Home School Graduates from a HOPE-eligible high school

A student who graduates from a HOPE-eligible high school or completes a HOPE-eligible home study program in 1993 or later may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship as an entering freshman in a degree program at an eligible college or university in Georgia. Students meeting this requirement are considered to be entering the HOPE Scholarship program as regular HOPE Scholars.

A HOPE-eligible high school or HOPE-eligible home study program must be accredited by one or more of the accrediting agencies listed below.

If the high school or home study program is located in the state of Georgia:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Georgia Accrediting Commission;
• Georgia Association of Christian Schools;
• Association of Christian Schools International;
• Georgia Private School Accreditation Council; or
• Southern Association of Independent Schools.

If the high school or home study program is located outside the state of Georgia:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
• New England Association of Schools andColleges ;
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
• Northwest Accreditation Commission;
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges;
• Alabama Independent School Association; or
• Southern Association of Independent Schools.

A student who graduates from a HOPE-eligible high school or completes a HOPE-eligible home study program must earn a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on all core coursework. The grade point average calculation for the HOPE Scholarship is unique. Please click here for a chart that explains how the HOPE Scholarship grade point average is calculated.

• If you graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school located in Georgia, your high school should automatically send your transcript data to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for calculation of your HOPE grade point average. This process is electronic. Once your grade point average is calculated, finalized, and verified, you can view it by going here.
  
• If you graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school located outside the state of Georgia or if you complete a HOPE-eligible home study program, you must have an official transcript sent to the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Your high school should be sure to include information on its accreditation, grading scale, and course or grade point average weighting. Also, be sure to include your current name, former name if applicable, date of birth, current mailing address, and phone number. Submit the official transcript and documentation to:
  
  Georgia Student Finance Commission
  
  Attn: Program Administration
  2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 100
  Tucker, Georgia 30084

Home School Graduates from a HOPE-ineligible high school – with an 85th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT

For purposes of the HOPE Scholarship Program, an ineligible high school or an ineligible home study program is a school or home study program in the state of Georgia that is not accredited by one of the accrediting agencies listed below:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Georgia Accrediting Commission
• Georgia Association of Christian Schools
• Association of Christian Schools International
• Georgia Private School Accreditation Council
• Southern Association of Independent Schools

If the ineligible high school or ineligible home study program is located outside the state of Georgia and is not accredited by one of the agencies listed below:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Accreditation Commission
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Alabama Independent School Association
• Southern Association of Independent Schools

A student who graduates from an ineligible high school, completes an ineligible home study program, or earned a GED (General Education Development) diploma in Georgia after June 30, 1993 may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship as an entering college freshman if such student scores in or above the national composite 85th percentile on the SAT or ACT tests.

Currently, a minimum composite score of 1850 on the SAT or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT is required to meet these criteria.
If you meet the criteria listed above, complete and submit the “Request for HOPE Scholarship Eligibility Based on Test Score Percentile Ranking “.

Home School Graduates from a HOPE-ineligible high school

For purposes of the HOPE Scholarship Program, an ineligible high school or an ineligible home study program is a school or home study program in the state of Georgia that is not accredited by one of the accrediting agencies listed below:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Georgia Accrediting Commission
• Georgia Association of Christian Schools
• Association of Christian Schools International
• Georgia Private School Accreditation Council
• Southern Association of Independent Schools

If the ineligible high school or ineligible home study program is located outside the state of Georgia and is not accredited by one of the agencies listed below:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Accreditation Commission
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Alabama Independent School Association
• Southern Association of Independent Schools

A student who graduates from an ineligible high school or completes an ineligible home study program may receive the HOPE Scholarship retroactively for his or her freshman year of college, if he or she earns a 3.00 cumulative grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level credit.

• You must have an official copy of both your high school/home study program and college transcripts sent to the Georgia Student Finance Commission.  You must also submit a completed “Application for Review of Retroactive HOPE Payment“. Submit the completed application and official transcripts as one package to the following address:
  
  Georgia Student Finance Commission
  2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 100
  Tucker, Georgia 30084
  
• You must also complete an application for the HOPE Scholarship by submitting a GSFAPPS or the current year FAFSA.  The deadline to submit the application and all supporting documentation to Georgia Student Finance Commission is the last day of the semester or quarter immediately following the semester or quarter in which you reached the 30 semester or 45 quarter attempted-hour point.