Guidance Counselors
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? Look here for the answer! If your question is not covered here, please contact us.
What services do you offer to high schools and their students?
SC Student Loan strives to be a resource to the guidance counselor community.
Some of the services we offer are:
- We can assist with financial aid presentations.
- We offer presentations on a wide variety of subjects for both your students and faculty. See our Speaker’s Bureau information for more details.
Best of all, these services are totally free to you. In addition we are always looking for other ways to be of service. If you have ideas, please let us know. Maybe we can help.
What are the ‘financial aid night’ presentations you can provide at our school?
These presentations help the students and families understand how they can pay for a college education. The presentations can cover just the loans if you are inviting a local college, or they can cover everything from the FAFSA process, scholarships, grants, work and loans, you decide what you want us to do. All of our presentations are upbeat as we try to make what can be a boring subject enjoyable.
Please contact Mike Fox, Vice President for Outreach at (800) 347-2752 ext. 5070 or Arthur Pinckney, Public Information Officer at ext. 5066 to discuss your options or to schedule a ‘financial aid night’.
We are interested in having you participate in our career fair. Who should we contact?
Please contact Mike Fox, Vice President for Outreach at (800) 347-2752 ext. 5070 or Arthur Pinckney, Public Information Officer at ext. 5066.
What is the $1K Giveaway?
Each month, South Carolina Student Loan provides a $1000 scholarship based on a random drawing from our registrant pool. Your high school juniors, seniors, and their parents can register online.
Who can register for the 1K Giveaway?
High school juniors, seniors, college students (undergraduate and graduate), and their parents may register for the drawing. To be eligible for the scholarship, the student must be a South Carolina resident attending, or planning to attend, a college or university.
When will the 1K Giveaway drawing take place?
The drawing takes place on the 15th of each month.
Should students register for the 1K Giveaway every month?
Once a person signs up for the scholarship giveaway, he or she will be eligible for the drawing until the following August 15.
Who can apply for loans through South Carolina Student Loan?
College students (currently enrolled or planning to attend) can apply for the following loans with South Carolina Student Loan:
Federal Stafford Loan
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan (for graduate and professional students only)
Palmetto Assistance Loan
South Carolina Teachers and Career Changers Loan
Parents of undergraduate college students (currently enrolled or planning to attend) are eligible to apply for the Federal Parent PLUS Loan or the Palmetto Assistance Loan.
Borrowers in repayment (including parent borrowers) can apply for a Federal Consolidation Loan for any federal loans, or a Palmetto Consolidation Loan for private loans borrowed during their college careers.
How often will guidance counselors receive your newsletter, The Guide?
The Guide is issued quarterly. Past issues of The Guide are available here. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for articles you would like to see in future editions.
How can I obtain copies of the college planning guide, Are You Ready?
You may download and print Are You Ready?. To order in bulk, please contact Caren Wilmot at (800) 347-2752 ext. 5084.
How much can a student borrow?
Annual borrowing limits are determined by the student’s grade level, as defined by the college or university he or she attends. The following annual undergraduate limits apply to the Federal Stafford loan:
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First year/freshman: |
$5,500 |
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Second year/sophomore: |
$6,500 |
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Third year and beyond: |
$7,500 |
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When will students have to start repaying their loan?
Repayment begins six months after the student drops below half-time enrollment status. This could include graduation, withdrawal from school, or a switch to less than half-time enrollment. The monthly payment amount and the terms of repayment are determined by the total amount borrowed. There is no penalty for early payment.
Can SC Student Loan’s programs be used outside of South Carolina?
Yes. All of our loan programs can be used for attendance at any accredited school in the nation and at many foreign schools.
Where are you located?
South Carolina Student Loan is located in the William M. Mackie, Jr. Interstate Center at 16 Berryhill Road in the St. Andrews area of Columbia. We are convenient to both I-26 and I-20. Berryhill Road is the frontage road beside I-26 at the St. Andrews Road Exit. Get Map
Office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. We also have a drop box located at the entrance to the front of our building, where papers and documents can be dropped off at any time.
