SC S0959

Creates the Tuition Gap Scholarship Program to cover remaining tuition costs for students receiving LIFE, HOPE, or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships at South Carolina public colleges and universities

Scholarship amount equals the difference between actual in-state tuition and the student's merit scholarship award (including any STEM supplements)

Covers only tuition costs; cannot be used for fees, room and board, books, or other expenses

Funded exclusively through South Carolina Education Lottery proceeds with no general fund appropriations permitted

Administered by the Commission on Higher Education, which must report annually to the General Assembly on recipients, disbursements, and fiscal impact; takes effect for the Fall 2027 semester