bonds.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-85; 1974 (58) 2844; 1978 Act No. 503, SECTION 2.

SECTION 59-111-360. Proof of eligibility.

The officials of such colleges, universities or institutions charged with administration may require such proof as they deem necessary to insure that the person applying to the college, university or institution is eligible for the benefits provided by this article.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-86; 1974 (58) 2844.

SECTION 59-111-370. Penalties for misrepresenting eligibility.

Any applicant who wilfully misrepresents his eligibility for the tuition benefits provided for under this article, or any person who knowingly aids or abets such applicant in misrepresenting his eligibility for such benefits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 22-87; 1974 (58) 2844.


SECTION 59-111-510. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Medical and Dental Loan Fund, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-371; 1974 (58) 1983; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-520. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Consideration of applications and granting of loans, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-372; 1974 (58) 1983; 1975 (59) 189; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-530. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Amounts and conditions of loans or scholarships, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-373; 1974 (58) 1983; 1975 (59) 189; 1978 Act No. 478, SECTION 1; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-540. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Loan contracts, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-374; 1974 (58) 1983; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-550. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Department authorized to enter and cancel contracts with medical and dental schools for admission of students, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-375; 1974 (58) 1983; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-560. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Penalty for failure to complete contract, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-376; 1974 (58) 1983; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-570. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Deposits and disbursements, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-377; 1974 (58) 1983; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.

SECTION 59-111-580. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Rules and regulations, had the following history: 1962 Code SECTION 22-378; 1974 (58) 1983; 1985 Act No. 186, SECTION 1. Repealed by 2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 296, eff May 15, 2026.


SECTION 59-111-710. "Qualifying institution" or "institution" defined.

For purposes of this article, "qualifying institution" or "institution" means a state-supported post-secondary educational institution offering a master or doctoral degree program in environmental studies or environmental sciences on July 1, 1994.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104.

SECTION 59-111-720. Environmental Scholars Endowment Fund created; financing; deposit of fines and penalties.

(A) There is created the Environmental Scholars Endowment Fund, known as "the fund," which must be separate and distinct from the general fund of the State. The fund must be financed through the collection and deposit of fines and penalty assessments levied by the Department of Environmental Services pursuant to the State Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 44-55-10, et seq., the South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Act, Sections 44-56-10, et seq., low-level radioactive waste fines pursuant to Sections 48-48-10, et seq., and the South Carolina Pollution Control Act, Sections 48-1-10, et seq. However, the portion of the Pollution Control Act fines distributed to the counties pursuant to Section 48-1-350 must not be placed into the fund.

(B) The collection and deposit of fines and penalties to the fund pursuant to this section shall continue until such time as the fund reaches four hundred thousand dollars at which time all subsequent fines and penalties must be deposited in the general fund.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104; 2026 Act No. 146 (H.4189), SECTION 276, eff May 15, 2026.

Effect of Amendment

2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 276, in (A), in the second sentence, substituted "Department of Environmental Services" for "South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control".

SECTION 59-111-730. "Environmental Scholars Endowment" at qualifying institutions; private match funds.

(A) After the fund has reached four hundred thousand dollars, each qualifying institution may request the transfer of one hundred thousand dollars for the sole purpose of being held and administered by the institution as the corpus of a perpetual endowment fund known as the "Environmental Scholars Endowment". Only an annual amount no greater than the annual interest income earned from the corpus of the endowment is to be expended for the award of scholarships or fellowships to students pursuing graduate level degrees in environmental studies or environmental sciences. The corpus of the fund must not be invaded by the institution.

(B) A qualifying institution that establishes an Environmental Scholars Endowment must agree to raise one hundred thousand dollars in private match funds before July 1, 1999. If an institution fails to raise the one hundred thousand dollars in private match funds before July 1, 1999, the corpus of the endowment reverts to the fund.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104.

SECTION 59-111-740. Award of scholarships and fellowships from Environmental Scholars Endowment; criteria; amounts; preference for residents.

The criteria, selection process, and amount of awards for scholarships or fellowships from an Environmental Scholars Endowment must be established by each qualifying institution. However, a recipient of a scholarship or fellowship must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a master or doctoral degree program in environmental studies or environmental sciences. Each institution also must establish application procedures that ensure equitable minority participation in the selection process. Preference must be given to those applicants who are residents of South Carolina. A recipient of a scholarship or a fellowship must complete a year-long internship in South Carolina arranged by or with the approval of the institution prior to the award of their degree.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104.

SECTION 59-111-750. Establishment of Environmental Scholars Endowment by the State Board for Comprehensive and Technical Education.

After the fund has reached four hundred thousand dollars, the State Board for Comprehensive and Technical Education, known as "the board", also may request the transfer of one hundred thousand dollars from the fund to the board to establish and administer an Environmental Scholars Endowment for the award of scholarships to eligible students currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a technical education degree program in environmental studies or environmental sciences. This article applies to the board in its administration of the endowment except that private match funds are not required. The board shall establish written guidelines for the application, review, and selection process which must be furnished to eligible students through the technical education colleges.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104.

SECTION 59-111-760. Annual accounting of funds; reports.

Each qualifying institution and the board annually shall prepare an independent accounting of all of the funds in its Environmental Scholars Endowment, including a statement of the value of the corpus of the fund, the income derived from the corpus, and the specific uses to which the income has been applied. The reports must be kept on file at the institution and at the board and must be available for inspection upon request.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104.

SECTION 59-111-770. Final disbursements from fund; dissolution of fund.

Any funds remaining in the fund July 1, 1999, or any funds which have reverted to the fund pursuant to Section 59-111-730(B), shall be distributed equally among the board if it has established an endowment and each qualifying institution that has established an endowment and raised the required match funds. Funds distributed pursuant to this section must be used only for the purpose of increasing the corpus of the endowment. Upon final disbursement of all funds in accordance with this section, the fund shall be dissolved.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 104.