The Georgia HOPE Scholarship (HOPE stands for Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) is a financial grant given to high school graduates who meet eligibility requirements and are, or will be, attending a University System of Georgia institution.

The Georgia Scholarship began in 1991 with the inauguration of Zell Miller as governor of Georgia. Shortly after the inauguration, Governor Miller introduced legislation before the General Assembly to establish a lottery. A statewide referendum was necessary to amend the state constitution to allow for the lottery. 

In November 1992 the lottery amendment to the constitution was placed before the Georgia voters and passed. From November of 1992 to August of 1993, Governor Miller worked to establish three distinct and individually funded lottery education programs. The HOPE Scholarship Program was one of the three.

June 29, 1993 the first Georgia lottery ticket was sold. The lottery instantly gained popularity and unprecedented sales followed. First year sales amounted to $1.13 billion and provided $360 million for the three new education programs.

September 1, 1993 Matthew Miller of Snellville, Georgia was awarded Georgia's first HOPE Scholarship enabling him to attend Gwinnett Technical College. Since that first award, the fund has awarded, as of November 14, 2010, more than $5.6 billion in scholarships to 1,326,072 Georgia students.

 

 

The HOPE Scholarship is a reward for excelling, for showing promise and for work well done. The student applicant, among other things, must provide proof of graduating in good standing with a B average from an eligible Georgia high school. If the student did not graduate from an eligible high school, was home schooled, or earned a GED, they may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship based on their ACT or SAT scores. If the student graduated before 2008, different rules regarding their GPA may apply.

If a student does not meet the academic criteria when first applying, he or she will have a second chance. He or she can become eligible by completing at least 30 semester hours of college course work. All college course work completed before or after high school graduation will be considered. The student must have a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) at the end of the last semester attended. Further opportunities to qualify may be given.

 

 

 

Students must fill out the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for the HOPE scholarship. A FAFSA application can be completed online at www.fafsa.gov. A Georgia HOPE Scholarship application can be obtained by contacting the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Information should also be available at their high school or the school they are applying to, or attending.

For the 2010-2011 school year the HOPE Scholarship will pay tuition costs for all hours enrolled as well as HOPE approved mandatory fees and a $100.00 to $150.00 book allowance. The student can be attending full time or part time.

Students attending a private school full time will receive $1,166 to $1,750 for each quarter or semester 
Part time students at a private school will receive from $583 to $875 per quarter or semester.

 

 

Further requirements for the HOPE Scholarship are:

The student must be enrolled, with the intention of earning a degree, at a Georgia public or private college, university or technical college recognized by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

The student must have resided in Georgia for 12 to 24 months before the start of classes.

The student must comply with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. Some felony convictions due to the use or sale of marijuana, dangerous drugs or controlled substances would make the student ineligible.

The student must be a United States citizen or meet residency requirements. Male students 18 years or older must be registered with the Selective Service. If a student is in default, or owes a refund on a prior student loan, they are not eligible to apply.

The HOPE Scholarship is unique. It has helped many students gain an advanced education in the state of Georgia.