1. Georgia’s Financial Aid Programs
Benjamin Meadows
Outreach

2. Agenda Introducing GAfutures.org HOPE Program Overview
HOPE Scholarship
Zell Miller Scholarship
HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant
Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant
Dual Credit Enrollment: Move On When Ready
Student Access Loan Program
Other State Programs
Today I will be providing information on the different programs that are a part of HOPE, the Student Access Loan Program and some other state financial aid programs that are available and administered by GSFC.

3. GAfutures.org

4. GAfutures.org
Georgia’s premiere resource to help students plan, apply and find affordable ways to pay for college
GAfutures supports GSFC’s mission to increase access to education beyond high school for Georgia students

5. GAfutures.org Financial Aid Information College Planning Tools
The basics, state and federal programs, calculators, repayment options, financial literacy tips, national scholarship search
College Planning Tools
Timeline, test prep, calculators, applications (admissions, financial aid), HOPE-eligible institutions highlighted, national college search
Career Exploration
Career assessments, interest profiler, Career Clusters and Pathways, skilled trades
My GAfutures for Students
Request high school transcripts, check HOPE GPA

6. HOPE & State Aid Programs
All of the programs GSFC administers are highlighted under the HOPE & State Aid Programs tab.
You can find all of our applications, explore eligibility requirements, view award amounts, locate participating institutions and find other program-specific information in this section.

7. GSFAPPS
The GSFAPPS is a Georgia-specific financial application that students will need to complete if you choose not to complete the FAFSA but are eligible for state aid, like HOPE. And again, you can find this under HOPE & State Aid Programs, Applications.

8. HOPE Program
Overview

9. HOPE Overview
HOPE - Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally - is Georgia's unique scholarship and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma and certificate programs at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities and public technical colleges.
HOPE Program
HOPE Scholarship
Zell Miller Scholarship
HOPE Grant
Zell Miller Grant
HOPE GED Grant
Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG)
HOPE stands for Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally.
Since it’s inception more than 20 years ago, Georgia’s HOPE program has become a national model for merit-based student financial aid.
HOPE consists of five different aid programs:
the HOPE Scholarship
the Zell Miller Scholarship
the HOPE Grant
the Zell Miller Grant
and the HOPE GED Grant
The Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG) can provide additional aid to recipients of the HOPE Grant and the Zell Miller Grant.

10. September 1993 through July 2015
Giving HOPE
September 1993 through July 2015
Students
Amount Awarded
University System
747,558
$6,034,004,050
Technical Colleges
907,377
$1,886,774,703
Private Colleges and Universities
180,642
$874,996,372
Totals
*1,840,414
$8,802,346,689
* Students who transfer to another eligible institution are duplicated in this count.
The HOPE Program has been extremely successful in helping students pay for their postsecondary education for 23 years.
More than $8 billion have been awarded to almost 2 million students all over Georgia.

11. The HOPE Program Basic Eligibility
U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Georgia resident
Graduate from a HOPE eligible high school
Graduate from an accredited HOPE eligible high school program
Complete an unaccredited home study program
Attending a University System of Georgia (USG) or Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) postsecondary institution
Attending an eligible private non-profit postsecondary institution or an eligible private proprietary (for-profit) institution
These are the basic eligibility requirements for all of the HOPE Program’s scholarships and grants.
Shortly, we will go over the differences between eligible high school, accredited high school program and home study program.
Of course a student has to attend an eligible postsecondary institution located within the state of Georgia.
State of Georgia scholarships cannot be awarded at postsecondary institutions outside of Georgia for any reason, i.e. program of study not offered in Georgia.

12. HOPE Program
HOPE Scholarship

13. HOPE Scholarship Accredited High School Program Eligibility
3.0 HOPE GPA
Core curriculum courses
GSFC must receive an official high school transcript
Including graduation date
Electronic or paper based on school
status
The HOPE GPA is a calculation of CORE curriculum courses.
Must have a minimum of 15 core courses before GPA calculation will continue.
GSFC calculates all core courses, taken while enrolled in the 9th- 12th grade, to determine a student’s HOPE GPA. GSFC must receive an official high school transcript which includes the student’s graduation date. The transcript can be electronic or paper based on the status of the school. Electronic submission means the high school or accredited high school program has access to GSFC systems.

14. HOPE Scholarship Rigor Requirements
Starting with the class of 2017, students are now required to receive credit for at least four courses deemed academically rigorous (rigor requirements) to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship.
GSFC will provide a list of eligible courses each year to the high schools as soon as they are received from Georgia DOE.
Students must take and pass the designated number of rigor credits at some point before graduating from high school.

15. HOPE Scholarship Rigor Requirements Advanced math Advanced science
Advanced Placement (AP) courses in core subjects
International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in core subjects
Dual credit courses in core subjects taken during Dual Credit Enrollment
Core courses taken at eligible postsecondary institutions
Foreign language
Rigor classes include:
Advanced Math
Advanced Algebra
Trigonometry
Math III
Advanced Science
Chemistry
Physics
Biology III
A list of approved courses are available on GAfutures

16. Unaccredited Home Study Eligibility
HOPE Scholarship
Unaccredited Home Study Eligibility
Receive scholarship award immediately
Score in the National Composite 75th percentile (1160) or higher on the SAT or ACT
Prior to the completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours
Submit HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Eligibility Evaluation Request form
Official home study transcript
Showing completion date, signed and dated
Official postsecondary transcript(s)
Official SAT or ACT test score report
Receive a retro award after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours
Earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary GPA after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours
Excludes degree hours completed prior to home study completion
75th percentile breakdown:
Test taken prior to March 1, 2016
1720 on the SAT
Test taken on or after March 1, 2016
1160 on the SAT
ACT score 24

17. HOPE Scholarship Award Amounts Georgia public institutions
Portion of standard tuition
Award amount chart available on GAfutures.org
Georgia private institutions
Full-time student
$1,968 per semester (summer, fall, spring)
$1,313 per quarter (summer, fall, winter, spring)
Half-time student
$984 per semester (summer, fall, spring)
$657 per quarter (summer, fall, winter, spring)
Award amounts for public institutions is a portion of the current year’s standard tuition, up to 15 credit hours.
Award amounts for private institutions depend on enrollment status and whether a school is on a semester or quarter system.

18. Award Amount Example
Here is an example of how the HOPE award amount looks for Georgia Southern University using the Award Amounts search tool on GAfutures.
The number of hours taken, determines the HOPE Award Amount.
A number of factors actually go into calculating the HOPE Award Amount.
First is the Factor Rate.
The Factor Rate is determined annually by GSFC against which the previous year’s HOPE Award Rate amount is multiplied.
Then there is the HOPE Award Rate.
This rate is equal to the previous year’s HOPE Award Amount multiplied by the Factor Rate.
Then, finally, there is the HOPE Award Amount which you see here.
The HOPE Award Rate is multiplied by the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of 15 hours.

19. HOPE Scholarship Maintaining HOPE Scholarship at the Postsecondary
3.0 GPA at checkpoints
Checkpoints
End of every spring semester/quarter
30/45 attempted semester/quarter hours
60/90 attempted semester/quarter hours
90/135 attempted semester/quarter hours
Students can only regain the HOPE Scholarship ONCE
Cannot regain eligibility at an end of spring checkpoint
Students will lose their HOPE Scholarship if they do not have a 3.0 GPA at any of the following checkpoints:
End of every spring semester
30 attempted semester hours
60 attempted semester hours
90 attempted semester hours
Students can regain HOPE if they have a 3.0 GPA at the following checkpoints:
To help explain, here are two scenarios:
The first scenario:
You meet the eligibility requirements for HOPE in high school and will be receiving HOPE to help pay for college.
At the end of your first spring semester, which is the first checkpoint, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 3.0.
You maintain your HOPE Scholarship.
At the next checkpoint, either 30 attempted hours or the following spring, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 3.0.
As long as you maintain that 3.0 at each and every checkpoint, you will maintain your HOPE Scholarship.
The second scenario is a little more involved.
At the end of your first spring semester, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 2.9 or below.
You have lost your HOPE funds for the first time.
Generally, things can go one of two ways:
At the next checkpoint, either 30 attempted hours or the following spring, your GPA is reviewed and you still have 2.9 or below.
You have not regained HOPE.
Your GPA will continue to be reviewed at each of the checkpoints.
Should you raise your GPA to 3.0 or higher, you will regain HOPE. OR
At the next checkpoint, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 3.0.
You have regained HOPE.
Your GPA is reviewed at the next checkpoint, 60 hours and the following spring, your GPA is 2.9 or below.
You have lost HOPE for the second time.
You are no longer eligible to regain HOPE.
Please keep in mind there are other scenarios that may cause you to lose or regain your funding. These are meant to give you an idea of how the checkpoints and eligibility work.

20. Zell Miller Scholarship
HOPE Program
Zell Miller Scholarship

21. Zell Miller Scholarship
Accredited High School Program Eligibility
Rigor Requirements and one of the following:
Designated valedictorian or salutatorian
3.7 high school GPA as calculated by GSFC in core curriculum courses
AND
1200 SAT combined score (Critical Reading and Math) OR
26 ACT composite score
An Eligible High School, Accredited High School Program and Home Study Programs apply to the Zell Miller Scholarship as
All eligibility requirements for the Zell Miller Scholarship must be met at the time of graduation.
The HOPE GPA also determines eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship.
In addition to the basic HOPE Scholarship eligibility and Rigor Requirements, there are two other ways a student can be eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship:
Chosen valedictorian or salutatorian. Only ONE valedictorian and one salutatorian per school. Val's and Sal’s must meet the basic qualifications for the HOPE Scholarship which includes your core courses and a 3.0 GPA OR
Have a 3.7 HOPE GPA AND
Receive a 1200 combined score in Critical Reading & Math in one SAT seating OR a 26 ACT composite score

22. Zell Miller Scholarship
Unaccredited Home Study Eligibility
Receive scholarship award immediately
Score in the National Composite 93rd percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT; 1340 and 29 respectively
Prior to the completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours
Submit HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Eligibility Evaluation Request form
Official home study transcript
Show completion date, signed and dated
Official postsecondary transcript(s)
Official SAT or ACT test score report
Receive a retro award after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours
Score 1200 on the reading and math portion of the SAT or a composite score of 26 on the ACT AND
Earn a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA
Excludes degree hours completed prior to home study completion
93rd percentile scores
1340 SAT
29 ACT
Students who qualify for HOPE Scholarship based on 75th percentile may potentially switch to Zell Miller Scholarship if, prior to Home Study completion,
the student received the required SAT or ACT test scores AND earns a minimum 3.3 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college-degree-level coursework
Note: The test score requirements, for the Zell Miller Scholarship, must be met at the time of high school graduation, accredited high school program or home study completion. A student who is not academically eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship at that time, cannot gain eligibility later, regardless of his or her postsecondary cumulative GPA.

23. Zell Miller Scholarship
Award Amounts
Georgia public institutions
Standard undergraduate tuition for current academic year
Georgia private institutions
Full-time student
$2,174 per semester (summer, fall, spring)
$1,450 per quarter (fall, winter, spring, summer)
Half-time student
$1,087 per semester (summer, fall, spring)
$726 per quarter (fall, winter, spring, summer)
Award amounts for public institutions is the current year’s standard tuition, up to 15 credit hours.
As with the HOPE Scholarship, award amounts for private institutions depend on enrollment status and whether a school is on a semester or quarter system.
You can use the same award amounts search tool on GAfutures for the Zell Miller Scholarship.

24. Zell Miller Scholarship
Maintaining Zell Miller Scholarship at the Postsecondary
3.3 GPA at checkpoints
Checkpoints
End of every spring semester/quarter
30/45 attempted semester/quarter hours
60/90 attempted semester/quarter hours
90/135 attempted semester/quarter hours
Students can only regain Zell Miller Scholarship ONCE
Cannot regain eligibility at an end of spring checkpoint
May still be eligible for HOPE Scholarship
3.0 GPA but less than 3.3 at a checkpoint
Students will lose Zell Miller if they do not have a 3.3 GPA at any of the following checkpoints
End of every spring semester
30 attempted semester hours
60 attempted semester hours
90 attempted semester hours
Students can regain Zell Miller if they have a 3.3 GPA at the following checkpoints
The same logic behind losing and regaining the HOPE Scholarship applies to the Zell Miller Scholarship.
So, we can refer back to the scenarios outlined for HOPE for Zell:
The first scenario:
You meet the eligibility requirements for the Zell Miller Scholarship in high school and will be receiving Zell to help pay for college.
At the end of your first spring semester, which is the first checkpoint, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 3.3.
You maintain your Zell Miller Scholarship.
At the next checkpoint, either 30 attempted hours or the following spring, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 3.3.
As long as you maintain that 3.3 at each and every checkpoint, you will maintain your Zell Miller Scholarship.
The second scenario again is a little more involved.
At the end of your first spring semester, your GPA is reviewed and you have below a 3.3.
You have lost your Zell funds for the first time.
Generally, things can go one of two ways:
At the next checkpoint, either 30/60/90 attempted hours, your GPA is reviewed and you still have below a 3.3.
You have not regained Zell.
Your GPA will continue to be reviewed at each of the checkpoints.
Should you raise your GPA back to 3.3 or above, you will regain Zell. OR
At the next checkpoint, your GPA is reviewed and you have a 3.3.
You have regained Zell.
Your GPA is reviewed at the next checkpoint, 60 hours and the following spring, your GPA is below a 3.3.
You have lost Zell for the second time.
You are no longer eligible to regain Zell.
And, as with HOPE, there are other scenarios that may cause you to lose or regain your funding.
Now the good news is that you may have lost Zell but if you meet the basic eligibility requirements for the HOPE Scholarship, you can receive or gain the HOPE Scholarship.
The same checkpoints and criteria to maintain the HOPE Scholarship we discussed earlier apply in this situation as well.

25. HOPE & Zell Miller Scholarships
Students lose eligibility due to one of the following:
GPA requirement not met (3.0 for HOPE; 3.3 for Zell Miller)
Reaching maximum attempted hours
127 semester/190 quarter
Failing to use funds within seven years of high school or accredited high school program graduation, home study completion or equivalent
Exception for military service time
Received a bachelor’s degree
Received first professional degree
There are a few ways students can lose their eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship:
Not maintaining your GPA
Reaching the maximum hours allowed –regardless if HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship funds were received – example student attends two semesters out of state and transfers to Georgia
Failing to use your award within seven years
and receiving a bachelor’s or professional degree.

26. HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant
HOPE Program
HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant

27. HOPE Grant Eligibility Award Amount
High school GPA and/or test scores not considered
Enrolled in a certificate or diploma program
High school graduation not required
Award Amount
Portion of the standard tuition
Award amount chart available on GAfutures
The HOPE Grant is available for students looking to complete a certificate or diploma program from a University System of Georgia (USG) or Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) school.
In addition to the basic eligibility requirements for the HOPE Program
Students must be enrolled in a certificate or diploma program
But there is no GPA or test score requirements
and you don’t have to have graduated from high school.
The award amount is a portion of the current year’s standard tuition (up to 15 credit hours) and a complete award chart is available on GAcollege411.

28. HOPE Grant Maintaining HOPE Grant
2.0 GPA at checkpoints
30/45 paid semester/quarter hours
60/90 paid semester/quarter hours
Students lose eligibility due to one of the following:
2.0 GPA requirement not met
Paid hours
63 semester/95 quarter
Received a bachelor’s degree
Joint or Dual Credit Enrollment students are not eligible
Legislation passed last year changes the GPA requirement to maintain the HOPE Grant from 3.0 to 2.0.
So now at each checkpoint, students must have at least a 2.0 to remain eligible for the HOPE Grant.
And like the HOPE Scholarship and the Zell Miller Scholarship, you may only regain the HOPE Grant once before becoming ineligible for the program.

29. Zell Miller Grant Eligibility Award Amount
Enrolled in a certificate or diploma program
High school GPA and/or test scores not considered
High school graduation not required
Minimum 3.5 cumulative postsecondary GPA
Award Amount
Standard undergraduate tuition, up to 15 hours
Award for first term of enrollment will be paid retroactively if student has required 3.5 GPA
To be eligible for the Zell Miller Grant a student must be enrolled in a certificate or diploma program at USG or TCSG.
There are no high school requirements for Zell Miller Grant.
Once you are enrolled in a certificate or diploma program you must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA.
The award amount is the standard undergraduate tuition, up to 15 hours.
And the award is paid retroactively if you meet the minimum 3.5 GPA during your first term.

30. Zell Miller Grant Maintaining Zell Miller Grant
3.5 GPA checked at the end of each term
Students that lose the Zell Miller Grant at the end-of-term checkpoint, may regain it if they have the required minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA at the end of the next term
Students lose eligibility due to one of the following:
3.5 GPA requirement not met
63 paid or combined paid hours (HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant) met
Joint or Dual Credit Enrollment students are not eligible
Zell Miller Grant recipients eligible for SIWDG
To maintain the Zell Miller Grant, the student must have the 3.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester.
If your GPA goes below 3.5, you lose the Zell Miller Grant.
Students can regain the Zell Miller Grant at the end of the next term if they have the required minimum 3.5 GPA.
Students can regain the Zell Miller Grant multiple times.
Students lose eligibility by not meeting the GPA requirement or meeting the 63 paid or combined paid hours.
Joint or Dual Credit enrollment students are not eligible for the Zell Miller Grant but they are eligible for the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant.

31. Strategic Industries Workforce Development grant
SIWDG
Strategic Industries Workforce Development grant

32. Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant
HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant recipients eligible for SIWDG
226 certificate and diploma programs
Complete list of approved programs on GAfutures
Joint or Dual Credit Enrollment students are not eligible
Enrolled Hours
Award Amount
9 or more
$500 per term
3 – 8
$250 per term
1 – 2
$125 per term
The Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant or SIWDG was introduced two years ago and has become a great financial resource for many students.
Students receiving the HOPE Grant or the Zell Miller Grant may also be eligible for additional financial assistance from this program.
This program was created to boost enrollment in high-demand certificate and diploma programs such as Commercial Trucking, Early Childhood Care/Education and Practical Nursing.
There are now 226 approved certificate and diploma programs eligible for SIWDG
The award is a fixed amount depending on the program and number of hours the student is enrolled.
You can find a list of approved programs and award amounts on GAfutures.
This program is not available for dual enrollment students.
Note: Commercial truck driving – enrolled 9+ hours; $1,000 one-time award.

33. Other State Programs
GSFC also administers several other state financial aid programs

34. Other State Programs
Georgia Military College State Service Scholarship
Georgia National Guard Service Cancelable Loan
HERO Scholarship
Public Safety Memorial Grant
REACH Scholarship
Scholarship for Engineering Education (SEE)
Scholarship for Engineering Education for Minorities (MSEE)
Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG)
University of North Georgia Military Scholarship
University of North Georgia ROTC Grant
University of North Georgia ROTC Grant for Future Officers
The Georgia Student Finance Commission administers a number of other state programs to help Georgians pay for college.
New this year is the Georgia National Guard Service Cancelable Loan which offers GNG members assistance with the cost of tuition at a USG or TCSG institution or an eligible private institution.
More information and eligibility requirements for all of these programs can be found on GAfutures.

35. GSFC Representative Map
We have representatives across the state. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us.

36. Contact Us 800.505.4732 outreach@gsfc.org
You can also call our 800 number or our Outreach Services with any questions you may have.

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38. OUR MISSION
To promote and increase access to education beyond high school for Georgians.
OUR VISION
To be the premier provider of student financial aid and educational services for Georgians.