Full Tuition. Covered.
Pee Dee Promise: Local Roots. Brighter Futures.
The Pee Dee Promise
Making College More Affordable Makes College More Accessible
Too often, cost becomes a barrier before a student has the chance to fully consider college.
The Pee Dee Promise is designed to help more students in our region see higher education as a realistic option. By reducing the tuition barrier, the program creates a clearer path for local students to pursue a degree, build new opportunities, and remain connected to the families and communities that have helped shape them.
When more students can access higher education, the benefits extend beyond the individual. Families gain opportunity, communities retain talent, and the Pee Dee grows stronger.
Big opportunity can begin close to home.
Who is eligible for the Pee Dee Promise?
To qualify for the Pee Dee Promise, students must:
- Enter Coker in Fall 2027 as a full-time, degree-seeking freshman in a traditional, in-person undergraduate program
- Have a final high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale
- Have maintained permanent residency in an eligible Pee Dee county for at least 12 months
- Have a family adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less as determined through the FAFSA
- Complete the FAFSA and be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant
- Apply to Coker and submit the required $300 enrollment deposit by May 17, 2027
- Participate in the Pee Dee Promise Engagement Program
Transfer students from the Pee Dee will be considered on an individual basis beginning January 2027.
Eligible Pee Dee Counties
Darlington • Chesterfield • Dillon • Florence • Kershaw • Lee • Marion • Marlboro • Sumter • Williamsburg
What Does the Pee Dee Promise Cover?
For eligible students, the Pee Dee Promise covers full tuition for 12–18 credits in Coker’s traditional, in-person undergraduate program.
The Promise is made possible through a combination of:
- Federal grants
- South Carolina grants and scholarships
- Coker institutional funding
- Endowed scholarships
What Is Not Included?
The Pee Dee Promise covers tuition. It does not cover:
- Room and board
- Institutional fees
- Program-specific fees
- Additional tuition charges outside the covered credit range
What Should Students Do Next?
Apply to Coker. Complete the FAFSA. Learn what Coker may actually cost.
Students should not rule out Coker based on sticker price alone. For eligible Pee Dee students, a private university education may be much more affordable than they expect.