The Winthrop English Department boasts a 100% job placement rate for Secondary Education English majors.
There is a persistent high demand for SC teachers, with over 1,000 open teaching positions in the state each year.
Teachers in South Carolina earn a state-wide minimum of $47K for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree. Most counties pay above the state minimum: Greenville Schools start teachers at $50K ($55K with a master’s degree) and Rock Hill Schools start at $52K ($59K with a master’s).
SC Teaching Fellows Program
This program is designed to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession by providing generous scholarships for students who plan to go into teaching. Scholarships are valued at up to $6,000 annually, for a total of $24,000. Recipients must be high school seniors who have exhibited high academic achievement, a history of service to the school and community, and a desire to teach in South Carolina.
Palmetto Fellows and Life Scholarship Enhancement for Future Teachers
South Carolina has added an additional $7,500 incentive for future teachers to state lottery scholarship funding. Eligible students can receive up to $2,500 per year for three years (in addition to current Palmetto Fellowships or LIFE Scholarship Awards).
South Carolina Teachers Loan Program
The SC Teachers Loan Program provides loans for education that are canceled by teaching in South Carolina public schools in an area of critical need or in critical geographical locations. Freshmen and sophomores may borrow up to $2,500 per year; juniors, seniors, and graduate students may borrow up to $7,500 per year.
TEACH Grants
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grants provide approximately $4,000 per year for students to agree to complete a teaching service obligation as a condition for receiving the grant. For students who do not complete the service obligation, the grant is converted into a loan.
Palmetto Assistance Loan (PAL) 
The Palmetto Assistance Loan is a state-supported education loan for students with no fees and a low, fixed interest rate. The minimum loan amount is $2,000, and students can borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus any other financial aid.
TEACH South Carolina Scholarship
Anyone applying to a partnership institution to pursue teacher education can apply for $1,000 toward the cost of tuition. A separate application for reimbursement of up to $100 toward application costs and fees is also available.
Jennie Rakestraw Student Success Fund
Winthrop University students enrolled in a teacher certification program can apply for funds to cover the costs of “certification, conference attendance, research opportunities, and career support resources.” Awards are generally under $250 and are available to undergraduate and graduate students.
