South Carolina ESTF: Amounts, Rules and Schools

How ESTF works

What you get	$7,634 per student for 2026-27. Paid quarterly.
Who qualifies	South Carolina students age 5 to 21 with household income at or below 500% of the poverty level ($160,750 for a family of four).
How full it is	The 15,000-student cap for 2026-27 has been reached. Only the waitlist is open.
When to apply	The 2026-27 application opened January 15, 2026 and is closed. Join the waitlist to hear about 2027-28.
How the money moves	The Department of Education funds a ClassWallet account and families pay approved providers from it.
What it covers	Private school tuition, tutoring, therapies, curriculum and out-of-district public school fees.

We read this on 2026-09-20 from: South Carolina Department of Education, ESTF; ESTF program site. Rules change when the legislature meets, so check the official program site before you count on a number.

Run your own numbers

What would you pay?

Yearly tuition the school quoted Fees, books, uniforms ESTF award Children

We filled in the standard ESTF amount. Change it if your award letter says something different. An award can never be more than the school actually charges. This is arithmetic, not a quote.

Which schools take it

Schools marked here appear as in-person independent schools on the approved-provider workbook published by the South Carolina Department of Education, dated September 3, 2026.

Browse South Carolina private schools

Private schools in Greenville (51)
Private schools in Taylors (49)
Private schools in Mauldin (46)
Private schools in Charleston (45)
Private schools in Greer (45)
Private schools in North Charleston (45)
Private schools in Simpsonville (45)
Private schools in Mount Pleasant (40)
Private schools in Columbia (39)
Private schools in West Columbia (34)
Private schools in Florence (12)
Private schools in Lexington (12)
Private schools in Summerville (12)
Private schools in Rock Hill (11)
Private schools in Aiken (10)
Private schools in Anderson (10)
Private schools in Sumter (10)
Private schools in Myrtle Beach (9)

Get one email when applications open

Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.

One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.

Questions parents ask

How much does ESTF pay in South Carolina?

$7,634 per student for 2026-27. Paid quarterly.

Who is eligible?

South Carolina students age 5 to 21 with household income at or below 500% of the poverty level ($160,750 for a family of four).

Does it cover the full cost of private school?

Not always. The award is a set amount and every school sets its own price. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then subtract the award. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.

How do I know a school accepts ESTF?

Schools marked here appear as in-person independent schools on the approved-provider workbook published by the South Carolina Department of Education, dated September 3, 2026.

When do I apply?

The 2026-27 application opened January 15, 2026 and is closed. Join the waitlist to hear about 2027-28.

South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund