Program Costs
This chart reflects the estimated costs per academic semester and does not include additional minor fees that may be charged by Housing and/or academic departments.
| Estimated Expenses Per Semester* | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (based on 15 credit hour enrollment) | $7,680 |
| Program Fee | $3,000 |
| Meal Plan | $2,835 |
| Health Center Fee | $190 |
| Other University Fees (Technology, Security Network, Mail & Package Service, Athletics) | $322 |
| Estimated Total Per Semester | $18,410 |
*These costs are reflective of the 2025-2026 academic year and are subject to increase.
*Students traditionally take 15 credit hours per semester. These costs reflect the cost of tuition for this scenario. A student may enroll in additional credit hours at their discretion, which would increase the cost of tuition.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Additional costs include an annual housing application fee, housing supplies, books, and incidentals. Meal plan costs are variable. For more information regarding USC dining and meal plan options, please visit Carolina Dining.
Financial Assistance
CarolinaLIFE is a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), therefore students who have a diagnosis of an intellectual disability have access to federal financial aid, but not student loans. The types of financial aid that students have traditionally received include:
- Federal Pell Grants
- South Carolina State Resident Financial Assistance (Proviso Funding)
- Funding from Vocational Rehabilitation
- CarolinaLIFE Program Scholarships
- External Scholarships
Information on all of these forms of financial assistance is included below.
Students do not automatically qualify for funding. Funding allocation based on financial need (Pell Grants, State Needs-Based Assistance, VR funding) is determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).
FAFSA is available beginning in December or January of each year and must be completed annually.
Financial Assistance Sources
- Website: Federal Financial Aid – Pell Grants
- Students must complete the FAFSA annually to be considered for this funding.
- Eligibility determinations are made at the federal level.
- The maximum amount that can be awarded annually is subject to change. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the max amount was $7,395.
- Award amounts are based on various factors, including your Student Aid Index (from FAFSA form determination), the cost of attendance, full-time status, and Pell eligibility.
- Please see the website for additional information. CarolinaLIFE does not have any determination impact on Pell Grant awards.
- All SC resident students, regardless of financial need, qualify for $7,500 per semester ($15,000/year) to attend a SC Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Program.
- SC resident students who demonstrate financial need (via the FAFSA) can qualify for up to an additional $5,000 per semester ($10,000/year) in needs-based funding.
- Monies are applied directly to the student’s bill from the state budget. Students do not have to apply separately for this funding.
- Out of state students are not eligible for this funding.
- Website: South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
- Students must qualify for financial assistance, and funding varies based on need
- Must be an active VR client.
- Funding supports can include assistance with tuition, textbook and material reimbursements, etc.
- All CarolinaLIFE students are eligible to open a case with South Carolina VR while they are enrolled in CarolinaLIFE.
- Some out of state vocational rehabilitation departments will support a student from their state attending CarolinaLIFE, but it is often state or region specific. Please talk to a VR counselor in your state about what is best for your student regarding state VR enrollment.
- Website: CarolinaLIFE Scholarships
- Students who have completed at least one full year in the program are eligible to apply for scholarships.
- Amounts awarded change annually.
- Applications are typically released to enrolled students in late February.
- A panel of evaluators outside of CarolinaLIFE choose the scholarship recipients.
For additional information about external scholarships, please ask your school counselor and use this helpful resource from the Think College National Coordinating Center [pdf] (updated 2026).