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.
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 may request 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 may experience changes in their eligibility for HOPE Scholarship..
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.
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 minimum loan amount is $300 and the maximum term loan amount is $1,500. The maximum loan limit per year is $3,000 per and there is a college lifetime maximum of $12,000.
A loan discharge option may be available for Technical College System of Georgia students who graduate with a minimum 3.5 cumulative postsecondary grade point average.
For more information and to apply, go to GAfutures.org.