Although the school year is just getting started, many high school seniors across the state are already focusing on the transition to college during College Application Month, an annual Commission on Higher Education-led campaign to help high school students navigate and complete their college applications.

In 2024, 253 South Carolina high schools hosted College Application Month events with more than 85,000 applications being submitted by more than 46,000 participants. The events run from August through November and participating students receive application assistance from school counselors, college representatives, and teachers.

Last year approximately 53 percent of participants completed one college application, 22 percent completed two, and 24 percent reported completing three or more applications. A follow up survey indicated that Coastal Carolina University, USC-Columbia, South Carolina State University, College of Charleston, Clemson University, Greenville Technical College, and Francis Marion University received the highest number of applications as reported by the students.

For many students, College Application Month is the turning point where higher education shifts from an abstract idea to an achievable reality—and our mission is to make that possible for as many students as we can,” said Kathy Rollins, College Access Manager at the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. “This initiative is about meeting students where they are, equipping them with the tools, support, and confidence to pursue the educational path that aligns with their goals—whether that’s a technical college or a university. It’s not about how many applications they submit, but about helping each student see that college is within reach—and that they belong there.”

Key campaign partners also include the Carolina Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CACRAO) and ACT, one of the state’s standardized testing agencies. CACRAO’s partnership helps maximize the number of college representatives at events, while ACT’s partnership helps recognize schools for performance.

Each year a “School of Excellence” is also recognized for demonstrating consistency or significant improvement in student success and participation in the program, as well as meeting all required data reporting deadlines. The winner for 2024, Spring Hill High School, will be presented with their award at their college application event this fall.

College Application Month was first held in South Carolina in 2009 and has since become a vital component of state efforts to encourage college attendance. The program’s success has grown tremendously since its inception. In its first year, just 12 high schools participated, with 1,000 seniors collectively submitting about 2,000 applications. 

College Application Month is recognized for being especially helpful to students from under-resourced communities and backgrounds. Increasing opportunities for students of all backgrounds to access higher education ultimately contributes to the state’s growing economy by providing more skilled and trained workers to meet the increasingly technical demands of the modern workforce. According to the South Carolina Coordinating Council on Workforce Development's Unified State Plan, out of 241 priority occupations in the state, 168 require postsecondary education and 62 (37 percent) require a bachelor's degree or higher. By 2027, 70 percent of all jobs are expected to require some education beyond high school.

The state’s current higher education attainment rate is 50.1 percent as of the most recent data from 2022.