Navigating the HOPE Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide to the Georgia Application Process
Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) has provided more than $16 billion of financial assistance for educational programs beyond high school from Abbeville in Wilcox County to Zebulon in Pike County. This article provides a detailed overview of the HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Zell Miller Scholarship programs in Georgia, including eligibility requirements, application processes, and important considerations for students and their families.
The Genesis of HOPE
The legislation for this program was scripted in 1992 under the supervision of Governor Zell Miller and launched a year later to provide assistance towards the cost of tuition at eligible Georgia postsecondary institutions to incent and reward Georgia’s high achieving students. Funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education, this unique initiative has helped more than 2.2 million students at eligible state public and private universities and public technical schools to create the “better-educated work force…and invest in (Georgia’s) economic future” as Miller envisioned in his 1992 State of the State Address.
HOPE's Six Pillars: A Breakdown of Aid Programs
HOPE consists of six different aid programs. These include:
- HOPE Scholarship: A merit-based award for Georgia residents demonstrating academic achievement.
- HOPE Grant: Available to Georgia residents pursuing a certificate or diploma.
- Zell Miller Scholarship: A merit-based award similar to HOPE, but with stricter academic requirements.
- Zell Miller Grant: A merit-based program for Georgia residents pursuing a certificate or diploma.
- HOPE High School Equivalency (HSE) Examination Grant: Created beginning with the 2022-2023 Award Year (State Fiscal Year 2023). The grant provides assistance with the fee to seat for a state approved high school equivalency exam.
- HOPE Career Grant: Available to Georgia residents receiving the HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant and pursuing an approved certificate or diploma at an eligible college or university in Georgia.
HOPE Scholarship: Rewarding Academic Excellence
The HOPE Scholarship Program is for students that have demonstrated academic achievement and that are seeking a college degree. A HOPE Scholarship recipient must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.00 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC) and maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible. The scholarship provides tuition assistance to students pursuing an undergraduate degree at a HOPE Scholarship eligible college or university in Georgia. There are several ways to become eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, either by graduating from high school as a HOPE Scholar or by earning it while in college.
Time Limits
A ten-year limit exists for students first receiving the HOPE Scholarship during summer term 2019 (FY20) or later. A seven-year limit exists for students first receiving the HOPE Scholarship during the 2011-2012 academic year (FY12) or later.
Read also: Funding Your Education: College Scholarships
HOPE Grant: Supporting Technical Education
The HOPE Grant Program is for students seeking a technical certification or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade point average or graduation date. A HOPE Grant recipient must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible. The grant provides tuition assistance to students enrolled at a HOPE Grant eligible college or university in Georgia.
Zell Miller Scholarship: Recognizing Exceptional Students
The Zell Miller Scholarship Program is for students who have demonstrated academic achievement and that are seeking a college degree. A Zell Miller Scholarship recipient must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.70 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC), combined with a minimum SAT score of 1200 on the math and reading portions or a minimum composite ACT score of 25 in a single national test administration, and maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible. Generally, to become eligible, a student must graduate from an eligible high school with a 3.70 GPA and a minimum score on the SAT/ACT. Eligible students are provided a higher level of tuition assistance while pursuing an undergraduate degree at a Zell Miller Scholarship eligible college or university in Georgia.
Time Limits
A ten-year limit exists for students first receiving the Zell Miller Scholarship during summer term 2019 (FY20) or later. A seven-year limit exists for students first receiving the Zell Miller Scholarship during the 2011-2012 academic year (FY12) or later.
Zell Miller Grant: Investing in Technical Skills
The Zell Miller Grant Program is for students seeking a technical certificate or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade point average or graduation date. A Zell Miller Grant recipient must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible. To be eligible for the Zell Miller Grant, a student must earn and maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative postsecondary GPA. Eligible students are provided full standard tuition assistance while enrolled at a Zell Miller Grant eligible college or university in Georgia.
Understanding Eligibility: Key Requirements
Several basic requirements must be met to be eligible for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships:
Read also: Requirements and Implications of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act
- You must be a resident of Georgia.
- You must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen to receive funding.
- You must be in a degree seeking program.
- You must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- You must not be in default or owe repayment on any federal or state aid.
- Male students must be registered for Selective Service if required.
- You must be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.
- Once you earn your first Bachelor’s degree you are no longer eligible for the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships.
Initial eligibility for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships is determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
Residency Requirements: Establishing Georgia Domicile
To meet residency requirements for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships, you must be a resident of Georgia at the time of high school graduation. Students who are not Georgia residents when they graduate high school will not meet residency requirements for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships until 24 months after they establish domicile in Georgia. If that date falls after the start of a semester, the student will not meet residency requirements for the scholarships until the following semester.
Example: Frank graduated from a high school in Texas. His father’s company transferred him to Georgia so the entire family moves to Georgia and establishes domicile on September 2, 2020. Frank is granted in-state residency for tuition purposes by UGA, but he will not meet residency requirements for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships until September 2, 2022 which is 24 months after the date he established domicile. Since that date is after the start of Fall semester, we would not be able to determine his eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship until the following semester, Spring 2023.
Maintaining Eligibility: GPA and Attempted Hours
HOPE Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.00 HOPE GPA. Zell Miller Scholarship Recipients must maintain a 3.30 Zell Miller Scholarship GPA. If you are otherwise eligible, you can continue to receive the scholarship through 127 HOPE Attempted or Paid hours, whichever comes first.
OSFA checks a student’s HOPE GPA at 30, 60, and 90 attempted hours, as well as every Spring semester. While you can lose HOPE at the Spring semester checkpoint, you can only regain eligibility at the 30, 60, and 90 attempted hours benchmarks. A HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship recipient who has lost their Scholarship eligibility at two checkpoints cannot regain eligibility.
Read also: Unlock Junior Scholarships
What Counts Towards Attempted Hours and GPA?
It's crucial to understand what counts and doesn't count toward your HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship attempted hours and GPA:
Counts in Attempted Hours and GPA
- All hours attempted after high school graduation while in a degree program at a postsecondary institution, including hours taken at out-of-state and foreign schools
- Hours taken at prior institutions, even if UGA does not accept the credit and even if HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship did not pay for the courses
- Continuing education courses
- Courses taken while enrolled in a certificate program if they were ever accepted by any postsecondary institution
- Hours from which you withdraw
- Courses you repeat, no matter how many times you attempt them.
- Credits earned through military service if they were ever accepted by any postsecondary institution
- Hours that you attempted that were not paid for by HOPE or the Zell Miller Scholarship
Does NOT count in Attempted Hours and GPA
- Hours taken while in high school such as AP, Joint Enrollment, IB, and Dual Enrollment
- Courses taken while enrolled in a certificate program if they were never accepted by any postsecondary institution
- Learning support classes taken after Fall 2011
- Credits earned through military service if they were never accepted by any postsecondary institution
- Grades earned through tests, examinations, and course challenges
- Credits from internships
- Credits from Co-Op Programs
- Hours that you drop during the drop/add period
Important Reminders About Your HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship GPA
- You can view your current HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship eligible GPA on www.gafutures.org.
- Your HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship GPA may be different than your UGA GPA.
- Login to www.gafutures.org and click “My College HOPE Profile” on the left side menu for a one-page portal where you can see your college GPA for the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship, view how many hours you have used, check your expiration date for the scholarship program and more.
- We encourage you to check this site often to ensure that your information is correct and that you are aware of your HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship GPA to maintain eligibility.
- UGA grades on a +/- grading scale but the plusses and minuses do not count in your HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship GPA.
- Effective Fall 2017, when calculating the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship postsecondary GPA, an additional weight of 0.5 will be added to grades of B, C, and D for approved degree level science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses taken at an eligible postsecondary institution Fall 2017 or later.
Applying for HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships: A Step-by-Step Guide
You can apply for HOPE and the Zell Miller Scholarship in two ways:
- Complete the Georgia Scholarship/Grant Application (GSFAPP) at www.gafutures.org.
- Complete the FAFSA OR the GSFAPPS (i.e.
GSFC uses the College HOPE Eligibility Calculation System (CHECS). CHECS has been developed to centralize the review and approval process of determining eligibility for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Programs. Access to GAFutures requires the student to have a GAFutures account.
Understanding Award Amounts and Enrollment
The initial HOPE Scholarship award amount assumes the maximum amount for which you are eligible each semester. The HOPE award amount will be reduced if you enroll in fewer than 15 hours. HOPE award amounts cannot be increased if you enroll in more than 15 hours. The HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship award amounts cannot exceed your total tuition charges for the semester.
UGA charges a flat rate tuition to undergraduate students. This means that regardless of the number of hours you take each semester, you are charged the same amount if you are enrolled in 1-6 hours and the same amount if you are enrolled in 7 hours or more. That amount does not change if you add or drop courses unless you cross the 6-7 hour threshold. However, because the HOPE Scholarship pays per credit hour, the amount of HOPE you can receive does change if you change your schedule. While going through drop/add, if you drop classes you may owe money for tuition after your HOPE amount is changed.
Example: Malik is awarded the HOPE Scholarship. He is enrolled in 14 hours and is assessed $5,017 in tuition. HOPE Scholarship pays the 14 hour rate of $4,682.58, leaving him with a balance of $334.42 which he pays by the tuition and fee deadline. During the drop/add period, he drops a class and is now enrolled in 12 hours. His flat rate tuition charge remains at $5,017 but he is now only eligible for $4,013.64 which is the 12 hour amount of the HOPE Scholarship. He will now be assessed the additional $668.89 to cover the amount of tuition that is not being covered by HOPE.
Navigating Grade Changes and Transfer Credits
The UGA Office of Student Financial Aid will award your HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship based on the information on file at the time of awarding. If OSFA receives additional information such as new transcripts from other schools or grade changes at UGA that change your eligibility at any time you will be required to repay any HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship funds you were awarded that you are no longer eligible for.
It is your responsibility to ensure UGA has all of your transcripts in a timely manner.
Example: Lacy attends UGA for two years and has the following attempted hours and GPA:
Fall 2023 15 hours attempted 3.00 HOPE GPA
Spring 2024 12 hours attempted 3.00 HOPE GPA
Fall 2024 15 hours attempted 3.00 HOPE GPA * 30 hour benchmark
Spring 2025 13 hours attempted 3.00 HOPE GPA
Lacy forgets to send her Summer 2024 transcripts from another school to UGA and she finally does so after Spring 2025. OSFA is required to recalculate her GPA and adjust her HOPE award to what it should have been if her transcripts were received in a timely manner
Fall 2023 15 hours attempted 3.00 HOPE GPA
Spring 2024 12 hours attempted 3.00 HOPE GPA
Summer 2024 4 hours attempted 2.97 HOPE GPA * 30 hour benchmark
Fall 2024 15 hours attempted 2.97 HOPE GPA
Spring 2025 13 hours attempted 2.97 HOPE GPA
Because of the additional transcripts received, Lacy’s 30 hour benchmark moved and she no longer has the required 3.00 HOPE Scholarship GPA. She must now repay the HOPE Scholarship funds she received for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 because she is not eligible.
STEM Courses and the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
Effective Fall 2017, when calculating the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship postsecondary GPA, an additional weight of 0.5 will be added to grades of B, C, and D for approved degree level science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses taken at an eligible postsecondary institution Fall 2017 or later. Please visit STEM Courses and the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships for more information and for a link to the list of courses approved to receive the additional weight.
Second Degrees, Double Majors, and Dual Degrees - Double Dawgs
Eligibility for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships ends once the student meets the requirements to graduate from the first undergraduate degree program. More information on Second Degrees, Double Majors, and Dual Degrees - Double Dawgs can be found here.
Expiration Date for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
Eligibility for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships expires 10 years after the student’s high school graduation date for students who receive their first disbursement of the scholarship Summer semester 2019 or later.
Eligibility for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships expires 7 years after the student’s high school graduation date for students who received their first disbursement of the scholarship Summer semester 2011 through Spring semester 2019.
Eligibility for students who received their first disbursement of the HOPE Scholarship Spring semester 2011 or earlier does not expire.
Additional Considerations
- Students may receive HOPE or Zell Miller, but NOT both at the same time.
- Students will be checked at the end of every spring term, even if they were not enrolled in classes that term.
- Annual Priority Deadline: Jan.
- If your final award notice from our office did not include the HOPE scholarship and you believe you should qualify, appeal directly to GSFC.
- If your final award notice from our office did not include the Zell Miller scholarship and you believe you should qualify, appeal directly to GSFC.
- Please submit a copy of your final transcript and ACT or SAT scores to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for evaluation. Upon approval by GSFC, the student should submit the approval letter to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA).
- If the institution grants a Military Personnel Out-Of-State tuition waiver for a First-Tier student and that student has graduated from an eligible High School as a HOPE/Zell Miller Scholar, then the student meets the Georgia Residency requirements as a First-Tier student.
- A student may be eligible for the HOPE/ Zell Miller Scholarship if he/she is permanent resident alien prior to the first day of the term he/she is seeking the HOPE/Zell Miller scholarship.
- The HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship will pay for your online courses if you are meeting the general requirements to receive the award.
- You MUST be determined a Final HOPE or Zell Miller Scholar by the State (Georgia Student Finance Commission) based on your high school transcripts.
- If you are requesting the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship at GHC, you need to complete the HOPE Review Form and submit electronically to the GHC Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- All final, official transcripts must be received by the GHC Office of Admissions and evaluated by the GHC Registrar’s Office.
- If you take one or more semesters off from GHC, you need to complete the HOPE Review Form and submit electronically to the GHC Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. This is because the GHC Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will need to determine whether or not you took classes at any other colleges in your absence from GHC.
- All qualifying college credit hours must be counted in the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship calculation.
- Any Home Schooled student seeking HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship funds must complete at least 30 attempted semester hours first.
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