Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Logo Title

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, HOPE CAREER GRANT & ZELL MILLER

HOPE Scholarship

To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must:

  1. Meet one of the following academic requirements:
    • Graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC). Details
    • Receive a high school diploma through petition of the local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, from a HOPE-eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC).  Details 
    • Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete a home study program in Georgia, or earn a GED and score in the national composite 75th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT prior to completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework. Details
    • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete a home study program in Georgia and then earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework for retroactive HOPE Scholarship payment. Details
    • Earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours after high school graduation, home study completion, or receipt of GED. Details
  2. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a public or private HOPE-eligible college or university in Georgia.
  3. Meet academic rigor requirements. Beginning with students graduating from an eligible high school on or after May 1, 2015, students must complete a specific number of academically rigorous courses, as identified on the Academic Rigor Course List, in addition to meeting the GPA requirements.  This does not include students who received a high school diploma through petition of his or her local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, nor does it apply to students graduating from home study programs. 

Zell Miller Scholarship

To receive Zell Miller Scholarship funding, students must meet all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements and Meet one of the following academic requirements:

  • Graduate from an eligible high school or accredited high school program as the valedictorian or the salutatorian and meet all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements. Details
  • Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.7 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC) combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration and meet all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements. Details
  • Receive a high school diploma through petition of the local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, from a Zell Miller eligible high school with a minimum 3.70 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC), combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration. Details
  • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an unaccredited home study program and score in the national composite 93rd percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT prior to completion of high school or home study. Details.
  • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an unaccredited home study program with a minimum composite score on the ACT or SAT and then earn a minimum 3.3 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework. This option allows retroactive payment for the first 30 semester or 45 quarter hours after they are completed. Details
  • Enroll in an eligible post-secondary institution between 2007 and 2011 as a freshman, meeting one of the academic qualifications listed above and earn a 3.3 cumulative postsecondary grade point average at the most recent Zell Miller Scholarship checkpoint. Details

2. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a Zell Miller eligible college or university in Georgia.

3. Meet academic rigor requirements, Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015, students must complete a specific number of academically rigorous courses, as identified on the Academic Rigor Course List, in addition to meeting the GPA requirements.  This does not include students who received a high school diploma through petition of his or her local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, nor does it apply to students graduating from home study programs. 

HOPE Grant

Georgia's HOPE Grant (a separate program from the HOPE Scholarship) is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma (continuing education programs are not eligible) at an eligible college or university in Georgia.

Full-time enrollment is not required and students are not required to graduate from high school with a specific GPA, however, they are required to have a postsecondary cumulative 2.0 GPA, at certain checkpoints, in order to maintain eligibility.

A student that received a high school diploma (through an approved Alternative Graduation Option) by earning a technical college diploma or two technical college certificates, in one career pathway identified by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), may be eligible for the HOPE Grant, up to 30 degree hours. The student must be enrolled in an associate degree program at a TCSG institution in order to receive the HOPE Grant. After payment for 30 semester hours, the student is no longer eligible for HOPE Grant while enrolled in a degree level program. The student must then meet the HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements at the 30 semester hour checkpoint.

 

Zell Miller Grant

Georgia's Zell Miller Grant is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma at a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or University System of Georgia (USG) institution.

Full-time enrollment is not required and students are not required to graduate from high school with a specific GPA, however, a minimum 3.5 cumulative postsecondary GPA, at the end of each term, is required in order to maintain eligibility. The first term of enrollment will be paid retroactively if the student has the required 3.5 cumulative postsecondary GPA at the end of the term.