Presbyterian College Scholarships (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
- Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
If you’re new to this, don’t worry—we’ll translate Presbyterian College’s costs and scholarships into plain English. Start with what families actually pay, then see the automatic merit you can get just by applying, the competitive awards worth the extra steps, plus South Carolina state aid you might stack from our SC state aid guide. Use the quick links below to jump to what you need.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Presbyterian College
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $46,160 | $46,160 |
| Housing & Meals | $14,134 | $14,134 |
| Books, Travel, Personal | $5,051 | $5,051 |
| Total (before aid) | $65,345 | $65,345 |
Example: A SC student earning the LIFE Scholarship ($5,000) would see their cost drop from $65,345 to about $60,345 before other PC aid is applied.
FAQ
Who qualifies for state aid?
Only South Carolina residents who meet GPA/test benchmarks set by the SC Commission on Higher Education.
How much does it save?
Between $2,800 and $10,000 per year depending on the program and student’s profile.
Is it automatic?
Yes—eligibility is based on your high school record and FAFSA; no extra application beyond state verification is needed.
CSS Profile required?
No. Presbyterian College uses only the FAFSA (school code 003445) to award need-based and institutional aid.
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Scholarship | Up to $26,000/yr | Strong HS academics; awarded at admission review | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with ~3.5+ GPA and ACT mid-20s / SAT 1150+ (*estimate*) |
| Hojovec Scholarship | Up to $28,000/yr | Higher tier academic profile | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with ~3.7+ GPA and ACT 27–29 / SAT 1220–1300 (*estimate*) |
| Grady Warren Scholarship | Up to $30,000/yr | Top academics and rigor | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with ~3.9 GPA and ACT 30+ / SAT 1360+ (*estimate*) |
| Presbyterian Promise Scholarship | Minimum $24,000/yr | Active Presbyterian Church member or Presbyterian/Reformed high school grad | No | Yes (4 years) | Any GPA; award tied to church/school affiliation; cannot stack with other PC merit |
| Boys State / Girls State Promise | $2,500/yr | Participation in Boys State or Girls State | No | Yes | Students with documented Boys/Girls State participation |
Disclaimer: Presbyterian College does not publish official GPA/ACT/SAT cutoffs for these awards. The “Who Actually Wins?” ranges are informed *estimates* based on peer private colleges and past award patterns. Actual thresholds may shift depending on the applicant pool and funding each year.
FAQ
Do I need a separate application for merit?
No. Students are automatically considered for Bell, Hojovec, Grady Warren, and Presbyterian Promise scholarships when they apply for admission.
Does Presbyterian College superscore the ACT or SAT?
No superscoring policy is published. PC reviews your strongest official scores but does not advertise superscoring in admissions materials.
Can these awards stack with state aid?
Yes. South Carolina residents may combine Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, or HOPE with PC merit. The one exception is Presbyterian Promise, which cannot be stacked with other PC merit awards.
What deadlines matter?
Apply by November 1 to be considered for the full range of scholarships, including competitive programs. Some automatic awards may still be available later, but early applicants are prioritized.
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founder’s Scholarship | $30,000/yr | Top academic applicants | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with ~3.9 GPA and ACT 30+ / SAT 1360+ (*estimate*) |
| Highlander Scholarship | $28,000/yr | Strong academic profile | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with ~3.7+ GPA and ACT 27–29 / SAT 1220–1300 (*estimate*) |
| Belk Scholarship | $26,000/yr | Solid academics; awarded on admission | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with ~3.5+ GPA and ACT mid-20s / SAT 1150+ (*estimate*) |
| Tartan Scholarship | $24,000/yr | Good academics; mid-range award | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Students with GPAs ~3.2–3.4 and ACT ~23–24 / SAT 1080–1140 (*estimate*) |
| Trustees Scholarship | $22,000/yr | Baseline award for admitted students with solid records | No | Yes (8 semesters) | Broad range of admitted students; typical GPAs 3.0+ (*estimate*) |
| Presbyterian Promise Scholarship | Minimum $24,000/yr | Active Presbyterian Church member or Presbyterian/Reformed high school grad | No | Yes (4 years) | Any GPA; tied to church/school affiliation; cannot stack with other PC merit |
| Boys State / Girls State Promise | $30,000/yr ($120,000 over 4 years) | Participation in Boys State or Girls State | No | Yes (4 years) | All admitted Boys State or Girls State delegates automatically receive this award |
Disclaimer: Presbyterian College does not publish official GPA/ACT/SAT cutoffs for these awards. The “Who Actually Wins?” ranges are informed *estimates* based on peer private colleges and past patterns. Actual thresholds may shift each year.
FAQ
Do I need a separate application for merit?
No. Students are automatically considered for the Founder’s, Highlander, Belk, Tartan, and Trustees Scholarships when they apply for admission.
Does Presbyterian College superscore the ACT or SAT?
Presbyterian College follows SAT Score Choice, meaning you can choose which test dates to send, and they will use your best results. For the ACT, PC reviews your highest section scores from multiple sittings in a holistic process, effectively giving you credit for your best subscores.
Can these awards stack with state aid?
Yes. South Carolina residents may combine Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, or HOPE with PC merit. The one exception is the Presbyterian Promise, which cannot be stacked with other PC merit awards.
What deadlines matter?
Apply by November 1 to be considered for the full range of scholarships, including competitive programs. Some automatic awards may still be available later, but early applicants are prioritized.
🏆 Flagship (Competitive) Scholarships
These are Presbyterian College’s top competitive scholarships—the selective awards that go beyond the automatic merit tiers. They often require extra steps like essays, interviews, or an invitation to campus, and only a limited number of students win them each year.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griffith Scholarship | Covers tuition, fees, housing, meals, and course-related fees (less other aid) — ~$59,200/yr for 4 years | By invitation only; apply by Nov 1 for consideration. Two awarded each year to first-year students with outstanding academics, leadership, and service. | Yes — invitation to campus competition | Yes (8 semesters, maintain academic progress) | Students with near-perfect GPAs, rigorous coursework, 30+ ACT / 1360+ SAT, and strong leadership/service profiles |
| Service Entrepreneurship Scholarship | Varies; tied to project funding and tuition support | First-year applicants with a proven track record of community service and a project proposal. Apply by Nov 1. | Yes — program application | Varies by project and continued participation | Students with strong service portfolios and feasible, mentor-supported project ideas |
FAQ
What makes these scholarships “flagship”?
They are Presbyterian College’s most competitive awards, reserved for a small number of students with exceptional academic and leadership profiles. Unlike automatic merit, these flagship scholarships require separate steps and offer the highest value.
Are these worth the extra effort?
Yes. The Griffith Scholarship is a true full-ride equivalent, while the Service Entrepreneurship Scholarship funds select students with innovative community projects. They can dramatically reduce the cost of college if awarded.
Can I stack a flagship scholarship with automatic merit?
No. If you win a flagship (competitive) scholarship, it replaces the standard automatic merit award, though you may still be eligible to combine it with state or federal aid.
What deadlines matter?
Apply to PC by November 1 to be considered for flagship scholarships. The Griffith Scholarship requires an invitation to a campus competition after that date.
⭐ College Specialty
Presbyterian College may be small, but it’s known for producing graduates who punch above their weight. Families who are looking for a close-knit liberal arts campus with standout professional programs will find that PC blends the personal feel of a small college with career-ready opportunities that carry statewide and even national recognition.
- Computational Biology & Bioinformatics: One of the few small liberal arts colleges in the Southeast offering a full major in this interdisciplinary field, supported by SC INBRE undergraduate research grants.
- Army ROTC (Highlander Battalion): Host campus for the ROTC program that commissions officers for the Army, serving not only PC students but also those from nearby colleges.
- Undergraduate Research: Every spring, PC hosts its Honors Day Symposium where more than 300 students present original research, reflecting the college’s deep commitment to hands-on inquiry and faculty mentorship.
- Service & Leadership: Regularly ranked among the top colleges for service engagement in South Carolina, PC integrates service-learning across its curriculum and supports innovative service entrepreneurship projects.
🎖️ Honors Program
Presbyterian College doesn’t run a separate Honors College, but it does have a strong Honors Program that lets high-achieving students dive deeper into research and connect closely with faculty mentors. For first-gen families, think of it as a chance for your student to do grad-school style projects while still an undergrad, with lots of extra mentoring and support built in.
Honors Research Track: Students in this track may receive funding for their research through the Center for Inquiry, Research, and Scholarship (CIRAS). This support often comes as stipends, grants, or scholarships to cover research costs and reduce financial barriers.
- Priority registration for classes
- Faculty-mentored research with funding opportunities
- Honors Day Symposium where students present original work
- Support for national fellowships like Fulbright, Goldwater, and Truman
FAQ
Is admission automatic?
No. Students must apply or be invited, usually as high-achieving first-years or through a departmental proposal.
Does the Honors Program add time to a degree?
No. Honors projects and seminars are built into a normal four-year plan.
Are there deadlines?
Yes. Priority applications are due in the fall for incoming freshmen, with departmental honors applications available later for upperclassmen.
Does the Honors Program provide extra money?
Yes. Through CIRAS, students in the Honors Research Track can apply for stipends and grants to support their projects. While it’s not the same as an automatic scholarship, it can offset costs tied to research.
How does this connect to flagship scholarships?
The college’s most prestigious awards, like the Griffith Scholarship, are often won by students with the same kind of exceptional academic, leadership, and service profile that also makes them strong candidates for the Honors Program.
📎 Official Links
- Presbyterian College — Homepage
- Honors Program (Honors Research Track)
- Scholarships & Financial Aid (Costs & Aid)
Final Thoughts
Presbyterian College may be a smaller school, but its scholarships can go toe-to-toe with much larger universities. Between automatic awards, flagship competitions like the Griffith, and hidden gems such as ROTC and Jacobs Scholars, families have real opportunities to make PC affordable. Add in strong support programs like Presby First+ and Honors Research, and you can see why students who thrive here often graduate with both personal attention and career-ready experiences. For parents, the key is applying early and stacking state aid with institutional scholarships to bring the net cost down.
✅ Last updated: September 28, 2025