Eligibility: High School Graduates, Renewing College Students, New College Students
- Students must meet one of the following academic requirements:
- Graduate from a HOPE eligible high school or home study program with a 3.0 grade point average.
- 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.
- New Hope participation for students already in college. Earn a 3.0 GPA 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. This applies for students currently on the program or students that were not initially eligible for HOPE.
- Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at an eligible institution.
- Meet HOPE’s Georgia, U.S. Citizen, or eligible non-citizen requirements: Georgia residency requirements.
- Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements (male students 18-25 years of age must be registered withing 30 days of 18th birthday. You can register at any US Post Office).
- 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.
- Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college.
Award Amounts Public Institutions
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. View award amounts here.
Award Amounts 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 based on Total College Hours completed and Time from High School Graduation
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) 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. The expiration of eligibility date will be June 30th of the seventh academic year following the student’s date of high school graduation, home study completion, or successful GED test. Note: those on active duty military in this time period may request an extension.
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.
- If you are not applying for FAFSA, you can apply for HOPE through electronic application at GAcollege411.
- If you would rather use a printable paper application, find it 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, you should submit 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. This is particularly important to avoid late fees and penalties from your college/university.
Where to Go for Help
If you need help filling out an application or have other questions relating to the HOPE Scholarship, contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, talk with your high school counselor, or contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).
You can contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) by:
E-mail:
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.
