FAQ

These are some of the most frequently asked questions about our Live to Chase Initiative. If you do not see your question addressed, please feel free to contact us—we’re here to help.

• The Live to Chase Initiative is an innovative example of what is known as “gap funding.” Gap funding refers to financial assistance provided to students who are either not eligible for or have exhausted other forms of financial aid, such as grants or scholarships, but who still face unmet tuition.

  Gap funding is an important tool for helping students overcome financial barriers to higher education and achieve their academic and career goals.

  The Live to Chase Initiative is limited so awarding will be on a first come first served basis. The award will be based on the date the student’s financial aid file is considered complete.

• To apply for the Live to Chase Initiative a student must complete a 2026-2027 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and provide all documentation needed to complete their SCC financial aid file. This will allow the Financial Aid Office to determine what federal and state aid the student is eligible to receive. All students who complete a 2026-2027 FAFSA and complete their financial aid file will automatically be considered for the Live to Chase Initiative. Students who are awarded the Live to Chase Initiative will be required to complete a Live to Chase Initiative Statement of Understanding. No Live to Chase Initiative funding will be disbursed until the statement of understanding has been completed.

  Note: DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are not required to complete a FAFSA.

• Yes, if the additional degree is a program advancement or five years have passed since the student graduated from their last certificate, diploma, or degree. An example of a program advancement would be if a student receives a certificate in welding and then enrolls in an associate degree in welding. If this same student enrolled in a certificate or associate degree in culinary arts, it would not be considered a program advancement since welding and culinary art are unrelated. Therefore, the student would not be eligible for the Live to Chase Initiative.

• No, dual enrollment students are NOT eligible for the Live to Chase Initiative. Other funding options may be available to help cover tuition charges.

• • Must complete a 2026-2027 FAFSA and complete the SCC 26-27 financial aid file.
  • Must be a high school graduate or possess a GED (graduate equivalency degree).
  • GPA Requirements
    
    o Returning students must have and maintain a 2.2 cumulative GPA
    
    o New students must have a 2.2 cumulative GPA by the end of their first term and maintain a 2.2 cumulative GPA thereafter.
    
    
  • Must be a considered a South Carolina resident by meeting one of the following o Have resided in SC for at least 12 months.
    
    o Have resided in SC for less than 12 months but working full-time in SC for a SC employer (letter from employer required).
    o Be a nonresident from North Carolina or Georgia working full time in South Carolina for a SC employer (letter from employer required).
    
    For further information concerning residency see the Residency Section under Admissions Policies in the SCC Catalog.
    
    
  • Cannot be in default on a federal student loan or owe a federal grant overpayment.
  • Must be enrolled in one of SCC’s more than 70 different curriculum programs that lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degrees.

  * Please Note: Cosmetology is NOT eligible for the Live to Chase funding.

   

• • Meet all the eligibility requirements listed above.
  • Must sign a statement of understanding form. A link to the form will be provided at the time LCI is awarded.
  • Cannot have a balance due to SCC from a previous term.
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (see note below)
  • Must have unpaid tuition after ALL other aid has been applied (does not include federal student loans).

  Note: If a student has aid, other than Live to Chase Initiative funding, covering their tuition and they do something during the semester that causes that aid to be reduced, the Live to Chase Initiative will not be responsible for covering tuition resulting from the reduced aid. This would include, but not limited to, actions such as withdrawing, abandoning a class (student stops attending), anything that would cause other aid to have to be recalculated, etc.

   

• A student is allowed to attempt a maximum of 30 credit hours of remedial/transitional or prerequisite course work. Remedial courses are courses that end with the number 100 or below (ie, ENG-031, MAT-032, RDG-100, BIO-100). Prerequisite courses are courses that must be completed to take a required course but are not technically needed for graduation. All remedial and prerequisite credit hours beyond the 30 credit hours limit will not be included in the student’s enrollment status. Example: a student, who has exceeded the 30-credit hour remedial limit, registers for BIO-100 (4 credit hours) and PSY-103 (3 credit hours). They will be in 3 credit hours for the purpose of the Live to Chase Initiative due to the BIO-100 not being included. This student would not be eligible for the Live to Chase Initiative due to their enrollment being below 6 credit hours.

   

• • Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.2. A student who loses eligibility due to their cumulative GPA dropping below 2.2 will regain eligibility once their cumulative GPA is back up to 2.2 or higher.
  • Cannot withdraw from all courses during any term where Live to Chase Initiative funding is received.  
    o Example 1: Student enrolls in 6 credit hours for the 2024 fall semester but withdraws from one class during the semester bringing their enrollment status down to 3 credit hours. Since the student completed 3 credit hours during the 2023 fall semester, they will be eligible for Live to Chase funding during the 2025 spring semester as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements.
    o Example 2: Student enrolls in 6 credit hours for the 2024 fall semester, and they receive a disbursement from the Live to Chase Initiative. The student withdraws from all their fall classes. Since the student did not complete any of their fall classes and did receive Live to Chace Initiative funds, they will not be eligible for Live to Chase Initiative funding during the 2024 spring semester.
    o Example 3: Student enrolls in 6 credit hours for the 2024 fall semester, but they withdraw from all 6 credit hours. The student did NOT receive any Live to Chase Initiative funds for the fall term. The student will be eligible for Live to Chase Initiative funds during the 2025 spring term since none were received during the fall as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.
  • Must not have graduated from a certificate, diploma, or degree program after receiving a Live to Chase Initiative disbursement.
  • Must continue to meet all other eligibility requirements.