Since the graduation of its first class in 1981, the School of Medicine Columbia has led the state as its flagship university in exemplary education, advanced research, and provision of high-quality care for those whom we serve. We pride ourselves on recruiting and retaining the most talented South Carolinians as both students and faculty.

Endowment funds are managed to provide a permanent source of income to support the educational mission of the university. The endowments are invested in a purposeful and accountable manner in order to generate income that:

• Honors the donors’ intended purposes for their gift;
• Supports the operating budget of the institution; and,
• Reinvested to protect the value of the endowment against inflation.

What are Endowed Professorships?

To maintain our reputation of excellence, we must train our students with master educators that have received the most prestigious accolades and awards and have clearly distinguished themselves as experienced and effective faculty.

With financial backing, such as an endowed professorship, they can spend more time conducting ground-breaking research, refining their teaching ability and curriculum and enriching the learning experiences of their students.

Among higher education institutions, endowed professorships are considered the most prestigious and most impactful form of faculty support by way of donations from generous donors.

Why Are Endowed Professorships Important?

Expand allRecruiting Top Faculty

Endowed professorships draw in scholars, academics, and thought leaders from all over the world. Offering endowed professorships provides an advantageous incentive for the SOMC – with a pool of competitive professionals vying for the opportunity.

Retaining Top Faculty

Along with bringing in talented faculty, endowments like this help keep top talent who will maintain our reputation of excellence.

Opportunity to Expand 

Endowed professorships also afford faculty the ability to hire an additional research assistant or administrator.

Endowed Scholarships

The School of Medicine Columbia is working to address the health care needs of our state, nation and beyond through educational opportunities in biomedical sciences, counseling and rehabilitation, medicine, genetic counseling, nurse anesthesia and physician assistant programs.

This scholarship means I have the opportunity give back to our Hispanic community in South Carolina. I can help bridge the gap between health care access and language, cultural, and financial barriers. Bringing more representation for our growing minority communities will help us reach the goal of improving the quality of patient care.

Endowed Scholarship FAQs

Expand allWhat is an Endowed Scholarship?

An endowed scholarship is a sum of money, usually from a generous donor, managed by the university. While the principal balance of the gift is never spent, the interest of its investment is used to fund student scholarships. Because, as of 2024, the SOMC’s tuition has not increased in seven years, these scholarships have an even greater impact on our students compared to those at peer institutions.

Why Empowering Success is Needed

For the past 10 years, between 80-85% of SOMC students have received financial aid annually. In most cases, it has been in the form of student loans. Even after graduation, the burden of student debt is a crushing blow to students as they continue to defer loans through their residency programs. This disproportionally affects students in underrepresented groups.

Giving to a Scholarship Fund

Designating scholarship support as your philanthropic intention is proving to be critical in today’s environment.  Scholarships have a direct impact on medical students, and, in turn, an impact on future healthcare delivery in South Carolina.  

There are several opportunities to be recognized when designating your gift towards scholarship support, including creating a new endowed, named scholarship in your name or in honor or memory of someone else or by simply designating the SOMC current use, non-endowed scholarship fund. 

Available Scholarships

The School of Medicine Columbia has numerous scholarships available for students in all six academic programs that provide full and partial funding. For more information on available scholarships and how to give, please contact Senior Director of Advancement, Bryan Winters at Bryan.Winters@uscmed.sc.edu.

Creating an Endowment

• $50,000 is the minimum endowment level at the university; endowments can be established with as little as $5,000 at other USC campuses.
• A College or School requires a gift of $10 million or more for endowment.
• A Department requires a gift of $3 million for endowment.
• A Center or Institute requires a gift of $1 million for endowment.
• A Deanship requires a gift of $5 million. Deanships help attract and retain brilliant scholars and leaders.
• A Chair requires a gift of $1.5 million.
• A Distinguished Professorship requires a gift of $1 million for endowment.
• A Professorship requires a gift of $500,000 for endowment.
• A Carolina Scholar Award requires a gift of $300,000.
• A National Merit/Achievement Scholar Award requires a gift of $150,000.
• A Fellowship requires a gift of $100,000.
• A Lectureship requires a gift of $100,000.
• A Scholarship requires a gift of $100,000 to establish an endowed scholarship fund designated for a specific academic discipline/program with restrictions and/or preferences.