South Carolina’s military roots are deep and legacy of sacrifice far-reaching. In fact, Charleston was not only the birthplace of secession but the birthplace of the Civil War as well. Shortly after seceding, South Carolina sent delegates to Washington, D.C. to demand the removal of Union bases on South Carolina territory. When the demand was rebuffed, Confederate forces devised a battle plan and fired upon the Union-held Fort Sumter for two days, eventually leading them to victory in that first Civil War battle.
Today, we’re far-removed from South Carolina’s historic military battles, and living in a time when the prospect of being sent overseas seems less likely than a decade ago. This gives service members and veterans new opportunities to capitalize on some well-earned military benefits – chief among them a college education.
The South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs Military Education Benefits
If you’re like most service members, you’re probably not aware that you’re eligible for state-level military education benefits, in addition to federal programs like the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon program. Here, in South Carolina, there’s so much more available to you. Your primary resource for seeking out these benefits is the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs (SCDVA). The SCDVA maintains a coalition of partnerships throughout the state to cultivate a military-friendly environment in which veterans and military families can thrive.
Here’s a look at the state-level benefits you can get in South Carolina:
For National Guard Members
The South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program (SCNG CAP) is overseen by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and pays 100% of college tuition and fees at public colleges and universities. You can use this resource for up to $18,000 for your lifetime and a maximum of 130 semester hours. To receive SCNG CAP benefits, you must be a member of the Army or Air National Guard and can’t already have an undergraduate degree. Army National Guard members get up to $4,500 per academic year, whereas Air National Guard members receive up to $9,000 per academic year. If you use SCNG CAP collectively with other financial aid programs, your benefits will be reduced if the amount of aid you’re eligible for exceeds the total cost of attendance.
Tuition-Based Programs
South Carolina Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans’ Children
This program gives free college tuition at state-based schools to children of veterans from certain wars. To receive benefits, children must be under 26 years old, and the veteran must have:
- Served during a declared period of war
- Been discharged from active duty as anything other than “dishonorable”
- Been a resident of South Carolina upon entering service, during service, and currently; or a resident for at least a year and currently; or a resident one year prior to death, if the veteran is deceased
And, at least one of these requirements must be met:
- Killed in action
- Died serving in active duty
- Died due to a service-related disease or injury
- POW or MIA
- Permanently and totally disabled, as determined by the Veterans’ Administration
- Received the Medal of Honor
- Received the Purple Heart
In-State Tuition Rates at South Carolina Public Institutions of Higher Education for Veterans, Service Members and Dependents
veterans and active/reserve service members are guaranteed in-station college tuition rates here in South Carolina. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here or if you’re a resident. And, dependents are eligible too. You do have to meet some requirements, though:
- Attend a state public college or university
- Use your federal education benefits
- Have served at least 3 months on active duty
If you’re a veteran or service member whose children live in another state, they can still get benefits but only through transferred federal education benefits.
South Carolina Residency for Tuition Purposes for Nonresident Service Members and their Dependents
If you’re serving in South Carolina, you qualify for in-state college tuition rates and fees. Your state of residency is irrelevant; if you serve here, you get the benefits. This applies to your dependents, too.
Support Programs for Dependents
The South Carolina Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)
This is a program which helps remove the barriers to educational success which often effect military families due to frequent moves and changes of station. MIC3 benefits include ensuring on-time graduation, promoting cooperation between educational systems and parents, facilitating the transfer of records, and preventing scheduling conflicts from negatively effecting attendance requirements.
Possible Station Assignments and Military Bases in South Carolina
Whether you’re from South Carolina or out of state, it’s possible that you’ll receive PCS orders which lead you here. Sure, it’s not easy being away from home and family, but it’s part of military service. No matter if this is your first or last duty assignment, South Carolina is a great place to serve your country. Shown here are the military bases you could potentially be stationed at here in South Carolina:
Air Force
- Joint Base (JB) Charleston Air Force North – Charleston
Covering nearly 3,500 acres and just minutes from downtown Charleston, JB Charleston is like a city all its own. Its home to several units and has practically everything you or your family could possibly need right there on base – a bowling center, outdoor playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, a pool, golf course, fitness center, and multiple restaurants. There’s also a professional enhancement center on-post which offers professional development courses in communication and leadership, as well as academic prep courses in writing, speech, and math.
- Shaw Air Force Base (AFB) – Sumter
Shaw AFB is one of the Air Force’s oldest military bases. Today, it houses the 20th Fighter Wing with the mission to provide combat-ready airpower anytime, anywhere. Only a 2-hour drive from the Atlantic Ocean, with Myrtle Beach to the east and mountain views to the north, Shaw AFB is an incredible place to be stationed. And, there are four colleges on base at Shaw’s Base Education Center where you can take college courses.
Army
- Fort Jackson Army Base – Columbia
Fort Jackson is the Army’s main basic combat training center. In fact, more than half of all new Army enlistees receive training at Fort Jackson. Here, you can work on your college degree at one of the four colleges on-post through the Army Education Center (AEC). The AEC also offers education and career counseling, tuition assistance support, and a career skills program that can connect you with on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs in Columbia.
Marines
- Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort
MCAS Beaufort is strategically positioned on Atlantic Ocean coastline with land and airspace to train its 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing aviators with the support of its Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Training Center. When you’re not on duty, you can check out all that the Voluntary Education Program has to offer, including academic counseling, college tuition assistance, and the Military Academic Skills Program (MASP) – a 3-week course focused on improving reading, math, and writing skills in preparation for college-level courses.
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) – Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island functions primarily as a training base for new recruits. MCRD also has a Voluntary Education Program on-post which provides live online tutoring, foundational college prep courses, and can help you apply for military education benefits.
Navy
The U.S. Navy has two Navy hospitals here in South Carolina, one in Beaufort and one in North Charleston. Both hospitals offer medical, surgical, and trauma services to Marine and Navy active-duty service members, veterans, and dependents. The two health clinics, one at MCRD Parris Island and one at MCAS Beaufort, offer primary care services. Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Charleston shares its base with the Air Force on JB Charleston.
Coast Guard
- USCG Sector Charleston
USCG Charleston sits along the Atlantic Ocean with port access to the Ashley River and the Cooper River. It’s not a very large base, but there are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy nearby. There are basketball and tennis courts on base, local fitness centers nearby, and of course, oceanside water hobbies like rafting and boating. The base is also a short distance from JB Charleston, which has many more amenities and an education center on base.
Military Friendly Colleges in South Carolina that Accept GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits
Of the more-than 2,000 colleges and universities that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, only around 500 provide full funding and place no limits on the number of eligible students who can take advantage of it. These schools ensure that every eligible veteran who enrolls can count on full coverage of all tuition costs that exceed GI Bill® limits.
You’ll be glad to know that a number of those military friendly colleges and universities are located right here in South Carolina:
Charleston School of Law
Charleston, SC
Accreditation: ABA
- JD
- LLM
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- College of adult and professional studies
- College of business
- College of Christian studies
- College of education
- College of health sciences
- College of humanities and social sciences
- College of nursing
- College of science and mathematics
Columbia College
Columbia, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Arts and humanities
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Communication
- Criminal justice
- Education
- Education and coaching
- Health and sciences
- Public service
- Social sciences
- Technology
Columbia International University
Columbia, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Intercultural Studies
- John and Lyn Cook School of Business
- Seminary and School of Ministry
ECPI University
Columbia / Greenville / North Charleston, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Associate
- Cyber and Information Security Technology
- Software Development
- Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
- Electronics Engineering Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Mechatronics
Bachelor’s
- Accelerated Cyber and Information Security Technology
- Cloud Computing
- Cyber and Information Security Technology
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Digital Forensics Technology
- Mobile Development
- Software Development
- Web Design and Development
- Electronic Systems Engineering Technology
- Electronics Engineering Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Mechatronics (ESET)
- Mechatronics
Master’s
- Systems Engineering Master’s – Mechatronics
- Master of Science in Cybersecurity
- Master of Science in Information Systems
Lander University
Greenwood, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- College of Arts & Humanities
- College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Graduate & Online Studies
- College of Science & Mathematics
- School of Nursing
- The Honors College
Newberry College
Newberry, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Arts and communication
- Business administration
- Humanities
- Military science leadership
- Music
- Nursing
- Online programs
- Respiratory therapy
- Sciences and mathematics
- Social and behavioral sciences
- Sport professions
- Teacher education
South University
Columbia, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Business & Technology
- Counseling and Psychology
- Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Theology
Strayer University
North Charleston / Columbia / Greenville, SC
Accreditation: MSCHE
- Associate in Arts in Accounting
- Associate in Arts in Acquisition and Contract Management
- Associate in Arts in Business Administration
- Associate in Arts in Information Technology
- Associate in Arts in Marketing
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Management
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- Certificate of Education in Corporate Learning
- Certificate of Education in Educational Administration
- Diploma in Acquisition Contract Management
- Graduate Certificate in Digital Entrepreneurship
- Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Graduate Certificate in Finance and Accounting for Entrepreneurs
- Graduate Certificate in Marketing and Branding for Entrepreneurs
- Jack Welch MBA
- Jack Welch Management Institute Executive Certificates
- Jack Welch Management Institute Graduate Certificates
- Joe Gibbs Performance Management Certificate
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Education
- Master of Health Services Administration
- Master of Human Resource Management
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Science in Accounting
- Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance
- Master of Science in Information Systems
- Master of Science in Management
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Beaufort, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Arts
- Building & Industrial
- Business Management & Accounting
- Culinary Arts & Hospitality
- Education and Professional Studies
- Health Sciences
- Law & Criminal Justice
- STEM
The Art Institute of Charleston
Charleston, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Visual design
- Interior design
- Marketing
- Animation and effects
- Film and production
- Gaming and technology
- Fashion
- Culinary
Troy University
Sumter, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Communications & Fine Arts
- College of Education
- College of Health & Human Services
- Sorrell College of Business
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Beaufort, SC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Academic innovation
- Business & communication studies
- Computer science & mathematics
- Education
- English & fine arts
- Hospitality management
- Humanities & social sciences
- USCB natural sciences
- Nursing
- Public health & human services
Webster University
North Charleston / Charleston AFB / Columbia / Fort Jackson / Greenville / Myrtle Beach / Shaw AFB, SC
Accreditation: HLC
Undergraduate:
- Biology
- Business
- Computer Science
- Education
- International Relations
- Mathematics
- Management
- Media Communications
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
Graduate:
- Advertising and Marketing Communications
- Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Education
- Educational Leadership
- Health Administration
- Human Resources Development
- National Security Studies
- Management & Leadership
- Marketing
- MBA
- Media Communications
- Nurse Anesthesia Practice
- Procurement and Acquisitions Management
