
The HOPE scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program available to Georgia students who have met the University System of Georgia and the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) residency requirements and are enrolled in an undergraduate degree-seeking program. The HOPE scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees if the student is registered for exactly 15 credits. If a student is enrolled in fewer than 15 credits, the HOPE scholarship will cover 90% of the tuition fees. Students who are enrolled in more than 15 credits will still have their full tuition covered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scholarship coverage | 100% of tuition if registered for 15 credits. 90% if registered for fewer than 15 credits. |
| Scholarship adjustment | Award amount will be reduced if enrolled in fewer than 15 hours. Award amount cannot be increased if enrolled in more than 15 hours. |
| Scholarship limit | 127 semester or 190 quarter hours. |
| Eligibility | Georgia resident at the time of high school graduation. Citizen or eligible non-citizen. Enrolled in an undergraduate degree-seeking program. Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress. |
| Expiration of eligibility | Ten years after the date of high school graduation, High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma test date, or home study completion date, whichever occurred first. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

HOPE scholarship requirements
The HOPE scholarship, funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education, provides funding for students' tuition costs to attend a postsecondary institution in the state of Georgia. The scholarship is available to both full-time and part-time students. However, there are specific requirements that must be met to be eligible for the HOPE scholarship.
Residency Requirements:
To meet the residency requirements for the HOPE scholarship, students must be residents of Georgia. Dependent students meet the Georgia residency requirement if their parent or legal guardian is a Georgia resident for at least 12 consecutive months before the first day of the college term for which funding is sought. Independent students must be residents of Georgia for at least 24 consecutive months before the first day of the term for which funding is sought.
Academic Requirements:
Students must meet certain academic eligibility requirements to receive the HOPE scholarship. They must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and earn a minimum of four full rigor credits from the Academic Rigor Course List. Additionally, students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking undergraduate program and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA throughout their academic career to retain the scholarship.
Other Requirements:
Other requirements for the HOPE scholarship include being a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States and maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress. Male students must also be registered for Selective Service if required. Students must not be in default or owe repayment on any federal or state aid.
It is important to note that the HOPE scholarship covers 100% of tuition if the student is registered for exactly 15 credits. If the student is registered for fewer than 15 credits, the scholarship covers 90% of the tuition costs.
Scholarships: Student Loan Payment or Prevention?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$20.51 $26.99

HOPE scholarship award amounts
The HOPE scholarship award amount assumes the maximum amount for which a student is eligible each semester. The HOPE scholarship pays per credit hour, so the award amount changes if the student changes their schedule. The HOPE scholarship only covers 100% of tuition if the student is registered for exactly 15 credits. Anything less than 15 credits and the coverage drops to 90%. If a student is enrolled in fewer than 15 hours, the HOPE award amount will be reduced. The HOPE scholarship award amount cannot be increased if a student enrolls in more than 15 hours. The HOPE scholarship award amount cannot exceed a student's total tuition charges for the semester.
The HOPE scholarship is available to students who are residents of Georgia at the time of high school graduation. Students who are not Georgia residents when they graduate high school will not meet the residency requirements for the HOPE scholarship until 24 months after they establish domicile in Georgia. Students must also be citizens or eligible non-citizens to receive funding. They must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students must not be in default or owe repayment on any federal or state aid. Male students must be registered for Selective Service if required.
Companies: Help Employees Pay Off Student Loans
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$8.93

HOPE scholarship eligibility
The HOPE Scholarship 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.
To be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, students must meet both basic and academic eligibility requirements. To meet the basic eligibility requirements, students must:
- Be a resident of Georgia at the time of high school graduation. Students who are not Georgia residents when they graduate from high school will not meet residency requirements until 24 months after establishing domicile in Georgia.
- Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Not be in default or owe repayment on any federal or state aid.
- Comply with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.
- Not have exceeded the maximum award limits for any HOPE program.
To meet the academic eligibility requirements, students must:
- Graduate from high school with a minimum 3.00 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC).
- Earn a minimum of four full rigor credits from the Academic Rigor Course List.
- Maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible.
It is important to note that the HOPE Scholarship only covers 100% of tuition if the student is registered for exactly 15 credits. Anything less, and the coverage drops to 90%.
Understanding Tax Obligations: College Students and Stocks
You may want to see also
Explore related products

HOPE scholarship renewal
The HOPE scholarship is available to students who meet the residency requirements of the state of Georgia. To be eligible, students must be residents of Georgia at the time of their high school graduation. Students who are not Georgia residents at the time of graduation will meet the residency requirements after 24 months of establishing domicile in Georgia.
The HOPE scholarship award amount assumes the maximum amount for which a student is eligible each semester. The award amount will be reduced if the student enrolls in fewer than 15 hours. The HOPE scholarship will cover 100% of tuition fees if the student is registered for exactly 15 credits. If the student is registered for fewer than 15 credits, the scholarship will cover 90% of the tuition fees.
The HOPE scholarship is automatically renewed for the first and second years of attendance at Hope College, regardless of the student's GPA. To renew the scholarship for subsequent years, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 at the end of the spring semester of their second and third years. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will forfeit their award but can regain eligibility by improving their GPA in subsequent semesters.
Students who receive their first HOPE scholarship payment in or after the summer term of 2019 may continue to receive payments until ten years after their high school graduation. Students who received their first payment between the summer term of 2011 and the spring term of 2019 may receive payments until seven years after their high school graduation. Eligibility expires on June 30th of the seventh or tenth year following graduation.
Students serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the eligibility period may request an extension, and students with a disability that has prevented full-time enrollment may also request a limited extension.
Student Loan Tax Strategies: Pay Off Loans Tax-Free
You may want to see also
Explore related products

HOPE scholarship limitations
The HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that provides financial assistance to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC). While the scholarship does not require full-time enrollment, there are several limitations and requirements that students must meet and maintain to remain eligible.
Firstly, students must be Georgia residents at the time of their high school graduation to meet the residency requirements. Students who are not Georgia residents at the time of graduation will only meet residency requirements after 24 months of establishing domicile in the state. Additionally, students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking undergraduate program and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to remain eligible. Students with a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, may request a limited extension to the eligibility requirements.
Furthermore, the HOPE Scholarship has a seven- or ten-year eligibility limit, depending on when the student first received the scholarship. Students who received their first payment between the summer term of 2011 and the spring term of 2019 have a seven-year limit, while those who received their first payment during the summer term of 2019 or later have a ten-year limit. Students who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during this period may request an extension based on their service time.
The HOPE Scholarship also has a maximum payout amount. For the 2025-26 academic year, the scholarship pays a maximum of $10,512 for two semesters of enrollment in 15 credit hours per term. The award amount is prorated for students enrolled in fewer than 15 eligible hours, covering 90% of tuition costs. Students enrolled in more than 15 credit hours will not receive an increased award amount.
Lastly, students must maintain their eligibility throughout their academic career and are evaluated at various checkpoints. If a student's postsecondary calculated HOPE GPA falls below the minimum requirement, they may lose their eligibility and be required to repay any scholarship funds they were awarded but are no longer eligible for.
Student Loans: Avoiding Interest Traps
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the HOPE scholarship does pay for part-time students. However, the scholarship amount will be reduced if the student is enrolled in fewer than 15 hours. The HOPE scholarship assumes a maximum of 15 hours per semester.
To be eligible for the HOPE scholarship, you must be a resident of Georgia, a citizen or eligible non-citizen, enrolled in a degree-seeking program, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Additionally, you must not be in default or owe repayment on any federal or state aid, and male students must be registered for Selective Service if required.
The duration of HOPE scholarship payments is limited. Eligibility will expire when the combined-paid hours limit of 127 semester or 190 quarter hours is reached, or when the attempted hours limit of 127 semester or 190 quarter hours is reached.











































