Young Florence SC August 18, 2026

Florence Students Already Had Access to This Scholarship. Now the Rest of South Carolina Does Too.

If you have a high school senior in your house, there's a good chance you've never heard of the Meeting Street Scholarship. That's about to change statewide — but here in Florence County, families have quietly had access to it since 2021.

HS

HelloFlorenceSC Staff

Young Florence SC • Scholarships

Isolated Graduation Cap and Diploma with Gold Ribbon
The Meeting Street Scholarship helps high-achieving South Carolina students cover college costs.

The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund announced this month that it's expanding from 14 counties to all 46 counties in South Carolina. The expansion is backed by $18.7 million in recurring state funding, approved by the General Assembly and included in Governor Henry McMaster's executive budget. It's a big deal for the state. For Florence, it's a reminder that our students have had a head start.

What the Scholarship Covers

The Meeting Street Scholarship provides up to $10,000 per year for tuition, housing, meals, and fees, for a total of up to $40,000 over four years. It's designed for high-achieving students who need financial help to get to — and through — college without taking on heavy student loan debt.

Since launching in Charleston County in 2021, the program has grown to include Florence, Darlington, and 12 other counties through private philanthropy. Statewide, donors have committed more than $87.8 million to over 2,200 students, and nearly half of those recipients are the first in their family to attend college.

Why This Matters More for Florence, Not Less

Because Florence and Darlington are among the original 14 "Legacy" counties, local students keep the full, renewable version of the scholarship. That means an eligible Florence County senior can receive the award every year they stay in college and stay eligible — not just a single year.

Students in the 32 newly added counties get a more limited version for now. Their portion of the expansion is funded through the new $18.7 million in state dollars and currently covers one year of the scholarship, for seniors graduating in May 2027.

In other words, Florence families already have the stronger version of a scholarship the rest of the state is just now getting.

Who Qualifies

The scholarship uses five criteria, and there's no essay required. To qualify, a student generally needs to:

Academic benchmarks for the current application cycle include a weighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, ranking in the top 30 percent of your graduating class, and an SAT score of at least 1100 or an ACT score of at least 22.

How to Apply

Applications are completed online through the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund's website. Families will need a high school transcript and a FAFSA Submission Summary, which becomes available a few days after submitting the FAFSA. An ACT or SAT score can be included but isn't required.

The fund accepts applications on a rolling basis with several deadlines throughout the school year, so it's worth checking their site directly for the current cycle's dates rather than relying on last year's calendar.

Apply at the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund Senior Year Checklist

The Bottom Line for Florence County Families

If you have a senior who works hard and needs help affording college, this scholarship has already been quietly changing outcomes for local students since 2021. It's worth ten minutes to check if your student qualifies.

For a full look at everything available to Florence County schools, explore our complete Young Florence SC hub for scholarships, jobs, and college guidance.

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Know a Florence County senior who benefited from the Meeting Street Scholarship? Email us at hello@helloflorencesc.com — we'd love to feature their story.

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