Financial aid starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form). Complete this free application online each year to apply for:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal Work-Study
- Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan
- South Carolina Need-based Grant
While we encourage all students to submit a FAFSA form, it is not required for general scholarship consideration.
What Do I Need to Complete The FAFSA?
To complete the FAFSA form, you will need:
- Verified account username and password (FSA ID)
- Parent or spouse contributor name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address
- Income and asset information (if required)
What Is a FAFSA Contributor?
A contributor is anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse) who is required to provide information on the FAFSA form, sign the FAFSA form, and provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information (FTI) transferred directly from the IRS into the form.
How Do I Create an FSA ID?
Your FSA ID is your account username and password. It is used to access a person’s StudentAid.gov account and serves as your electronic signature and digital identifier to allow access to Department of Education systems and services for students, parents, and their spouses. It is created using the person’s Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you already have an FSA ID, you will be able to use that when you complete your FAFSA. If you are a new user, click here to create your FSA ID.
Do I Have to Provide Consent?
All students and contributors must provide consent for their 2024-25 FAFSA information to be shared with the school, even if the contributor does not have an SSN, did not file taxes, or filed taxes in another country. If consent is not provided by a contributor, then the student will not be eligible to receive federal aid.
What If I Need Help Completing The FAFSA?
If you need help completing the FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information
Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
What Happens After I Complete The FAFSA?
On your FAFSA, you will indicate which schools will receive your information. When your campus receives your FAFSA, you will receive an email at your university email address. This email will tell you about missing or incomplete documents and other information about your financial aid. You can also view this information on Self Service Carolina.
Be sure to monitor your university email and check Self Service Carolina. You may need to provide additional information, such as for verification or satisfactory academic progress.
How Do I Apply for University Scholarships?
Each USC Palmetto College campus offers different scholarships to their undergraduate student body. To see what scholarships you might be eligible to receive, click on the campus link below.
What If My Financial Situation Has Changed Since I Submitted My FAFSA?
If you or your family experience a change in your financial situation, such as a job loss, or have an unusual circumstance that is not reflected on your FAFSA, contact your campus Financial Aid Office. With documentation and on a case-by-case basis, we can review your situation to determine its impact on your financial aid eligibility. This review does not guarantee a change in your eligibility for additional financial aid. Click here for more information.
Summer Financial Aid
If you would like to learn how to apply for summer financial aid, please click here.