Types of Financial Aid Available
State Grant & Scholarship Programs
HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) is a program for Georgia residents that provide financial assistance in degree, diploma, or certificate programs at any eligible Georgia post-secondary college. The Financial Aid Office will administer the HOPE programs in accordance with Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) regulations. GSFC regulations and guidance will supersede any local policy.
HOPE Residency Requirements
Students who were legal residents of Georgia at the time of graduation from high school or a home study program must meet the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) residency requirements for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term.
Students who were not legal residents of Georgia at the time of graduation from high school or a home study program must meet the TCSG residency requirements for at least 24 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federally funded program. WIOA funds are available for dislocated workers and low income individuals. The funds are to be utilized to assist disadvantaged citizens in obtaining sustainable employment. Click here for more information about WIOA funds: westgatech.edu/student-life/career-services/WIOA/
Bachelor’s Degree Recipients
Students who have received a Bachelor’s Degree, its equivalent or higher, from any institution are ineligible for the HOPE Grant, HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Career Grant, and the Zell Miller Scholarship.
HOPE Grant (Diploma and Certificate Programs)
Beginning Fall 2013, students enrolled in a diploma or certificate program must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of the terms in which they have attended 30 and 60 semester credit hours for which they received HOPE Grant funds. Students must submit official transcripts from all institutions at which they received HOPE Grant funds. Failure to provide all official transcripts will result in the loss of eligibility.
HOPE Scholarship (Degree Programs)
Students enrolled in a degree program must have earned a cumulative HOPE GPA of 3.0 at the end of the terms in which they attempt 30, 60, and 90 attempted HOPE hours and at the end of each Spring term. First tier recipients who are enrolled for less than 12 hours for each of their first three terms must have a cumulative HOPE GPA of 3.0 at the end of their third term. Students who lose eligibility at a checkpoint may regain the HOPE Scholarship if their cumulative HOPE GPA is 3.0 at a subsequent checkpoint. Students may only regain eligibility once. No appeals are permitted for the HOPE Scholarship GPA requirements. Students are responsible for requesting a HOPE Scholarship Evaluation to determine eligibility. Students must submit official copies of transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. Students making changes to their program of study should request a new HOPE Scholarship Evaluation.
HOPE Career Grant (Diploma and Certificate Programs)
Students who are receiving the HOPE Grant may also be eligible for additional financial assistance from Georgia’s HOPE Career Grant. In order to qualify, the student must be fully admitted to the college, enrolled in one of the eligible programs and be receiving the HOPE Grant for the same term.
For a list of the applicable programs, please visit: HOPE Career Grant
Zell Miller Scholarship
GSFC will identify students who are eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship. To remain eligible, recipients must have a 3.3 cumulative HOPE GPA at each of the HOPE Scholarship checkpoints above.
HOPE GED Voucher
The HOPE GED Voucher is a one-time $500 award given to Georgia residents who earn a General Education Development (GED) diploma awarded by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). This award can be used toward tuition, books and other educational costs at any eligible Post-secondary college in Georgia. Any funds not used for books or supplies will be refunded to the student during the semester. The HOPE GED Voucher recipient must have a HOPE application or FAFSA on file to be eligible. HOPE GED Voucher recipients are eligible for the HOPE Grant during the same term. The voucher must be used within 24 months of its issuance.
HERO Scholarship
The HERO Scholarship (Helping Educate Reservist and their Offspring Scholarship) is a non-need based scholarship that provides educational scholarship assistance to members of the Georgia national Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones and the children and the spouses of such members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves. Students must be HOPE eligible and have served 181 consecutive days in a combat zone after February 1, 2003. Children of USMR or GNG must be under 25 years of age to qualify. The award may be used for any educational expense. An award of $2,000 yearly for a maximum of $8,000 is available to full time students and prorated for school terms for less than 12 hours. A military form DD214 or other documents certifying eligibility along with the HERO Application is to be submitted to the Financial aid Office.
Public Safety Memorial Grant
The Public Safety Memorial Grant program provides grant funds to the dependent children of Georgia Public Safety Officers who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. Funds may be used towards the cost of attendance at eligible colleges, universities, or technical colleges in Georgia. Recipients receive an award that covers their total cost of attendance, minus any other student financial aid, at an eligible postsecondary institution in Georgia, not to exceed $18,000 per award year. Recipients are eligible to receive payment for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study.
The Student Access Loan (SAL) Program
Georgia Student Finance Authority (GSFA) offers the Student Access Loan Program (SAL) for eligible students attending an eligible Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), University System of Georgia (USG), or Private postsecondary institution in Georgia. The SAL is a 1 % fixed rate loan, designed to assist undergraduate and technical college students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs.
The Student Access Loan Eligibility Requirements:
In order to receive the SAL, students must:
- Be considered a Georgia resident and United States citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Complete a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply for this program.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the SAP policy at their college or university.
- Must be enrolled in an eligible Georgia postsecondary institution.
- Previous SAL borrowers must be current on their monthly KIT payments.
- Meet all eligibility requirements.
Students Attending TCSG Postsecondary Institution
- Applicants must have first applied for and exhausted other student financial aid options including federal, state and private scholarship and grant programs and Veterans Education Benefits.
- Interest rate structure for loans received on or after July 1, 2014:
- Fixed rate of 1% while in school and out of school as long as the loan remains in good standing.
- A monthly Keep In Touch (KIT) Payment of $10 is required approximately 60 days after the first disbursement is received.
- The monthly KIT Payment is required while in school and while in grace period.
- Repayment is a maximum of fifteen (15) years with a minimum payment of $50 for loans received on or after July 1, 2015.
- The minimum loan amount is $300.
- The maximum term loan amount is $1,500.
- The maximum loan limit is $3,000 per year and up to a maximum of $12,000 over a college lifetime.
- Origination Fee - A non-refundable fee of 5%of the loan amount, but not more than $50, is deducted from the first disbursement of the loan.
- The program is also designed to provide a loan discharge option to those TCSG students who graduate with a minimum 3.5 cumulative Grade Point Average in the program of study for which the loan was received.
Application Procedure for the Student Access Loan
Applicants who are selected for funding have 14 calendar days once approved by the postsecondary institution to complete the required promissory note, disclosures and self-certification.
- The first selection of applications will be current HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship recipients and prior year SAL borrowers in good standing. The following selection of applications are processed first come, first served and are based on available funds.
- Selection does not guarantee approval and applicants may or may not be selected each application year.
- SAL is an annual process which includes application, selection, certification, approval, and disbursement.
- If you apply for this loan, you understand that this is a private education loan that must be repaid and cannot be combined or consolidated with federal loans.
- Borrow smart! When applying for a loan, request only the amount of funds needed for your educational costs and that you can repay.
- Your eligible postsecondary institution may decline the loan or certify for a reduced amount based on financial aid status.
- All documentation must be completed with WGTC before a disbursement can be received. That includes the Master Promissory Note and Applicant Self-Certification.
- Loan disbursements are sent directly to the student's chosen eligible postsecondary institution and are not transferable.
For more information and to apply, go to GAfutures.org.