State of GA Hope Scholarship

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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 postsecondary institution located in Georgia.

HOPE Specific 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 using the HOPE grade point average calculation. For more details, click here.
    • Complete a HOPE eligible home study program with a 3.0 using the HOPE grade point average calculation. For more details, click here.
    • Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete an ineligible home study program, or earn a GED, on or after July 1, 2014 and score in the national composite 80th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT prior to graduation, home study completion date or GED test date. For more details, click here.
    • 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.
    • Earn a 3.0 grade point average at the college level on degree coursework after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours, regardless of high school graduation status. For more details, click here.
  2. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a public or private HOPE eligible college and university in Georgia.
  3. Meet additional rigor requirements, beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015.

AND:

State Programs Eligibility

  1. Meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements;
  2. Be a legal resident of Georgia;
  3. Be registered with Selective Service, if required;
  4. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college;
  5. Not be in default or owe a refund due on a student financial aid program;
  6. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.

Award Amounts

Please review the HOPE Scholarship Award Chart to determine your scholarship award amount.

Students that meet all eligibility requirements and are attending an eligible public college or university receive a HOPE award amount, to be applied toward standard undergraduate tuition, up to a maximum of 15 hours, for the specific number of hours enrolled, whether full time or part time.

Students that meet all eligibility requirements and are attending an eligible private college or university receive a HOPE award amount, to be applied toward standard undergraduate tuition, up to a maximum of 12 hours, based on a half-time or full-time enrollment status.

Award Limits

A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship if he or she has:

  • Received payment from any combination of HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships, HOPE or Zell Miller Grants, and Accel (through Spring term 2011) Program funds 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) 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

Students have two options when applying for the HOPE Scholarship:

Application Deadline

While you have until the last day of classes or exams, whichever occurs later, 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.

Note: there may be additional college-specific application and deadline requirements.

Assistance

Click here to access and explore information and websites regarding Georgia colleges and universities.

GSFC E-mail
gacollege411@gsfc.org

GSFC Telephone
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.

Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Program (GTEG)

Program Type

Non-Need Based Grant

Purpose

To encourage Georgia residents to attend eligible private colleges in Georgia by providing grant assistance.

Eligibility

There are several basic eligibility requirements. To be eligible, students must:

  1. Be a U.S. citizen or national of the U.S. or have evidence from INS of eligible permanent resident alien status;
  2. Be a legal resident of Georgia;
  3. Be enrolled as a full-time student at an eligible private college or university in Georgia; Be an undergraduate student in a program of study leading to a college degree;
  4. Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the college;
  5. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements;
  6. Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program;
  7. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990;
  8. Must not have received TEG payment for more than 127 semester/190 quarter hours.

Value

Recipients receive an award of $233 per quarter or $350 per semester and can receive payment for up to four quarters or three semesters per year. (Budgeted each year by the Georgia Legislature. The amount of the award may change during the award year.)

Application Procedure

Students can apply online or by using the printable paper TEG application .

Other Information

Each participating college sets application deadline dates for each school term. You can read the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant program regulations  for guidelines, policies, and procedures.

The Student Access Loan Program

Effective 2014-2015 (FY 2015), Georgia Student Finance Authority is offering two Student Access Loan Programs, with 1% interest rates, designed to assist undergraduate and technical college students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs.

Student Access Loan (SAL) Program Information

  • Interest rate structure for loans received on or after July 1, 2014:
    • Fixed rate of 1% while in school and out of school as long as the loan remains in good standing.
    • A monthly Keep In Touch (KIT) Payment of $10.00 is required approximately 60 days after the first disbursement is received. The monthly KIT Payment is required while in school and while in grace period.
  • Repayment is a maximum of ten (10) years with a minimum payment of $50.00 for loans received on or after July 1, 2014.
  • The minimum loan amount is $500. The maximum loan limit is $10,000 per year up to a maximum of $40,000 over a college lifetime.
  • Origination Fee - A non-refundable fee of 5% of the loan amount, but not more than $50.00, is deducted from the first disbursement of the loan.
  • SAL is an annual process which includes application, selection, certification, approval, and disbursement.
    • The program is also designed to provide service cancellation opportunities to those who work in select public service sectors or STEM fields.
    • Students are randomly selected to participate in the program (Note: Selection does not guarantee approval and applicants may or may not be selected each application year).
  • The SALT is first come, first served based on the funds available.

Student Eligibility


In order to receive the Student Access Loan, students must:

  • Be considered a Georgia resident and United States citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Complete a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply for this program.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the SAP policy at their college or university.
  • Must be enrolled in an eligible Georgia postsecondary institution.
  • Meet all eligibility requirements.

Important Things to Know

  • Applications are only collected in pre-designated application cycle periods.  See the application link below for dates and information.
  • If you apply for this loan, you understand that this is a private education loan that must be repaid and cannot be combined or consolidated with federal loans.
  • Borrow smart! When applying for a loan, request only the amount of funds needed for your educational costs and that you can repay.
  • Your eligible postsecondary institution may decline the loan or certify for a reduced amount based on financial aid status.
  • Loan disbursements are sent directly to the student's chosen eligible postsecondary institution and are not transferable.
  • SAL applicants must have first applied for and exhausted all other student financial aid options including federal and state student loans, scholarship, and grant programs.
  • Students attending an eligible technical college within the Technical College System of Georgia must first apply for SALT.

You may be eligible for a Student Access Loan (SAL) or Student Access Loan - Technical (SALT) if you have exhausted all other funding options to meet your cost of attendance. Please click on the links below for more information or, if you are ready to apply, please click "Applications" below.