Navigating the HOPE Scholarship: Requirements and Opportunities

The HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship, a merit-based award established in 1993, provides financial assistance to Georgia residents pursuing higher education. Funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education, this initiative has supported over 2.2 million students, fostering a better-educated workforce and investing in Georgia's economic future. This article breaks down the requirements for obtaining and maintaining the HOPE Scholarship, covering eligibility criteria, academic standards, and other crucial details.

Understanding the HOPE Scholarship Program

The HOPE Scholarship program offers six different aid programs, one of which is the HOPE Scholarship itself. It is a merit-based award available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides tuition assistance to students pursuing an undergraduate degree at a HOPE Scholarship eligible college or university in Georgia.

Initial Eligibility for HOPE Scholarship

To initially qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, students must meet several basic and academic requirements.

Basic Requirements

Residency: Students must be legal residents of Georgia for at least 12 months prior to the start of the school term for which the scholarship is sought, or be considered a Georgia resident for in-state tuition purposes at the time of enrollment.
Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens or eligible non-citizens to receive funding.
Degree-Seeking Program: Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an eligible Georgia postsecondary institution.
Satisfactory Academic Progress: Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by their institution.
No Default: Students must not be in default or owe a refund on any federal or state aid programs.
Selective Service: Male students must be registered for Selective Service, if required.
Drug-Free Education Act: Students must be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.

Academic Requirements

The HOPE Scholarship program requires students to meet academic eligibility requirements in addition to the basic requirements. 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.

Accreditation: The high school or home study program must be accredited by an approved accrediting agency at the time of the student’s graduation or completion.
Test Scores: Earn a qualifying test score on a single national or state/district administration of the ACT or single national administration of the SAT prior to high school graduation or home study / HSE diploma completion.

Retroactive Eligibility

Students who graduated from an ineligible high school or completed an unaccredited home study program but were not initially academically eligible may receive the HOPE Scholarship retroactively, if they earn a 3.0 postsecondary calculated HOPE GPA after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level credit. Sign in to your GAfutures account to access My College HOPE Profile and verify your Checkpoint History prior to requesting retroactive academic evaluation.

Maintaining HOPE Scholarship Eligibility

Once a student receives the HOPE Scholarship, they must maintain certain academic standards to continue receiving funds. HOPE Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.00 HOPE GPA.

GPA Review: HOPE eligibility is reviewed at the end of every Spring semester (unless you are a part-time freshman each semester) and at the end of the semester in which 30, 60, or 90 semester hours have been attempted.
Regaining HOPE: A student who has previously lost the HOPE scholarship may regain it once at 30, 60, or 90 hours.
Attempted Hours Cap: There is an attempted hours “cap” on the length of HOPE scholarship payment (127 attempted hours).

To be checked for eligibility, students must have completed the GSFAPP HOPE application or a current, completed (any verification requirements must be met) FAFSA on file.

STEM Course GPA Boost

Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, the cumulative HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship grade point average (GPA) calculated will include weighted grades for specific science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college courses. The grade for any such course will be increased by an additional 0.5 point if such grade is a B, C, or D.

HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Time Limits

Students who received their first HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship payment in the Summer 2011 or after will have an expiration date assigned to their eligibility. Students who received their first HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship payment between Summer 2011 and Spring 2019 will have seven years of eligibility from the date of their high school graduation. Students who received their first HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship payment in Summer 2019 or later will have ten years of eligibility from the date of their high school graduation.

HOPE Grant

HOPE Grant is available to Georgia residents who are pursuing a certificate or diploma. 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.

Read also: Fact-Checking the Hope Walz Story

Zell Miller Scholarship

Zell Miller Scholarship is a merit-based award available to Georgia residents, similar to the HOPE Scholarship, but with more stringent academic requirements. 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. 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.

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

Zell Miller Grant is a merit-based program available to Georgia residents pursuing a certificate or diploma. A Zell Miller Grant recipient must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible. Eligible students are provided full standard tuition assistance while enrolled at a Zell Miller Grant eligible college or university in Georgia.

HOPE High School Equivalency (HSE) Examination Grant

HOPE High School Equivalency (HSE) Examination Grant was 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

HOPE Career Grant is available to Georgia residents who are receiving the HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant and pursuing an approved certificate or diploma at an eligible college or university in Georgia.

Read also: South Carolina HOPE

How to Apply

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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Award Amounts

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.

HOPE scholarship award amounts vary per eligible institution. Award amounts are determined annually by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).

Residency for HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships

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.

HOPE at KSU

If you are not a HOPE Scholar at the time of high school graduation, you could be eligible to earn the HOPE Scholarship by achieving a 3.0 HOPE GPA at the completion of 30, 60 or 90 attempted hours. Must not have reached your expiration of eligibility date.

Transient Students

Transient students will need to complete the HOPE Transient Request Form.

Factors That Count Towards HOPE GPA and Attempted Hours

Understanding what counts toward your HOPE GPA and attempted hours is essential for maintaining eligibility.

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
Courses you repeat, no matter how many times you attempt them.

Does NOT count in Attempted Hours and GPA

Hours taken while in high school such as AP, Joint Enrollment, IB, and Dual Enrollment
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 never accepted by any postsecondary institution
Hours from which you withdraw
Hours that you drop during the drop/add period
Learning support classes taken after Fall 2011
Credits earned through military service if they were never accepted by any postsecondary institution
Hours that you attempted that were not paid for by HOPE or the Zell Miller Scholarship
Grades earned through tests, examinations, and course challenges
Credits from internships
Credits from Co-Op Programs

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.
UGA grades on a +/- grading scale but the plusses and minuses do not count in your HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship GPA.

Grade Changes and Transfer Credit

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.

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.

West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program

While the primary focus is on Georgia's HOPE Scholarship, it's worth noting that West Virginia also has a Hope Scholarship Program. This program differs significantly, focusing on providing funds for students to attend private schools or pursue alternative educational options.

Eligibility for West Virginia's Hope Scholarship

Public School Enrollment: Generally, students must be enrolled full-time and attending a public elementary or secondary school in West Virginia for at least 45 consecutive calendar days during the current instructional term at the time of application.
Exceptions: There are exceptions to this rule, particularly for students who were previously enrolled in private schools or were homeschooled. These students may become eligible by enrolling full-time in a public school for at least 45 days.
Dual Enrollment: Students in West Virginia can participate in dual enrollment, attending both a public school program and a nonpublic education option simultaneously.

Restrictions and Requirements

Public School Withdrawal: If a child is accepted into the Hope Scholarship Program in West Virginia, they can no longer be enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public school.
Notice of Intent: To participate in the Hope Scholarship Program in West Virginia, you will only need to submit a Notice of Intent to participate in Hope Scholarship to your local county superintendent.
Attendance: During the public enrollment period, students cannot have unexcused absences that exceed the threshold to be considered chronically absent, which is ten percent of the calendar days enrolled in the public school.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Application Period: New applications for the Hope Scholarship Program in West Virginia can be submitted from March 1 to June 15 annually to be eligible for 100% of scholarship funds.

Ineligibility and Appeals

Ineligible Applications: If a child’s application is determined ineligible for the Hope Scholarship Program in West Virginia, an appeal may be submitted directly in the online Hope Scholarship portal within 45 days of being found ineligible for the Program.

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