South Carolina UGP GPA Calculator — LIFE & Palmetto Fellows
Quick answer: South Carolina scholarships use the Uniform Grading Policy (UGP) GPA. Each course’s numeric average converts to quality points — 90 = 4.000, 100 = 5.000, a tenth of a point per mark down to 51 = 0.100 — with +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP, IB and dual credit, and the GPA is truncated to three decimals. LIFE needs two of: a 3.0 UGP GPA, an SAT of 1100, a top-30% class rank. Palmetto Fellows needs SAT 1200 + 3.50 + top 6%, or SAT 1400 + 4.00.
South Carolina LIFE & Palmetto Fellows calculator
How the UGP GPA is calculated
The Uniform Grading Policy converts each course’s numeric average to quality points on the 10-point scale adopted in 2016. Every mark from 51 to 100 is a tenth of a point apart; honors adds 0.5 and AP, IB and dual credit add 1.0. A selection:
| Average | Letter | College prep | Honors | AP / IB / dual credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | A | 5.000 | 5.500 | 6.000 |
| 95 | A | 4.500 | 5.000 | 5.500 |
| 90 | A | 4.000 | 4.500 | 5.000 |
| 85 | B | 3.500 | 4.000 | 4.500 |
| 80 | B | 3.000 | 3.500 | 4.000 |
| 75 | C | 2.500 | 3.000 | 3.500 |
| 70 | C | 2.000 | 2.500 | 3.000 |
| 65 | D | 1.500 | 2.000 | 2.500 |
| 60 | D | 1.000 | 1.500 | 2.000 |
| 55 | F | 0.500 | 1.000 | 1.500 |
| 0–50 | F | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
The full table also lists WF and FA at 50 (0.000 in every column) and WP at 0.000. “GPA = sum (quality points × units) ÷ sum of units attempted”, truncated to three decimal places — the UGP says computations “will not be rounded to a higher number.” Enter whole-number averages, as on your report card; a decimal is cut down to the whole number.
LIFE and Palmetto Fellows requirements
| Scholarship | What you need |
|---|---|
| LIFE — four-year college | Two of three: a 3.0 UGP GPA, SAT 1100 (or the equivalent ACT), top 30% of your class. If your school does not rank, the 3.0 and the 1100. |
| LIFE — two-year or technical college | A 3.0 UGP GPA |
| Palmetto Fellows | SAT 1200 + 3.50 UGP GPA + top 6% of the class, or SAT 1400 + 4.00 UGP GPA regardless of rank. Early awards use the end of junior year; late awards the end of senior year. |
The LIFE regulation: “Grade point averages must be reported to two decimal places (minimum) and may not be rounded. For example, a student who earns a 2.99 GPA is not eligible.” The calculator takes the SAT only; the regulations accept the equivalent ACT score, which CHE publishes.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA do I need for the LIFE Scholarship?
What do I need for Palmetto Fellows?
How much do honors and AP add on the UGP?
Is the UGP GPA rounded?
Sources
- SC State Board of Education: Uniform Grading Policy (10-point scale, 2016) — conversion table, honors and AP/IB/dual weighting, GPA formula, truncation
- SC CHE: LIFE Scholarship regulation (document 5321, 2025) — 3.0 UGP GPA, SAT 1100, top 30%, no rounding
- SC CHE: Palmetto Fellows regulation (document 5405, May 2026) — SAT 1200 / 3.50 / top 6%, or SAT 1400 / 4.00
All are official state documents, checked on 2026-10-01.