HOPE Scholarship

BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2014 OR PRIOR:
Students must graduate from an eligible high school with a 3.0 or higher GPA as calculated by
the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)
o The HOPE GPA, as calculated by the GSFC, only includes attempted core academic
courses taken in grades 9 12. Core academic subject areas include:
Elective classes such as Speech, Newspaper,
Language Arts: all classes with course
Yearbook, Literary Magazine are counted in
codes beginning with 23.
HOPE GPAs
Math: all classes with course codes
All math support classes are counted in HOPE
beginning with 27.
GPAs
AP Computer Science A is counted in HOPE
Science: all classes with course codes
GPAs; Also includes Animal Sciences
beginning with 26. and 40.
(02.XXX210) and Plant Sciences (02.XXX410)
Elective classes such as Sociology, Current
Social Studies: all classes with course
Issues and AP Psychology are counted in HOPE
codes beginning with 45.
GPAs
World Languages: all classes with course
codes beginning with 60. and 61.
o Semester numeric grades are converted to a 4.0 scale*
* The 7 honors points for honors and Advanced Placement classes are subtracted before
grades are converted to the 4.0 scale (see examples below)
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
F = 0 points
.5 point is added for all Advanced Placement classes up to a maximum of 4.0
Course
10th Grade Lit
GPS Geometry
Physical Science
AP World History
French 2 Honors
Chorus

Course
9th Grade Lit
Honors
GPS Algebra
Biology Honors
Health
German 1
GPS Algebra
Support

Semester Grade
Semester Grade
w/Honors Points w/out Honors Points
88
88
82
82
89
89
88
81
84
77
93
93
HOPE Grade Point Average

Converted to
4.0 Scale
3
3
3
3.5
2

2.9

Semester Grade
w/Honors Points

Semester Grade
w/out Honors Points

Converted to
4.0 Scale

97

90

84
80
88
84

84
73
88
84

3
2

80

80

HOPE Grade Point Average

3.0

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015:

In order for students graduating in 2015 to be eligible for the HOPE scholarship students must
meet the following criteria:
o Graduating with a 3.0 or higher GPA as calculated by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission (GSFC)
o Must pass at least 2 courses from a list of academically rigorous courses
Courses that meet HOPE Rigor Requirements:
GPS Advanced Algebra or an equivalent or higher math course
Chemistry or Physics
Foreign Language courses at level 2 or above
Advanced Placement courses in any core subject area
Courses taken via Dual Enrollment at an institution of the University System
of Georgia
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2016:
In order for students graduating in 2016 to be eligible for the HOPE scholarship students must
meet the following criteria:
o Graduating with a 3.0 or higher GPA as calculated by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission (GSFC)
o Must pass at least 3 courses from a list of academically rigorous courses
Courses that meet HOPE Rigor Requirements:
GPS Advanced Algebra or an equivalent or higher math course
Chemistry or Physics
Foreign Language courses at level 2 or above
Advanced Placement courses in any core subject area
Courses taken via Dual Enrollment at an institution of the University System
of Georgia
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2017:
In order for students graduating in 2017 to be eligible for the HOPE scholarship students must
meet the following criteria:
o Graduating with a 3.0 or higher GPA as calculated by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission (GSFC)
o Must pass at least 4 courses from a list of academically rigorous courses
Courses that meet HOPE Rigor Requirements:
GPS Advanced Algebra or an equivalent or higher math course
Chemistry or Physics
Foreign Language courses at level 2 or above
Advanced Placement courses in any core subject area
Courses taken via Dual Enrollment at an institution of the University System
of Georgia

The HOPE scholarship pays a percentage amount of the standard tuition charges at an eligible
postsecondary institution.
HOPE Scholarship at Public/Private Institutions
Factor Rate = Percentage determined annually by the Georgia Student Finance Commission
(GSFC)against which the previous years HOPE Award Rate amount is multiplied (based on
student enrollment and lottery revenue)
HOPE Award Rate = The rate equal to the previous years HOPE Award Amount multiplied by the
Factor Rate, divided by 15
HOPE Award Amount = The HOPE Award Rate multiplied by the number of credit hours, up to a
maximum of 15, in which an eligible student is enrolled.
HOPE Award Amounts:
Students must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Payment amount for private colleges is $3600
Payment amount for public colleges and universities can be located on GAcolelge411.org on the
HOPE program Changes page

Zell Miller Scholarship

BASIC ZELL MILLER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Student must meet all the requirements to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship
Student must graduate from an eligible high school with a grade point average of at least 3.7 as
calculated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)
Student must have met one of the following criteria (tests need to be take prior to graduation)
o an SAT score of at least 1200 combined critical reading score and math score on a single
administration of the SAT (no super scoring)
OR
o an ACT of at least 26
OR
o graduate from an eligible high schools as the valedictorian or salutatorian (only 1 per
school)

The Zell Miller GPA, as calculated by the GSFC, only includes attempted core academic courses
taken in grades 9 12. Core academic subject areas include:
Language Arts: all classes with course
Elective classes such as Speech, Newspaper,
codes beginning with 23.
Yearbook, Literary Magazine are counted in
HOPE GPAs
Math: all classes with course codes
All math support classes are counted in HOPE
beginning with 27.
GPAs
Science: all classes with course codes
AP Computer Science A is counted in HOPE GPAs
beginning with 40. and 26.
Elective classes such as Sociology, Current
Social Studies: all classes with course
Issues and AP Psychology are counted in HOPE
codes beginning with 45.
GPAs
World Languages: all classes with course
codes beginning with 60. and 61.
o Semester numeric grades are converted to a 4.0 scale*
* The 7 honors points for honors and Advanced Placement classes are subtracted before
grades are converted to the 4.0 scale (see examples below)
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
F = 0 points
.5 point is added for all Advanced Placement classes up to a maximum of 4.0
Course
10th Grade Lit
Honors
GPS Geometry
Physical Science
Honors
AP World History
French 2 Honors
Chorus

Semester Grade
w/Honors Points

Semester Grade
w/out Honors Points

Converted to
4.0 Scale

98

91

90

90

97

90

88
84
93

81
77
93
HOPE Grade Point Average

3.5
2

3.5

Course
9th Grade Lit
Honors
Accel Algebra
Honors
Biology Honors
Health
German 2 Honors
Intro to Criminal
Justice

Semester Grade
w/Honors Points

Semester Grade
w/out Honors Points

Converted to
4.0 Scale

97

90

99

92

90
96
102

83
96
95

90

90

HOPE Grade Point Average

3.75

Zell Miller Scholarship Award Amounts:

Students must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Payment amount for private colleges is $2,000 per semester
Payment amount for public colleges and universities covers full, standard, undergraduate
tuition rate the then current year, without regard for specific program of study (rate tables are
available on GAcolelge411.org on the HOPE program Changes page)

Student Access Loan Program

Students must graduate from an eligible high school with a 2.5 or higher GPA as calculated by
the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)
Program created in 2008, funded for the first time in FY2012
Low interest loan program targeted to students who experience unmet need or a gap in their
college financing
Students may borrow up to $10,000 per year and $40,000 in their lifetime
Students must be able to demonstrate that they have exhausted all other financial aid sources
and must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The annual interest rate is 1% and borrowers will be required to pay interest while in school
Students may apply online at www.gacollege411.org
Funding is limited. All recipients will be chosen randomly from all applications received
Continue to check gacollege411 for additional information and updates