The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund is expanding from 14 South Carolina counties to all 46 counties, including York and Lancaster, with eligibility extending to graduating seniors beginning May 2027.

The expansion is funded by an $18.7 million recurring state investment approved by the General Assembly and included in Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive budget, aiming to cover remaining costs after other aid so students can attend college without debt.

For expansion counties, the $18.7 million will fund one year of the scholarship for high school graduates in May 2027 who meet the eligibility criteria; current college students in expansion counties are not eligible under this expansion phase.

The program aims to ensure stability for recipients and avoid “pulling the rug out” from students, though guarantees depend on future legislative action.

A work component is now mandatory for recipients in their second and third years, requiring 250 hours of work—whether paid employment, internships, or research—to maintain the scholarship, aligning with career-readiness goals.

Participants may qualify if they receive a federal Pell Grant and have strong academic performance, and the eligibility has been broadened to include graduates of private schools and homeschools in addition to public high school graduates.

The program is administered by Beemok Education and Meeting Street Schools, with Beemok covering operating costs to ensure donated funds reach students; applications and eligibility information are available at meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org.

Private donors have committed more than $87.8 million to support 2,219 students in the Class of 2027, with 48% being first-generation college students.

Donors have contributed over $87.8 million to 2,219 recipients since the fund’s inception, with high persistence and retention rates, and the program emphasizes assisting first-generation college students.

The scholarship offers additional programming beyond financial aid, including community, leadership development, and work experience opportunities.

The funding model for expansion counties is an 80/20 split, with 80 percent public dollars and 20 percent private philanthropy, administered by Beemok Education, the Navarros’ philanthropic portfolio.

Eligibility requires students to have earned the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, be Pell-eligible, and have a financial gap to cover basic college expenses; the scholarship covers up to $10,000 per year for tuition, housing, meals, and fees.