This article contains a comprehensive frequently asked questions list. If your question is not answered here, let us know and we will add to the list.
What are the Hope Scholarship Award amounts?
Check the link for hope scholarship award amounts.
What is the difference between the HOPE Grant and the HOPE Scholarship?
HOPE Grant – the HOPE Grant is designed for students pursuing a certificate or diploma in non-degree programs at public institutions. HOPE Scholarship – students who have demonstrated academic achievement and are enrolled in degree programs at public, private or technical colleges may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship.
Do I have to be a Georgia resident in order to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
Yes, a student must be a Georgia resident for 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which the student is applying for the HOPE Scholarship. A dependent student’s residency status is based on their Parents’ residency status. Once a student is deemed to meet the Georgia residency requirements for purposes of HOPE Scholarship eligibility and begins receiving HOPE Scholarship payments, the student will continue to meet the Georgia residency requirements for purposes of HOPE Scholarship eligibility unless there’s a break in enrollment. Students that have a break in enrollment of one or more consecutive semesters who establish residency in another state must re-establish Georgia residency for 12 consecutive months before regaining eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.
Do I have to be a U.S citizen to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
A student must be a U. S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the school term for which the HOPE Scholarship is sought. “Eligible non-citizen” means a person who, in accordance with the Federal Title IV Regulations, is:
- A United Statespermanent resident with a Permanent Resident Alien Card (I-551); or
- A conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or
- The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing
- any one of the following designations:
- Refugee,
- Asylum Granted,
- Parolee; or
- Cuban-Haitian Entrant.
- Victims of human trafficking, in accordance with the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection
- Act, may also be considered eligible non-citizens.
- Persons with an F1 or F2 visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa are not eligible non citizens.
Are there any other requirements for the HOPE Scholarship?
Yes. In addition to the residency and citizenship requirements, students must also meet the following:
- Register with Selective Service (men only).
- Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Post secondary Education Act of 1990.
- Not be in default or owe a refund on a federal or state financial aid program.
- Not have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
One thing that is not required for the Hope is a background check sample; however some scholarships may require a background check as part of the application process.
Do I have to complete the FAFSA in order to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
No, completing the FAFSA is not a requirement for the Hope Scholarship because the scholarship is merit based and not financial based. Update: This has recently changed see the new FASFA requirements for hope.
How much is the HOPE Scholarship?
The scholarship is based on the tuition rate at the college which the student is attending. See the Hope Scholarship Tuition rates here.
Do I have to be a full time student enrolled in 12 hours or more, in order to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
No. Students attending a private college or university must be enrolled for at least 6 semester hours per term.
When is the HOPE Scholarship paid?
In most cases the Hope Scholarship awards are disbursed within a few weeks of the semester start dates once enrollment is verified. Hope Scholarship award amounts will typically show up as a credit on the students tuition bill.
How do I apply for the HOPE Scholarship?
Follow the procedures for Hope Scholarship application.
When should I apply for the HOPE Scholarship?
First time applicants: If you were not determined to be a HOPE Scholar upon high school graduation, you may apply for the HOPE Scholarship after attempting 30 semesters hours of college coursework and maintaining a 3.00 GPA.
Is there a time limit to when I can receive the HOPE Scholarship?
Yes, Effective with the FALL 2011 semester, GSFC has added a timeframe to apply for the HOPE Scholarship. A student who has received HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011, may receive the HOPE Scholarship until June 30, 2015, as long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility requirements. A student who has not received HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011, and meets all other eligibility requirements for HOPE Scholarship, may receive the HOPE Scholarship until seven years after his or her high school graduation date, GED test date, Home Study program completion date or date the student stopped pursuing a diploma. The seven year period ends on June 30th of the seventh full year following the student’s high school graduation date.
I already have a bachelor’s degree. Can I receive the HOPE Scholarship?
Unfortunately, you are not eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. The HOPE Scholarship is only for undergraduate students who have not earned a prior bachelor’s degree. Once you have earned a bachelor’s degree, you are not eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. However, you may be eligible for the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG).
What if I have more than 30 attempted hours before I applied for the HOPE Scholarship?
If you have attempted more than 30 semester hours of college coursework, you must also have at least a 3.00 HOPE GPA at the end of the semester in which you attempted your 60th and/or 90th semester hours to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. Reminder: HOPE eligibility evaluates all credit hours attempted at the college level.
Is there a deadline for the HOPE Scholarship application?
The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) allows the institution to set application deadlines for state grants and scholarships. Contact the college or university that you plan to attend for specific dates.
How long does it take to get a determination of my HOPE Application?
This is also dependent of the university or college. Contact the college or university that you plan to attend for specific dates.
If I received the HOPE Scholarship for a previous term, do I have to re-apply?
No, you do not have to apply for the HOPE Scholarship every semester as long as your meet the HOPE GPA requirements and there’s no break in enrollment.
Can I receive the HOPE Scholarship if I was not eligible when I graduated from high school?
Yes, after you have attempted 30 semester hours and maintained a 3.00 GPA or higher, you may be eligible forthe HOPE Scholarship.
Do I need all my transcripts from all my prior colleges, although I did not receive transfer credit?
Yes. The GPA calculation for the HOPE Scholarship includes all credit hours attempted at the college level, including those attempted at other Institutions.
What if I disagree with my HOPE GPA calculation?
If you disagree with the Registrar’s evaluation of your academic eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship, you are welcome to contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) for a second opinion. You can reach GSFC customer contact center toll-free at 1-800-505-GSFC or (770) 724-9000. Representatives are available Monday – Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM. GSFC’s mailing address is:2082 East Exchange Place, Tucker,Georgia, 30084
How often do I get evaluated for HOPE?
The Georgia Student Finance Commission require colleges to verify your HOPE Scholarship eligibility at the end of the semesters in which you attempted your 30th, 60th, and 90th credit hours. These are referred to as “checkpoints.” Your GPA must be at least 3.0 each time you reach a checkpoint; otherwise you will lose your HOPE eligibility. There is also an End-of-Spring Semester Checkpoint for all HOPE Scholarship recipients. You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the end of each Spring semester in order to remain eligible. If you lose the HOPE Scholarship at 30 or 60 attempted hours, you can regain the scholarship if you meet eligibility requirements at the next checkpoint. If you do not have a 3.0 GPA at the 90th credit hour checkpoint, you can never regain eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.
What are the HOPE Checkpoints?
End-Of-Spring Checkpoints: This checkpoint applies if you were enrolled in 12 or more hours for at least one of your first three terms at any post-secondary institution you have ever attended and at the end of every Spring term after that.
Second-Tier: You must have a 3.00 or higher HOPE GPA at the end of the term in which you have attempted 30 semester or 45 quarter hours to remain eligible until the next checkpoint.
Third-Tier: You must have a 3.00 or higher HOPE GPA at the end of the term in which you have attempted 60 semester or 90 quarter hours to remain eligible until the next checkpoint.
Fourth-Tier: You must have a 3.00 or higher HOPE GPA at the end of the term in which you have attempted 90 semester or 135 quarter hours to remain eligible until the next checkpoint.
Students who are not eligible for HOPE after attempting 90 credit hours are permanently ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship.
Will the HOPE Scholarship cover my entire program?
Not necessarily. There are limits to the HOPE Scholarship: Attempted-Hours limit and Paid-Hour limit. Once a student reaches the Attempted-Hours limit, the Combined Paid-Hours limit, or Seven year expiration he or she is no longer eligible for the HOPE Scholarship.Attempted-Hours limit: For the purpose of HOPE GPA calculation, ALL credit hours attempted at the college level are counted, including those assigned “W”, “WP” or “WF”. You cannot exceed 127 attempted credit hours from all institutions combined
Paid-Hours limit: All hours for which students received payment from Accel, HOPE Grant (Summer 2003 forward), and the HOPE Scholarship program are included in calculating the total Combined Paid hours. Students are eligible for a combined payment for a maximum of 127 semester hours, unless they are enrolled in specific programs that require more than 127 semester hours for graduation. In this case the maximum number of covered hours is the hours required for the specific program for graduation.
Seven Year Expiration of Eligibility date: Click here for more information. A student who has receivedHOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011, may receive the HOPE Scholarship until June 30, 2015, as long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility requirements. A student who has not received HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011, and meets all other eligibility requirements for HOPE Scholarship, may receive the HOPE Scholarship until seven years after his or her high school graduation date, GED test date, Home Study program completion date or date the student stopped pursuing a diploma.
Are GED recipients eligible?
GED students enrolled in a degree-seeking program are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship once they have attempted their FIRST 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of study with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average. The entry points are based on all degree credit attempted and coursework converted to degree credit since the student earned their GED. NOTE: A student who has not received HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011, and meets all other eligibility requirements for HOPE Scholarship, may receive the HOPE Scholarship until seven years after his or her high school graduation date, GED test date, Home Study program completion date or date the student stopped pursuing a diploma.
Can a veteran of the armed services use his/her Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and also receive the Hope Scholarship?
I did some research and found the following on the http://www.spsu.edu website:
If you are eligible for two programs such as Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) and the Post 9/11 Bill (Chapter 33) careful consideration should be made before selecting which benefit you are going to use. If you are eligible for the Hope Scholarship, you will not be able to receive tuition payments from both Ch33 and the Hope Scholarship. Please see a Veterans Counselor in the Financial Aid Office before applying for benefits if you are unsure which benefit is for you.
I hope this helps answer your question
Is there assistance from the HOPE scholarship if the program a student is seeking is not offered through the Georgia University system or any university in Georgia?
The Georgia Hope Scholarship program is for approved private and public colleges and technical schools in the state of Georgia. My best advice to you is to contact the financial aid or admissions person at the college or university that the student desires to attend to confirm eligibility.
If my gpa falls below a 3.0 is there a grace period for the next semester to bring it up
The answer depends on the end of spring semester and total hours you’ve completed. Here is the total answer:
If your cumulative grade point average is below a 3.0 at the end of a Spring term, or after your first three terms of enrollment for less than 12 hours per term, or after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours, you may regain your HOPE Scholarship after attempting 60 semester or 90 quarter hours with a cumulative 3.0. If you do not earn a cumulative 3.0 after attempting 60 semester or 90 quarter hours, you may still regain your HOPE Scholarship after attempting 90 semester or 135 quarter hours with a cumulative 3.0. You cannot regain HOPE eligibility at the end of a Spring term, unless that term is also when you have attempted 60 semester or 90 quarter hours or 90 semester or 135 quarter hours with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Beginning Fall term 2011, a student can lose and regain HOPE Scholarship only one time.
Is the HOPE scholarship open to all ages? I am a senior (over 62) who wants to get a college degree. Does it apply to online degree programs?
can hope be transferred to another school at the beginning (or the first day) of the new semester
Can the hope scholarship funds provided in Georgia be interchanged/transferred/used as hope scholarship funds in Tennessee or South Carolina?
So if I did not receive the HOPE Scholarship, after my High School graduation date, and did not receive it in my first 30 hours of college. Am I then not eligible to ever receive it?
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I moved to GA in 2002, went back to school while working FULL TIME at a LAW OFFICE IN ATL, downsized while still in school, another LAW job, and have worked in the State of GA for over 12 years now. I did not (could not) apply for a HOPE Scholarship because I was taking classes on-line through KAPLAN UNIVERSITY and while I do not regret that decision, as an older worker I now face close to $40,000 worth of student loans (still although paying interest on these as I went and never missing/late on ONE PAYMENT). I made the deans list almost every quarter, President’s List at least twice (I think I dropped below 3.5 on one occasion when I took STATISTICS). I did get my DEGREE (four in three years) and could have gone to law school w/those grades but this was in 2007-2008 when lawyers were looking for paralegal jobs and I’d then have added $100,000 to the debt I would never outlive, so where do I go for help before I retire @ 70? As a contributing member of society in GA, it would behoove this state to recognize my contributions (tax dollars)…
I agree there are programs lacking for people returning to school for retraining, graduate school work or similar situations. I do know that certain degrees may have loan forgiveness after serving in areas for a minimum time period (teaching comes to mind as one that may do this). I commend you on your diligence with improving your education.
Hello,
I am a high school junior and I have lived in Georgia for 14 years. I moved to Georgia from NC 4 years ago. I am moving back to Georgia ,and I was wondering if I would qualify for HOPE. My parents have property in Georgia , but they are going to stay in NC. Do they have to be a Georgia resident to or it just me?
I meant to say I moved from Georgia to NC.
If you pass an AP or CLEP exam, does it count toward the 127-hour cap?
Only hours attempted after high school graduation are counted.
I am 35 years old and I graduated high school in 1999 in Florida but have had Georgia as my residency since 1999. I am about to complete 60 credit hours at SPSU ( now Kennesaw State). I completed my associates degree at Athens Technical Collage in 2012. Most of my credits did not transfer to SPSU. Where dose this put me for qualifying for hope and if i could still qualify do I count the classes I took at Athens Tech that did not transfer towards the 60 or 90 credits?
I believe you have a 7 year window after graduating from a hope qualified Georgia school to use the Hope Scholarship. It appears that you would not qualify, but please confirm with your counselor.
If in one semester I took 17 credit hours, but tuition is the same price as 15 credit hours, would all 17 hours count toward HOPE credits? Or would it just be 15 hours counted because I paid the same price as attempting 15 hours?
All completed hours are counted toward hope scholarship hours.
Hi, if my daughter graduates from a high school in Alabama, where she lives with her mother, and I am a resident of Georgia, would my daughter qualify for the HOPE scholarship? As her father, with her listed as my dependent, I would meet all of the Georgia residence requirements – my job, home, drivers license, voter registration, etc. are all in Georgia. But my wife, daughter, and daughter’s high school are in Alabama. Thanks.
Part of the Hope Scholarship requirements includes graduating from a Hope Eligible Georgia High School; so, I do not think your daughter would be eligible due to this requirement.
I attended an out of state college for my first 30 credits after graduation. I am now applying instate (Georgia). My GPA is above a 3.0 average. Am I still eligible for the HOPE scholarship as a sophomore in a GA college?
According to Hope Scholarship eligibility, you have seven years of Hope Scholarship eligibility after graduating from an eligible high school; however, you should contact the GA college that you are interested in attending for confirmation of eligibility.
if I lose hope in the spring but will be over the 30 semester attempted hours after the summer can I reply for hope after the summer before my fall term?
My parents moved to Indiana while I was going to school in Tennessee. I have an address that I use and kinda live at in Tennessee still but I want to spend the summer with them. If I get a job in Indiana will that inflict with my residency causing me to lose my instate HOPE scholarships??