Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program Overview 

Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with their educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible college in Georgia.

Eligibility 
To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must:

1. Meet one of the following academic requirements:
   • Graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school with a 3.0 grade point average. For more details. Click here for more information
   • Complete a HOPE eligible home study program with a 3.0 grade point average. For more details. Click here for more information
   • Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete an ineligible home study program, or earn a GED, and score in the national composite 85th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT tests. For more details. Click here for more information
   • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an ineligible home study program, and then earn a 3.0 grade point average on 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework. This option allows for payment of the first 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours after they are taken. For more details. Click here for more information
   • Earn a 3.0 grade point average at the college level on degree coursework after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semesters hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours, regardless of high school graduation status. For more details. Click here for more information
2. Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
3. Meet HOPE’s Georgia residency requirements.
4. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at an eligible public or private college or university or technical college in Georgia. View a list of HOPE eligible colleges and universities .
5. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.
6. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college.
7. Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program.
8. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for HOPE payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.
9. Meet additional rigor requirements, beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015.  For more details, click here.

Award Amounts 
The money provided to HOPE Scholars varies and depends on the type of institution you are attending and your specific enrollment.

Public Institutions

Beginning in Fall 2011, students attending public colleges or universities receive a HOPE Award Amount based upon a per hour rate at the institution he or she is attending. To determine your HOPE Award Amount, review the chart found here .

Private Institutions

For Fall 2011, Winter 2012, and Spring 2012, students attending private colleges or universities receive the following:

• Full-time students: $1,800 per semester, $1,200 per quarter
• Half-time students: $900 per semester, $600 per quarter
• Award Limits 
  A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship if the student has:
  
• Received payment from any combination of HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Accel Program funds (through Spring term 2011) totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
• Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while attempting the hours; or
• Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) college degree, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while earning the degree, or
• Reached the Seven Year Expiration of Eligibility date. Click here for more information.

Application Procedure 
Applying for the HOPE Scholarship is easy, but you should always check with the college you are going to attend to make sure you are completing the applications they require.

Students have three options for applying for the HOPE Scholarship.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) By using your GAcollege411 account and accessing the FAFSA application from GAcollege411, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete this form. Proceed to theFAFSA.
• GSFAPPS (electronic application), click here.
• GSFAPPS (paper version), click here .

Application Deadline 
While you have until the last day of classes or exams to submit your application in order to receive HOPE funds for that semester or quarter, we highly recommend submitting your HOPE application as early as possible. The earlier you apply, the earlier the funds are disbursed to your school and credited to your account.

Where to Go for Help 
If you need help filling out an application or have other questions relating to the HOPE Scholarship, we suggest contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, talking with your high school counselor, or contacting the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).

To find contact details for the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, find your school through the search engine via the list of Georgia colleges and universities.

You can contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) by:

E-mail:
gacollege411@gsfc.org

Telephone:
Call us toll-free at: 1-800-505-GSFC (4732)
In Metro Atlanta: (770) 724-9000
A representative is available Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other Information 
Full details about the HOPE Scholarship guidelines, policies, and procedures can be found in the HOPE Scholarship Program Regulations – Public Colleges or HOPE Scholarship Regulations – Private Collegesdocument maintained by the GSFC.

Administrative Reviews and Exceptions 
Students may request an Administrative Review of a HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Grant eligibility determination or status or, in certain situations, students may request an Exception. 

Related Links 

• Maintaining Eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship
• HOPE Facts and Figures
• HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant Administrative Reviews and Exceptions

Georgia’s Zell Miller Scholarship Program Overview

Georgia’s Zell Miller Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with their educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible college in Georgia.

Eligibility
To receive Zell Miller Scholarship funding, students must meet all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements and:

1. Meet one of the following academic requirements:
   • Graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school as the Valedictorian or the Salutatorian. Click here for more information
   • Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.7 grade point average combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration. Click here for more information
   • Complete a HOPE eligible home study program with a 3.7 grade point average combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration. Click here for more information
   • Complete an ineligible home study program with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration., and then earn a 3.3 grade point average on 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework taken after home study completion. This option allows for payment of the first 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours after they are taken. Click here for more information
   • Have first enrolled in an eligible post-secondary institution in 2007 or later, as a freshman, meeting one of the academic qualifications listed above and having earned a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at the most recent HOPE Scholarship checkpoint. Click here for more information
2. Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
3. Meet HOPE’s Georgia residency requirements.
4. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at an eligible public or private college or university or technical college in Georgia.View a list of HOPE eligible colleges and universities .
5. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.
6. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college.
7. Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program.
8. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for Zell Miller Scholarship payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.
9. Meet additional rigor requirements, beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015.  For more details, click here.

Award Amounts
The money provided to Zell Miller Scholars varies and depends on the type of institution you are attending and your specific enrollment. You can view the Zell Miller Scholarship Award Rates here .

Public Institutions

Students attending public colleges or universities receive an award for the following:

• Current academic year standard undergraduate tuition for number of hours enrolled whether full time or part time

Private Institutions

Students attending private colleges or universities receive the following:

• Full-time students: $2,000 per semester, $1,333 per quarter
• Half-time students: $1,000 per semester, $666 per quarter

Award Limits
A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship if the student has:

• Received payment from any combination of HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Accel Program funds (through Spring term 2011) totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
• Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not Zell Miller funds were received while attempting the hours; or
• Has earned a baccalaureate (four-year) college degree, regardless of whether or not Zell Miller funds were received while earning the degree.
• Graduated from high school more than seven years ago and did not receive a HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011.

Application Procedure
Applying for the Zell Miller Scholarship is easy, but you should always check with the college you are going to attend to make sure you are completing the applications they require. Students have three options for applying for the Zell Miller Scholarship.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) By using your GAcollege411 account and accessing the FAFSA application from GAcollege411, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete this form. Proceed to the FAFSA.
• GSFAPPS, click here.
• GSFAPPS paper version, click here .

Application Deadline
While you have until the last day of classes or exams to submit your application in order to receive Zell Miller funds for that semester or quarter, we highly recommend submitting your HOPE application as early as possible. The earlier you apply, the earlier the funds are disbursed to your school and credited to your account.

Where to Go for Help
If you need help filling out an application or have other questions relating to the Zell Miller Scholarship, we suggest contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, talking with your high school counselor, or contacting the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).

To find contact details for the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, find your school through the search engine or via this list of Georgia colleges and universities.

You can contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) by:

E-mail:
gacollege411@gsfc.org

Telephone:
Call us toll-free at: 1-800-505-GSFC (4732)
In Metro Atlanta: (770) 724-9000
A representative is available Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other Information
Full details about the Zell Miller Scholarship guidelines, policies, and procedures can be found in the Zell Miller Scholarship Program at Public and Private Institutions Regulations document maintained by the GSFC.

Administrative Reviews and Exceptions
Students may request an Administrative Review of a Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility determination or status or, in certain situations, students may request an Exception. For more details, please click here.