2,663 of 4,425 applicants were admitted, about 60%. Wofford is selective, but it is not a lottery.
Average recalculated GPA: 3.67. Wofford says a student’s high school GPA has been its best predictor of success, which is why grades and course rigor carry the most weight.
It is a South Carolina school with a regional reach. About half the class came from South Carolina, including 43 Palmetto Fellows, with students from 26 states.
Room for first-gen and lower-income students. The class included 71 first-generation students and 87 Pell Grant recipients.
🏆 Full rides available through Wofford Scholars (Richardson Family & Charles E. Daniel)
Average Net Price
$18,732/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$15,000 to $30,000/yr (holistic review)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
24 opportunities
2 automatic · 4 competitive · 18 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (scores required for Wofford Scholars)
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 6 • FAFSA: Jan 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Richardson Family Scholarship & Charles E. Daniel Scholarship
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Wofford College (Read This First)
Applying Regular Decision takes the biggest money off the table. The Richardson and Daniel full rides, plus every Wofford Scholars award, require an Early Decision (Nov 1) or Early Action (Nov 15) application, a nomination by Nov 6, and the Scholars Interview on Nov 14.
Test-optional has one big exception. Wofford reviews everyone for merit with or without scores, but Wofford Scholars nominees must submit them (1300 SAT or 28 ACT, plus top 10% class rank).
Same dollar amounts, two different doors. Old Main and Benjamin Wofford are both $27,000 to $30,000 a year. One comes from regular merit review, the other from the Scholars Program. Don’t count on both.
The FAFSA date is Jan 1, not spring. Wofford uses the FAFSA (no CSS Profile) for its need-based Wofford Grant, and 83% of accepted students who file qualify for one.
The $500 deposit is an every-year thing. Wofford’s non-refundable reservation deposit is required each year to renew financial aid and scholarships.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Wofford College is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 28; SAT: 1280.
Average net price? About $18,732/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No — private school; same rate for all.
📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Category (2026–2027)
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters)
$60,580
$60,580
Housing & Meals (typical)
$17,545
$17,545
Total (Direct Costs)
$78,125
$78,125
Average Federal Net Price: $18,732 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
One Price for Everyone, Plus South Carolina Money That Travels
Wofford is private, so a family from Spartanburg and a family from Seattle see the same sticker price. There is no out-of-state premium to chase down and no reciprocity program to apply for.
South Carolina families get an extra layer: LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships can be used at Wofford, and Wofford adds its own dollars for Citizen Scholars, Palmetto Boys and Girls State graduates, and Meeting Street Scholars.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Wofford College
What does a year at Wofford cost before aid?
For 2026-27, Wofford bills $60,580 in tuition and fees plus $17,545 for meals and housing, for $78,125 in direct costs. Add Wofford’s estimates for books, transportation and personal expenses and the full on-campus cost of attendance is $82,201. A student living at home has a cost of attendance of $69,674.
Why doesn’t Wofford charge less for South Carolina residents?
Private colleges don’t get state operating subsidies the way public universities do, so everyone pays one rate. The savings for South Carolina families come through state scholarships like LIFE and Palmetto Fellows and Wofford awards built around them.
Do the meal plans cost different amounts?
No. The housing and meals charge includes your choice of three meal plans at no cost difference. They just split the money differently between weekly meals and Terrier Bucks.
Is January Interim an extra charge?
Interim is billed with the fall semester, so it’s already in the yearly price. A student enrolled for fall is responsible for that full payment period even if they skip Interim. Some Interim courses, especially travel courses, carry their own added fees.
What are the deposits, and do we get them back?
Every student pays a $500 non-refundable reservation deposit each year. It’s credited toward fall charges and is required to register, renew financial aid and scholarships, and apply for housing. Starting in Fall 2026, students also pay a $250 escrow deposit, and whatever is left after any charges is refunded when the student leaves or graduates.
Is the average net price really that much lower than the sticker price?
Yes, for most families. The federal average net price is about $18,700 a year after grants and scholarships. Wofford reviews every FAFSA filer for need-based Wofford Grant funding on top of merit, and 83% of accepted students who file qualify for a grant. Families who don’t file the FAFSA or have higher incomes will pay closer to the published price.
Does Wofford require the CSS Profile?
No. Wofford uses the FAFSA. New students should file by the January 1 priority date to be considered for all need-based aid.
Can scholarships be used for summer school or study abroad?
Wofford scholarships normally aren’t available in summer, so loans are often the only option for summer terms. For study abroad, Wofford lets merit and need-based aid transfer to an approved off-campus program for one semester.
September of senior year: Wofford Scholars nominees get their interview registration link by email.
Nov 1: Early Decision application due (one of two ways into Wofford Scholars).
Nov 6: Last day to be nominated for Wofford Scholars.
Nov 14: Wofford Scholars Interview.
Nov 15: Early Action application due (the last door into Wofford Scholars).
Jan 1: FAFSA priority date for need-based Wofford Grant funding.
Jan 15: Army ROTC four-year scholarship application due.
Feb 1: Music auditions, studio art portfolios and theatre auditions for performance scholarships.
Parent rule of thumb: at Wofford, the money decisions start in early November. If your student is a strong candidate, treat Nov 6 as the real deadline.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Wofford College
Every applicant is reviewed for merit as soon as Wofford receives the Common Application. There’s no separate form and no published GPA or test cutoff.
Wofford says GPA and the rigor of high school courses lead the review, with leadership and service rounding it out. Test scores are optional, and if your student sends several, Wofford uses the highest section scores across test dates.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Old Main Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate scholarship deadline; reviewed when the Common Application is received ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$27,000–$30,000/yr
✔ Stackable
No published GPA or test minimum. Wofford says GPA and course rigor lead the review. Test scores are optional; when submitted, Wofford combines the highest section scores across test dates.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with need-based Wofford Grant funding and outside aid up to cost of attendance. Wofford's 2025-26 Financial Aid Handbook describes general merit awards as going to admitted students who did not take part in the Wofford Scholars Program, so plan on a general merit award or a Scholars award, not both.
💡
Strategic Detail
Top band of Wofford's general merit review: $27,000 to $30,000 per year, renewable for up to three years after the first year if the requirements in the award letter are met. Awards are based on academic merit, leadership and service to the community, and every applicant is reviewed once Wofford receives the Common Application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Applicants near the top of the pool: strong GPAs in demanding courses, plus leadership and service that show up clearly in the application.
Automatic
Wofford Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate scholarship deadline; reviewed when the Common Application is received ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$15,000–$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
No published GPA or test minimum. GPA and course rigor lead the review. Test scores are optional; when submitted, Wofford combines the highest section scores across test dates.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with need-based Wofford Grant funding and outside aid up to cost of attendance. The 2025-26 Financial Aid Handbook describes general merit awards as going to students outside the Wofford Scholars Program, so expect this or a Scholars award, not both.
💡
Strategic Detail
The broadest band of Wofford's general merit review: $15,000 to $25,000 per year, renewable for up to three years after the first year if the requirements in the award letter are met. Based on academic merit, leadership and service to the community.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Solid students with good grades in challenging courses and real involvement in leadership or service. This is where most admitted students who earn merit land.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: “Automatic” here means no extra application, not a guaranteed amount. Wofford decides where each student lands within the $15,000 to $30,000 range after reading the whole application.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Wofford College)
Do we need to fill out a scholarship application?
No. The Common Application is the scholarship application. Wofford reviews every applicant for the Wofford Merit and Old Main scholarships.
What’s the difference between the Wofford Merit Scholarship and the Old Main Scholarship?
Mostly the dollar amount. Wofford Merit runs $15,000 to $25,000 a year, and Old Main runs $27,000 to $30,000 a year for applicants at the very top of the pool. Both are based on academics, leadership and service.
Is there a GPA or test score that guarantees an award?
No. Wofford doesn’t publish cutoffs. For context, the Class of 2029 had an average recalculated GPA of 3.67, so students well above that with demanding schedules are in the best position for the higher band.
Should my student send test scores if Wofford is test-optional?
Only if the scores help. Wofford reviews everyone for merit with or without them. If your student tested well, sending scores adds another strong data point, and Wofford combines the best section scores from multiple test dates.
How long do these awards last?
They’re renewable for up to three years after the first year, as long as your student meets the requirements spelled out in the financial aid award letter.
Can my student get Old Main and a Wofford Scholars award too?
Plan on one or the other. Wofford’s financial aid handbook describes its general merit awards as going to admitted students who did not take part in the Wofford Scholars Program.
Does merit aid stack with need-based aid?
Yes. Wofford reviews every student who files the FAFSA for need-based Wofford Grant funding in addition to merit, which is how many families bring the price down to a realistic number.
Wofford’s big-money competition is the Wofford Scholars Program, which has been running since 1949. Awards range from $60,000 to over $250,000 across four years, and it is the only route to Wofford’s two full rides.
The catch is timing: everything happens in the first half of November of senior year.
✅ Wofford Scholars Checklist
Rank in the top 10% of the class. If the school doesn’t rank, Wofford may ask for transcripts.
Score at least 1300 SAT or 28 ACT, and submit those scores.
Show leadership and service in school or the community.
Get nominated by Nov 6. Students can nominate themselves or have a counselor do it.
Apply Early Decision (Nov 1) or Early Action (Nov 15) with the Secondary School Report and official transcript. Letters of recommendation are encouraged.
Complete the Wofford Scholars Interview on Nov 14. It’s a group interview of 4 to 5 students with a Wofford professor and others from campus.
🚪 Two Doors, Same Money
Award Level
Wofford Scholars Track
Regular Merit Review
Parent Translation
$15,000 to $25,000/yr
1854 Scholarship
Wofford Merit Scholarship
Same money either way. Scholars just adds a chance at more.
$27,000 to $30,000/yr
Benjamin Wofford Scholarship
Old Main Scholarship
Top students can reach this band without the interview.
Full ride
Charles E. Daniel Scholarship (2 per class)
Not available
Only reachable through Scholars.
Full ride plus extras
Richardson Family Scholarship (1 per class)
Not available
Adds a stipend, laptop, internships and travel.
Here’s how to think about it at the kitchen table. If your student is a strong but not top-10% candidate, regular merit review can still produce a big award with no extra steps. If your student checks every Scholars box, applying early and doing the interview costs a few hours and is the only way to compete for the full rides.
Full RideApp Required
Richardson Family Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 6 · 📢 Results: Spring of senior year, after the Wofford Scholars process concludes ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full tuition, fees, room and board; monthly stipend; laptop; summer internships; January travel
✘ Not stackable
✎ ~28 ACT✎ ~1300 SAT👥 ~One per entering class winners/yrWofford Scholars nominee (top 10% of class, 1300 SAT or 28 ACT, active in leadership and service; test scores must be submitted). Criteria include moral force of character, strong family commitment, instincts to lead, energy shown through sports or other active hobbies, scholarly accomplishment, and courage and concern for others. The Richardson page says nominees come through counselors; the main Scholars page also allows self-nomination.
📄
How to Apply
Get nominated by Nov 6, 2026; submit the Common App Early Decision (Nov 1) or Early Action (Nov 15) with the Secondary School Report and transcript; complete the Wofford Scholars Interview on Nov 14, 2026; finalists return for the Richardson interview.
Selection criteria: Selected from Wofford Scholars finalists; additional interview with college representatives and the Richardson family weighing academics, leadership, service, and personal vision.
🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
The highest honor Wofford awards an entering first-year student, given to one student per class through the Wofford Scholars Program. It covers full tuition, fees, room and board for four years, plus a monthly stipend for books and expenses, a laptop, summer internships (one with overseas travel) and a January travel experience. Finalists complete an additional on-campus interview with college representatives and the Richardson family.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One student per class whose academics, leadership and character stand out to both the committee and the Richardson family.
Full RideApp Required
Charles E. Daniel Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 6 · 📢 Results: Spring of senior year, following Wofford Scholars interviews ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Tuition, fees, food and housing
✘ Not stackable
✎ ~28 ACT✎ ~1300 SAT👥 ~Two per entering class winners/yrWofford Scholars nominee: top 10% of class, 1300 SAT or 28 ACT, active in leadership and service. Test scores must be submitted, and the Common App must be filed Early Decision or Early Action.
📄
How to Apply
Get nominated (self or counselor) by Nov 6, 2026; submit the Common App by Nov 1 (ED) or Nov 15 (EA) with the Secondary School Report and transcript; complete the Wofford Scholars Interview on Nov 14, 2026. There is no separate Daniel application.
Selection criteria: Holistic evaluation of academic achievement, leadership potential, character, and commitment to service.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Among the most prestigious awards at Wofford. Two incoming first-year students receive a four-year scholarship covering tuition, fees, food and housing, selected for extraordinary leadership potential, outstanding academics and interest in serving others. Awarded only through the Wofford Scholars Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Two students per class who pair top academics with a clear record of leading and serving others.
App Required
Benjamin Wofford Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 6 · 📢 Results: Spring of senior year ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$27,000–$30,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~28 ACT✎ ~1300 SATWofford Scholars nominee: top 10% of class, 1300 SAT or 28 ACT, active in leadership and service. Test scores must be submitted; ED or EA application required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with need-based Wofford Grant funding and outside aid up to cost of attendance. It takes the place of general merit awards rather than adding to them.
📄
How to Apply
Get nominated by Nov 6, 2026; apply ED (Nov 1) or EA (Nov 15); complete the Wofford Scholars Interview on Nov 14, 2026. Award level is set by the Scholars evaluation.
Selection criteria: Holistic evaluation through the Wofford Scholars interview process: academics, leadership, character, and service; tier placement determined by overall competitive standing.
🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Upper award level of the Wofford Scholars Program: $27,000 to $30,000 per year, renewable for up to three years after the first year if award-letter requirements are met. Old Main is a separate award in the same dollar band that comes from general merit review, not the Scholars Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Scholars nominees whose interview and file land in the top merit tier below the two full rides.
App Required
1854 Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 6 · 📢 Results: Spring of senior year ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$15,000–$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~28 ACT✎ ~1300 SATWofford Scholars nominee: top 10% of class, 1300 SAT or 28 ACT, active in leadership and service. Test scores must be submitted; ED or EA application required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with need-based Wofford Grant funding and outside aid up to cost of attendance. It takes the place of general merit awards rather than adding to them.
📄
How to Apply
Get nominated by Nov 6, 2026; apply ED (Nov 1) or EA (Nov 15); complete the Wofford Scholars Interview on Nov 14, 2026.
Selection criteria: Holistic evaluation through the Wofford Scholars interview process: academics, leadership, character, and service.
🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Entry award level of the Wofford Scholars Program: $15,000 to $25,000 per year, renewable for up to three years after the first year if award-letter requirements are met. The general-review Wofford Merit Scholarship uses the same dollar band.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Scholars nominees who earn a Scholars award below the top tiers.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Can a Regular Decision applicant be a Wofford Scholar?
No. Nominees must apply Early Decision (Nov 1) or Early Action (Nov 15). Regular Decision applicants are still reviewed for Wofford’s other merit awards.
Who can nominate my student?
The student or the high school counselor, by Nov 6. Some older Wofford pages, including the Richardson page, still describe counselor nominations, so having the counselor nominate too is a smart backup.
What is the Wofford Scholars Interview like?
It’s a group interview, typically 4 to 5 students talking with a Wofford professor and other members of the campus community. Nominees get the registration link by email in September.
What does the Richardson Family Scholarship include?
Full tuition, fees, room and board for four years, a monthly stipend for books and expenses, a laptop, summer internships (one with overseas travel), and a January travel experience. Finalists also interview on campus with college representatives and the Richardson family.
What does the Charles E. Daniel Scholarship cover?
Tuition, fees, food and housing for two incoming students each year, chosen for leadership potential, academics and a commitment to serving others.
If my student doesn’t win a full ride, is the interview wasted?
No. Scholars nominees compete for the 1854 ($15,000 to $25,000 a year) and Benjamin Wofford ($27,000 to $30,000 a year) levels too.
Do the full rides stack with other Wofford scholarships?
There’s not much left to stack against. A full ride already covers the costs other merit would pay. Outside scholarships and how they fit will be spelled out in the award letter.
Is test-optional still true for Scholars?
No. Wofford requires nominees to submit SAT or ACT scores.
How should my student prepare?
Get the activities and leadership story organized before November. Our Brag Sheet Builder and Essay Toolkit help with both the application and interview prep.
If you live in South Carolina, Wofford has built several awards around programs your student may already be part of. Check every one:
Citizen Scholars: $25,000 a year with Palmetto Fellows, or $20,000 a year with LIFE.
Palmetto Boys or Girls State: $25,000 a year, with at least one award each for boys and girls.
Meeting Street Scholarship: up to $10,000 a year for Pell-eligible students with LIFE or Palmetto Fellows. Wofford also pledged to cover full direct costs for up to 10 Meeting Street Scholars each year.
Parent translation: the first two need no extra form. Meeting Street runs through its own fund, so apply there separately.
📝 Four Separate Applications Most Families Never Hear About
Bonner Scholars: service-based, need-based aid for up to 15 students per class.
Performance scholarships (Feb 1): music, studio art and theatre, including a $15,000-a-year fine arts award.
Launch Scholars: Wofford’s entrepreneurship program, with an application and interview.
Army ROTC (Jan 15): the Army pays tuition and fees, and Wofford covers room and board.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t show up in the regular merit review. Some are tied to a background or program, and some need their own application or audition. They’re how a Wofford offer goes from good to affordable.
Automaticfirst generation
First-Generation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; selected from the admission application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Neither parent completed a bachelor's degree
👥 ~15 per entering class winners/yrMust meet Wofford's first-generation definition and be admitted.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Wofford does not publish how this award combines with its general merit bands. Need-based Wofford Grant funding and outside aid can be layered on top up to cost of attendance; the award letter shows the final package.
💡
Strategic Detail
Wofford awards 15 First Generation merit scholarships per entering class at $25,000 per year ($100,000 over four years). Wofford defines first-generation as a student whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree, or in a single-parent household, whose parent did not. No additional application is required; admitted students who meet the definition are considered competitively from the admission application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-generation students with strong academic and leadership records. The Class of 2029 included 71 first-generation students competing for 15 awards.
Automaticgeographicprogram participation
Citizen Scholars Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$20,000–$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ SC Citizen Scholars with LIFE or Palmetto Fellows
Citizen Scholars Program participant who qualifies for the Palmetto Fellows or LIFE Scholarship.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to sit alongside South Carolina's LIFE or Palmetto Fellows money. Confirm in the award letter how it interacts with other Wofford merit.
💡
Strategic Detail
For graduates of South Carolina's Citizen Scholars Program who choose Wofford: $25,000 per year ($100,000 over four years) for Palmetto Fellows recipients, or $20,000 per year ($80,000 over four years) for LIFE Scholarship recipients. No additional application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: South Carolina Citizen Scholars who earned LIFE or Palmetto Fellows. The tier is set by which state scholarship the student holds.
Automaticprogram participation
Palmetto Boys State Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; selected from the admission application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Palmetto Boys State graduates
👥 ~At least one per entering class winners/yrPalmetto Boys State graduate admitted to Wofford.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Expect it to combine with SC LIFE or Palmetto Fellows and need-based aid up to cost of attendance; confirm how it interacts with other Wofford merit in the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded to at least one entering first-year student each year: $25,000 per year, $100,000 total, renewable for three years. All admitted Palmetto Boys State graduates are considered, and the admission application is used to select recipients. No additional application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Boys State graduates whose admission file shows strong academics and leadership. Wofford guarantees at least one award per class, not one per graduate.
Automaticprogram participation
Palmetto Girls State Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; selected from the admission application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Palmetto Girls State graduates
👥 ~At least one per entering class winners/yrPalmetto Girls State graduate admitted to Wofford.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Expect it to combine with SC LIFE or Palmetto Fellows and need-based aid up to cost of attendance; confirm how it interacts with other Wofford merit in the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded to at least one entering first-year student each year: $25,000 per year, $100,000 total, renewable for three years. All admitted Palmetto Girls State graduates are considered, and the admission application is used to select recipients. No additional application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Girls State graduates whose admission file shows strong academics and leadership. Wofford guarantees at least one award per class, not one per graduate.
App Requiredgeographicneed based
Meeting Street Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Set by the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund (see meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ SC students with LIFE or Palmetto Fellows plus a Pell Grant
South Carolina resident and SC high school graduate who earns LIFE or Palmetto Fellows, files the FAFSA, receives a Pell Grant and enrolls at an eligible SC college. Legacy-county renewal also requires full-time enrollment and 250 hours of part-time work during the second and third years. Wofford's merit page still references public high school graduates; the 2026 statewide expansion no longer lists that limit.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar by design: it fills the gap after other grants and scholarships. At Wofford, up to 10 scholars per year also get the college's promise to meet direct need.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, earn LIFE or Palmetto Fellows, and apply through the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund by its posted deadlines. Admission to Wofford is a separate step.
💡
Strategic Detail
A last-dollar scholarship from the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund of up to $10,000 per year toward tuition, housing, meals and fees, applied after LIFE or Palmetto Fellows, the Pell Grant and institutional aid. Students from the 14 Legacy counties, including Spartanburg and Charleston, can renew it for four years. Starting with the high school class of 2027, graduates in the other 32 counties are eligible for a one-year award. In 2025 Wofford committed to meeting direct need (tuition, fees, housing and food) for up to 10 Meeting Street Scholars each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible South Carolina students who earn LIFE or Palmetto Fellows. The fund does not cap the number of scholarships for students who meet the criteria.
App Required
Bonner Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: See the Bonner Application Info and Timeline page ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Up to 15 per entering class winners/yrSeparate application. Must demonstrate financial need and a commitment to community service.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Built around financial need, so it is packaged with the FAFSA. Ask the Center for Community-Based Learning how Bonner aid interacts with merit awards.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Wofford, file the FAFSA, and submit the separate Bonner Scholars application using the timeline on the Bonner Scholars Program page.
Selection criteria: Program review emphasizes financial need, depth and consistency of service, and leadership potential.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year, cohort-based service scholarship Wofford has offered since 1991. Up to 15 students per entering class commit to 280 or more hours of service each school year plus some full-time summer internships, building to a capstone community project. Scholars receive a need-based tuition scholarship and other stipends, and Wofford describes the aid as meeting financial need in full. Dollar amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a sustained service record and real financial need who want service at the center of their college years.
App Required
Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Fine Arts Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One incoming student per year; rotates between studio art and theatre winners/yrStudio art: 8 to 15 works as one PDF or portfolio website, a list of art courses taken, and a short creative-process statement. Theatre: two contrasting monologues, or a monologue and an a cappella song, two minutes total, plus an interview.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from Wofford's academic merit review. Confirm in the award letter how it combines with merit and need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the studio art scholarship application and portfolio, or complete the theatre audition and interview, by Feb 1.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
The largest scholarship Wofford's theatre and studio art programs award to incoming students: $15,000 per year for four years to one first-year student. The award rotates between studio art and theatre, so check which department is awarding it in your student's cycle. The theatre recipient must major in a Department of Theatre program; the studio art recipient must intend to pursue studio art.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One serious incoming artist per year whose portfolio or audition stands out and who plans to study in the awarding department.
App Required
Music Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited; varies by year winners/yrAudition required. Recipients must stay enrolled and in good standing in their assigned ensemble each semester.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from the academic merit review. Confirm the combined package in the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the music audition form; Wofford then schedules an on-campus or video audition. Finish by Feb 1 for full consideration.
Selection criteria: Departmental evaluation of musical talent, preparation, and commitment to ensemble participation.
💡
Strategic Detail
Merit-based scholarships for vocalists and instrumentalists in any major, tied to ensemble participation and renewable annually. Wofford lists performance-based awards as typically $1,000 to $5,000; the music page says amounts vary. Auditions can be done on campus or by video.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Singers and instrumentalists willing to commit to a Wofford ensemble every semester.
App Required
Art & Theatre Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by year winners/yrStudio art: 8 to 15 works as one PDF or portfolio website, a list of art courses taken, and a short creative-process statement. Theatre: two contrasting monologues, or a monologue and an a cappella song, two minutes total.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from the academic merit review. Confirm the combined package in the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Studio art: apply online and submit the portfolio before Feb 1. Theatre: request an audition and interview and prepare the required pieces.
Selection criteria: Departments assess artistic talent, potential contribution to campus arts, and ongoing participation.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Departmental merit scholarships for incoming studio art and theatre students of up to $1,500 per year, per Wofford's current Studio Art and Theatre pages. Theatre awards cover performance, playwriting and design and require an audition and interview. Studio art awards require a digital portfolio. Older Wofford pages list a $1,000 to $5,000 range.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming students with a real portfolio or stage résumé who plan to stay active in Wofford art or theatre.
App Required
Launch Scholars
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Separate Launch Scholarship application and interview. The application form lists U.S. citizenship or permanent residency as a requirement.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount and packaging are not published; ask the Career Center how it combines with merit aid.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Launch Scholarship application on Wofford's admission portal, then interview with the Launch program.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Wofford's entrepreneurship program, run by the Career Center and listed with Wofford's special-program scholarships. Students apply, interview and are placed in a startup stage (Concept, Strategy or Growth), with workshops and pitch competitions along the way. The scholarship amount is not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who want to build, test and pitch real ventures and will commit to the program's activities.
Full TuitionApp Required
Army ROTC Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Jan 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
U.S. Army ROTC scholarship
✔ Stackable
U.S. citizen, at least 17 before the scholarship takes effect, and admitted full-time to Wofford. Wofford notes a strong unweighted high school GPA (generally 3.5 or higher) and leadership activities.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to pair with the Wofford ROTC Scholarship, which covers room and board for Army scholarship winners. File the FAFSA every year.
📄
How to Apply
Apply online for the four-year Army ROTC scholarship by Jan 15 of senior year, apply to Wofford, and connect with Wofford's military science department.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Federally funded Army scholarships for cadets in Wofford's Southern Guards Battalion. The Army pays tuition and fees plus book allowances and monthly stipends in exchange for a service commitment after graduation. Four-year scholarships go to high school seniors; two- and three-year scholarships are available to students already on campus.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who meet Army academic and fitness standards, interview well and want to commission as officers.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyrotc
Wofford ROTC Scholarship (Room and Board)
📅 Deadline: Automatic once an Army ROTC scholarship is awarded ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Army ROTC scholarship holders
🎓 All UndergradMust hold an Army ROTC scholarship while enrolled at Wofford.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Built to combine with the Army ROTC scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
Wofford students who win an Army ROTC scholarship automatically qualify for the Wofford ROTC Scholarship, which covers room and board. Paired with the Army's tuition and fees coverage, Wofford describes the result as college at no cost. In 2026, two Wofford cadets who earned Army scholarships as sophomores received tuition and fees from the Army with Wofford matching room and board.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every Wofford cadet who holds an Army ROTC scholarship.
Full TuitionApp Requiredemployee dependent
Tuition Exchange Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition waiver through the Tuition Exchange consortium
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Parent works at a Tuition Exchange member college
Holistic / Status Based
📄
How to Apply
Confirm eligibility with the parent's employer, which submits the Tuition Exchange certification, and apply to Wofford.
💡
Strategic Detail
Children of employees at other Tuition Exchange member colleges may be considered for a tuition waiver at Wofford. The parent's home institution certifies eligibility and submits the application. Because demand is heavy, Wofford limits awards based on budget, available slots and its balance of students sent and received. The award is tuition or the Tuition Exchange set rate for the year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose parent works at a participating college, in years when Wofford has open slots.
Full TuitionApp Requiredemployee dependent
Tuition Remission Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
100% tuition remission for qualifying dependents of Wofford employees
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Child of a Wofford employee
Holistic / Status Based
📄
How to Apply
Start with Wofford's human resources and financial aid offices; the student applies for admission like everyone else.
💡
Strategic Detail
A qualifying child of a Wofford employee may attend with 100% tuition remission for a first undergraduate degree, up to eight semesters including summer school, with a requirement of 12 credits per term or 24 hours cumulative. The student must independently meet admission standards and keep meeting eligibility.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of eligible Wofford employees who earn admission on their own.
Automatic
Gateway Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Invitation only (2026 program ran July 5 to 12) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Invitation only. Wofford created the program for students statistically less likely to finish college, originally first-generation, Pell-eligible and DACA students.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Not a cash award, so it does not reduce other aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
A free summer bridge program for a small group of newly admitted first-year students invited each summer. It covers meals, lodging, transportation and workshops, and completers receive a MacBook Air to use while enrolled. Wofford states there is no financial scholarship component. Gateway Scholars get ongoing support from the Office of Student Success.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Newly admitted students Wofford identifies for extra support during the move to college.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
United Methodist Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradVaries by sponsoring program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside and church awards are added to the aid package; Wofford notes other aid may be reduced to prevent an over-award.
📄
How to Apply
Review Wofford's United Methodist Scholarships and Loans page and check with your church or conference. Pre-ministerial students register with Wofford's campus ministry office.
Selection criteria: Denominational committees review church involvement, academics, and financial circumstances.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Wofford is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and keeps a United Methodist Scholarships and Loans page for church-related funding. Amounts and criteria depend on the sponsoring program. The 2025-26 Financial Aid Handbook also lists pre-ministerial scholarships, some restricted to students preparing for United Methodist ministry.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students active in United Methodist congregations, and pre-ministerial students.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Modern Languages Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies by endowed fund and annual earnings. winners/yr🎓 All UndergradDeclared foreign language major with plans to study abroad.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental awards added to the regular aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Declare a foreign language major and ask the department about the current application process.
Selection criteria: Department judges academic performance, commitment to language study, and quality of study-abroad or academic plans.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures awards several endowed scholarships to declared foreign language majors who intend to study abroad, including the Hucks-Jones, George C.S. Adams, Paula I. Binovec and John L. Salmon funds. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Committed language majors with a study abroad plan.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Study Abroad & Travel Grants
📅 Deadline: Considered with the study abroad program application (Interim 2026 rounds closed May 1 and Sept 14, 2025) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Multiple grants awarded each year across Interim, semester, and summer programs. winners/yr🎓 All UndergradEnrolled Wofford students applying to approved programs.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Helps with program and travel costs on top of regular aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Donor-funded Wofford Travel Grants support Interim, summer, semester and year-long study abroad, with financial need and academic merit as the main factors. Eligible students are considered automatically when they apply to their program by Wofford's deadline. Wofford also offers limited Critical Languages Travel Grants of $1,500 for programs in Greater China, the Middle East and North Africa. Merit and need-based aid can transfer to an approved off-campus program for one semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with documented need and solid grades who apply to their program on time.
Automaticprogram participation
Wofford College National Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Set by the National Merit program ✓ Renews
$500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ National Merit finalists who list Wofford first
👥 ~At least three per year winners/yrNational Merit finalist who names Wofford as first choice.
✚
Stacking & Combining
A small award added to the regular aid package.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded in cooperation with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to at least three finalists in the national competition who designate Wofford as their first-choice college. $500 per year, renewable, per Wofford's 2025-26 Financial Aid Handbook.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit finalists who put Wofford at the top of their list.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Presidential International Scholar
📅 Deadline: Internal selection during spring term (typically March or April) · 📢 Results: Named and announced in spring semester each year Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One student selected annually from the enrolled student body. winners/yr🎓 UpperclassmenCurrent Wofford students; selected by the president.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Funds travel and research on top of regular aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Each year Wofford's president selects one student for self-designed international study and research in non-traditional locations, announced at Honors Convocation in May. The funding is substantial, but the dollar amount is not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One student per year with an exceptional academic record, leadership and a compelling global research idea.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who counts as first-generation for Wofford’s $25,000 scholarship?
A student whose parents didn’t finish a bachelor’s degree, or in a single-parent home, whose parent didn’t. There’s no extra application, but it’s competitive: 15 awards per class, and the Class of 2029 had 71 first-generation students.
How does the Citizen Scholars award work?
South Carolina Citizen Scholars who come to Wofford get $25,000 a year if they hold Palmetto Fellows, or $20,000 a year with LIFE. Nothing extra to file.
My child went to Palmetto Boys State or Girls State. Is that worth anything?
Yes. Wofford awards at least one $25,000-a-year scholarship to a Boys State graduate and at least one to a Girls State graduate each year, chosen from the admission application.
Who qualifies for the Meeting Street Scholarship at Wofford?
South Carolina students who earn LIFE or Palmetto Fellows and receive a Pell Grant. Students from the original 14 counties, including Spartanburg and Charleston, can renew it all four years. Starting with the Class of 2027, students everywhere else in the state can get a one-year award. Wofford has also committed to covering tuition, fees, housing and food for up to 10 Meeting Street Scholars each year.
What does Bonner Scholars require?
A separate application, demonstrated financial need, and a real service commitment: 280 or more hours each school year plus some full-time summer work. In return, Wofford says Bonner Scholars get grant and scholarship help that meets their need in full.
Is there a big scholarship for artists?
Yes. The Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Fine Arts Scholarship gives one incoming student $15,000 a year for four years, alternating between studio art and theatre. Departmental art and theatre awards run up to $1,500 a year, and music awards vary. Aim for Feb 1.
Can ROTC really make Wofford free?
It can. An Army ROTC scholarship pays tuition and fees, and Wofford automatically covers room and board for cadets who win one. The four-year Army application is due Jan 15 of senior year.
Is the Gateway Scholars program a scholarship?
Not a cash one. It’s a free summer bridge program by invitation, with a MacBook Air to use while enrolled and ongoing support. Wofford says there’s no financial scholarship component.
We work at another college. Does Tuition Exchange apply?
Possibly, but slots are limited. Your employer certifies eligibility, and Wofford caps awards based on budget and how many students it sends and receives.
Straight answer: Wofford does not have an Honors College or a separate honors program. With about 1,800 undergraduates and small classes, the whole college works a lot like an honors program at a big university. The honors-style opportunities come through a few specific doors instead.
Wofford Scholars: the closest thing to honors recruitment. Top students are nominated, interviewed and awarded up to a full ride. See the Flagship section.
Honors in the major: seniors can take a six-hour independent honors course. Students who earn an “honors” grade and a 3.75 GPA in the major graduate with high honors in that major.
Presidential International Scholar: each year the president chooses one student for a self-designed year of international research.
Phi Beta Kappa: Wofford has a chapter of the national academic honor society.
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Wofford doesn’t list separate honors-only scholarships. The awards that play that role are in the Flagship section above.
Honors FAQs (Wofford College)
Does Wofford have an Honors College?
No. Wofford is a small liberal arts college without a separate honors college or program.
What’s the closest thing to an honors program for scholarships?
The Wofford Scholars Program. It’s where Wofford recruits its highest-achieving applicants and awards the Richardson and Daniel full rides.
Can students graduate with honors?
Yes. Latin honors are based on cumulative GPA: cum laude at 3.50, magna cum laude at 3.75 and summa cum laude at 3.90. Seniors can also earn honors in their major through an independent honors course.
What is the Presidential International Scholar?
A funded year of independent international research for one student selected by Wofford’s president, announced each May at Honors Convocation.
Wofford is a small Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college in downtown Spartanburg, founded in 1854 and still on its original campus. It’s small enough that professors know your student by name, but it plays Division I sports and sends graduates to medical schools, Big Four accounting firms and the Army officer corps.
What makes it different is how much hands-on experience it packs into four years, especially through Interim, a January term for focused courses, travel, research or internships.
Nationally Known Program: Pre-Health Advising: Wofford reports an average 78% medical school acceptance rate for qualified students (a GPA above 3.3 and a competitive MCAT). A faculty advising team guides students toward medical, dental, pharmacy, PA and other health programs, and January Interim clinical internships put students in hospitals shadowing health care professionals before they apply.
Accounting, Finance and Business Economics: three career-focused majors plus a business minor, backed by the Launch entrepreneurship program and its pitch competitions.
Biology and the Sciences: a common path for pre-med students, with concentrations in neuroscience and medicine and the liberal arts, plus summer research with faculty.
Environmental Studies: housed in the Chandler Center for Environmental Studies.
Community-Based Learning: home of the Bonner Scholars Program since 1991, turning service into structured leadership training.
Army ROTC: Wofford hosts the Southern Guards Battalion, which has commissioned more than 2,000 officers.
Study Abroad: aid can transfer for a semester away, and donor-funded travel grants help cover Interim and semester programs.
🔗 Official Wofford College Links
Use Wofford’s official pages below to confirm scholarship rules, deadlines, costs and class data. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines, award terms and official college information.
Wofford rewards families who plan early. The sticker price is high, but almost nobody pays it: every applicant is reviewed for merit, most FAFSA filers qualify for a Wofford Grant, and the federal average net price is a fraction of the published cost.
If your student is a top-10% kid with a 1300 SAT or 28 ACT, the whole game happens in early November. Get nominated, apply early and show up for the interview, because that’s the only road to the Richardson and Daniel full rides. If you’re a South Carolina family, stack what you already have: LIFE or Palmetto Fellows, Citizen Scholars, Boys or Girls State, and Meeting Street. And don’t sleep on the side doors like Bonner, ROTC and the Feb 1 arts auditions. At a small college like Wofford, those are often the pieces that close the gap.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent.org. He built the site after working through college costs with his own daughter, and he writes every guide to give families the plain-English version before the deadlines hit.
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