This scholarship could get you free tuition at Technical College of the Lowcountry
Students at Technical College of the Lowcountry are eligible for a statewide scholarship that could net them free tuition for the fall semester, depending on which program they’re enrolled in.
The SC WINS scholarship is available at every technical college in South Carolina, and provides $100 per credit hour — up to $2,500 of tuition assistance a year — and a $300 book credit.
This is the second year of the scholarship, which 400 TCL students received last year, according to college spokeswoman Leigh Copeland.
The SC WINS scholarship operates as a “last dollar in” resource, Copeland said: when coupled with other federal student aid programs and the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program Scholarship, many students are left with no tuition costs.
To receive the SC WINS scholarship, students must already receive the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program Scholarship, which is available for most S.C. residents enrolled in a degree-seeking program who have filed a federal student aid application.
In addition, students must be working toward a certificate, degree or diploma in a “critical workforce area,” or meet the USDA income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-priced meals.
They must be enrolled in at least six credit hours and have a GPA of at least 2.0 after completing 24 credit hours to remain eligible.
High school students with dual enrollment at TCL are also eligible, under the same criteria as other students.
“I think right now, it’s just so important with the economy and COVID-19 that folks know there are options for free college education,” Copeland said. “If they’re sitting at home wondering what they should be doing, why not take advantage of this opportunity?”
“Because that’s then no money out of pocket, and if they want to, a lot of these programs you can do fully online.”
Here is the list of TCL programs that fall under the scholarship requirements:
- Arts & Sciences: Introduction to Biotechnology (Certificate)
- Building & Industrial Technologies: Building Construction Technician (Certificate), Construction Management (Certificate), Civil Design Technician (Certificate), Engineering Surveying (Certificate), Home Performance Technician (Certificate), Commercial Refrigeration (Certificate), Designing HVAC Systems (Certificate), Heat Pump (Certificate), Plumbing (Certificate), Residential Electrician (Certificate), Solar Photovoltaic Technician (Certificate)
- Business: Advanced Health Care Case Management (Certificate), Medical Office Assistant (Certificate), Office Apps for Business & Industry (Certificate)
- Computers & Electronics: Computer Technology (Associate Degree), Industrial Electronics Tech. (Associate Degree), Industrial Electronics Technology - Avionics Pathway (Associate Degree), Programming (Certificate), A+ Computer Servicing (Certificate), Aviation Structural Mechanic (Certificate), Avionics Technician (Certificate), Computer Applications (Certificate), Cyber Security (Certificate), Database (Certificate), Network Administrator (Certificate), Network Engineer (Certificate), Webmaster (Certificate)
- Culinary Arts: Baking & Pastry Arts (Associate Degree), Culinary Arts Technology (Associate Degree), Baking and Pastry Arts (Certificate), Hospitality/Tourism Management (Certificate), Restaurant Cook Skills (Certificate)
- Health Sciences: Associate Degree Nursing (Associate Degree), Physical Therapy Assistant (Associate Degree), Radiologic Technology (Associate Degree), Practical Nursing (Diploma), Surgical Technology (Diploma, Continuing Students Only), Medical Assisting (Certificate), Massage Therapy (Certificate)