Here is a list of the scholarships that I found using the name  “Hope Scholarship”.

1) Georgia Hope Scholarship (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally)
This is the primary focus of this blog. The Georgia Hope Scholarship helps students in Georgia with GPAs of 3.0 or better. The scholarship has two forms: one provides a full 100% scholarship (The Zell Miller Hope Scholarship) and one that provides a percentage of tuition (The Georgia Hope Scholarship).  More information can be found on the Georgia Hope Scholarship articles on the site.
2) Tennessee Hope Scholarship
This is also a focus of this blog. The Tennessee Hope Scholarship helps students in Tennessee with eligible GPA and ACT or SAT scores. The scholarship provides tuition assitance for students. More information can be found on the Tennessee Hope Scholarship on the site.
3) The H.O.P.E. Scholarship (Helping Others Pursue Education)
From the H.O.P.E. website: The H.O.P.E. Scholarship is a non-profit organization designed to empower financially challenged students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The organization was founded by two Howard University alumni committed to serving their communities. We are raising money to reward deserving students with scholarships through the assistance of students, alumni and supporters of the black
college community, frequent fundraisers, and corporate sponsorships.  Our mission is to make quality education affordable to deserving students. No student should be denied access to a quality education simply because they lack the necessary funds. Household incomes cannot continue to dictate academic outcomes.It does not require a person
with lots of money and lots of success to make a difference in society; hard work, determination and a passion for service can turn any dream into a reality.With the assistance of students and alumni in the black college community, frequent fundraisers, and corporate sponsorships, we are raising money to reward deserving students with $500 scholarships.

4) The Hope Scholarship Fund (Educating Children in Developing Countries)
From their website:
We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that works to provide hope and opportunities to impoverished children in developing countries. By providing them with access to an education, they gain the ability to choose their futures.The Hope Scholarship Fund to give children of families caught in the cycle of poverty the opportunity to pursue the life they wish to live. The student’s drive and natural abilities, rather than their poverty, will be what determines the career path they can take.

5) South Carolina Hope Scholarship Program
The SC Hope Scholarship has information on this blog. The South Carolina Hope Scholarship helps students in South Carolina. More information on the South Carolina HOpe Scholarship can be found on the site.

6) Project Hope Scholarship Program (Help One Person Excel)
This Scholarship is for students attending a specific college, in this case, Edison State College.
The Project HOPE (Help One Person Excel) Scholarship Program awards a limited number of academic scholarships for
students who meet certain eligibility criteria to complete their Associates of Arts or Associates of Science degree from
Edison State College.
7) HOPE Scholarship (Hispanic Organization for Public Employees)
From their website:
Amount: $1,500 (for students attending San Antonio College, Palo Alto College, St. Phillip’s College, Northwest Vista, and Northeast Lakeview College)
The scholarship is open to any incoming freshman or college student. Preference will be given to dependents of active or retired CPS employees who meet all the criteria. Must attend an Alamo Community College District Campus.
May pursue a degree in any concentration. No income requirement is set forth however, colleges/universities require applicants to fill out a free application for student financial aid. Have and maintain a 3.0 GPA or able based on a 4.0 scale each semester.Community service involvement is required.Provide two letters of recommendation. Must maintain full-enrollment status throughout the duration of the scholarship of the scholarship term.
8) Hope Scholarship Tax Credit
The Hope Scholarship provides a federal income tax credit based on the first $4,000 in postsecondary education expenses paid by the taxpayer during the tax year.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) included the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which expands the Hope Scholarship. This expansion is temporary, limited to the 2009 and 2010 tax years. However, President Obama’s FY2010 budget proposes making these changes permanent. The Hope Scholarship provides a tax credit of up to $2,500 per student per year for
qualified higher education expenses during the first four years of post-secondary education. (The amount of the Hope Scholarship is $3,600 for Gulf Opportunity Zone Students.) The amount of the credit is 100% of the first $2,000 of qualified tuition and related expenses per student and 25% of the second $2,000 of qualified tuition and related expenses.

And there are probably many others. If you know of others and want them on the hope-scholarship.net site, just contact us.

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Hope Scholarship Tax Credit

First, a tax credit is a nice benefit.  A credit acts dollar for dollar to remove taxes owed by the tax payer.  Unlike a deduction which only applies a percentage of the deduction towards decreasing the tax liability, the tax credit is 100% applied to the tax liability.  Here is more information on the tax credit, but, please refer to your financial/tax advisor for the final word on this tax credit and how to use it in your situation.

Amount of the Credit

The hope scholarship tax credit provides a scaled amount of the first $4000 of eligible expenses.  The credit is 100% of the first $2000 of eligible expenses.  For the next $2000 in expenses, the credit is 25%.  So, for $4000 of eligible expenses, the tax credit amount is $2500 max.  (Note: the credit is higher for some areas like the Gulf Opportunity Zone which increases the maximum to $3600).

What is really nice is that the tax credit is refundable up to 40% of the amount.  If your tax obligation is less than the tax credit, then up to 40% is refunded to the taxpayer.  So you may end up with zero tax liability and get a refund back based on the excess hope scholarship tax credit.

Qualified Educational Expenses

These include:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Course Materials.  These would be required textbooks

These do not include

• Student activity fees
• athletic fees
• insurance
• all other non academic related costs

The credit is only available for the first 4 years of higher education expense per student.  The credit can also be used for the first 4 years of postsecondary (graduate) education.

Income Phase Out

$80,000-90,000 for single filers and $160,000-$180,000 for married filing jointly.

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