HOPE SCHOLARSHIP

The HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship Program is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and is available only to degree-seeking undergraduate students.
FRESHMAN 1st tier eligibility:

1. To be eligible for the HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman (1st tier), a student must be a 1993 or later high school graduate. He or she must have graduated from an eligible high school as a HOPE scholar.

2. For the Class of 1993 through the class of 1999, HOPE scholars must have graduated from an eligible high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale or an 80 numeric average meeting the college prep curriculum, or a 3.2 average on a 4.0 scale or an 85 numeric average in the general or career/tech curriculum tracks. All course work taken in high school (9th – 12th grades) is used to calculate the grade average.

3. For the Class of 2000, HOPE Scholars must have graduated from an eligible high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale or an 80 numeric average meeting the college prep curriculum, or a 3.2 average on a 4.0 scale or an 85 numeric average in the general or career/tech curriculum tracks. The subjects counted and the numbers of units to be used in the grade average calculations for the college preparatory curriculum are as follows: English Language Arts – 4 units, Mathematics – 3 units, Social Studies – 3 units, Science – 3 units and Foreign Language – 2 units. The subjects counted and the numbers of units to be used in the grade average calculation for the career/technical curriculum are as follows: English Language Arts – 4 units, Mathematics – 3 units, Social Studies – 3 units, Science – 3 units.

4. Beginning with the Class of 2001, HOPE Scholars must have graduated from an eligible high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale or an 80 numeric average meeting the college prep curriculum, or a 3.2 average on a 4.0 scale or an 85 numeric average in the general or career/tech curriculum tracks. The subjects counted and the numbers of units to be used in the grade average calculations for the college preparatory curriculum are as follows: English Language Arts – 4 units, Mathematics – 3 units, Social Studies – 3 units, Science – 3 units and Foreign Language – 2 units. The subjects counted and the numbers of units to be used in the grade average calculation for the career/technical curriculum are as follows: English Language Arts – 4 units, Mathematics – 3 units, Social Studies – 3 units, Science – 3 units. Grades may be weighted or unweighted, depending upon the high school system’s policy. Grades must not be rounded up.

5. Home Study Students who completed their home study requirements in 1997 or later and students who graduated from an ineligible high school in 1997 or later may receive HOPE retroactively for the 1st tier if they earn a cumulative grade point average after attempting 30 semester college credit hours and meet all other HOPE eligibility requirements. Students who graduate from an eligible high school are not eligible for a retroactive HOPE award.

6. Beginning with the Class of 2007, HOPE Scholars in the college preparatory curriculum track must graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Each grade for a student in attempted coursework in English, Math, Science, Social Science and Foreign Language that would have satisfied a core curriculum graduation requirement for the college prep diploma if the student had successfully completed it must be equated to a grade on a 4.0 scale. An “A” Equals 4.0, a “B” equals 3.0, a “C” equals 2.0, a “D” equals 1.0, and an “F” equals 0. Beginning with the Class of 2007, HOPE Scholars in the career/tech prep curriculum track must graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum of a 3.2 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Each grade for a student in attempted coursework in English, Math, Science, and Social Science that would have satisfied a core curriculum graduation requirement for the career/tech prep diploma if the student had successfully completed it must be equated to a grade on a 4.0 scale. An “A” Equals 4.0, a “B” equals 3.0, a “C” equals 2.0, a “D” equals 1.0, and an “F” equals 0. Regardless of the curriculum track, grades in coursework that is classified as “Advanced Placement” of “International Baccalaureate” will be weighted by the Commission when calculating the grade point average for HOPE Scholarship eligibility. Grades for Honors courses or other special courses will not be weighted. In addition to the class of 2007 and beyond, the above requirements will also apply to all HOPE Scholars, regardless of their year of high school graduation, who first begin receiving the HOPE Scholarship as an entering freshman after May 1, 2007.

This information is determined by the high school and reported to the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).

A student not meeting the above academic requirements may be eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship after attempting the equivalent of at least 30 hours of college level coursework, provided he or she meets the residency requirements set forth below and has a HOPE grade point average of 3.00 at the end of the term in which the 30th hour is attempted. A student who has attempted more than 30 hours of coursework must have had at least a 3.00 HOPE GPA at the end of the semester in which the 30th/60th/90th hours were attempted. Note: The GPA used in HOPE calculations does not necessarily match the cumulative GPA on the official Georgia Highlands College transcript. Once a student reaches the 30, 60, or 90 hours of college coursework, they must complete and turn in a Request for HOPE Eligibility Review form located on our website.

Amount of HOPE Scholarship

The amount of the semester HOPE payment is equal to tuition and mandatory fees for the semester, less the amount of any other scholarship which must be applied solely to the student's tuition. By action of the GA General Assembly, the maximum fee amount is $92 (the 2003-04 total) for students taking 6 or more credit hours or $69 if enrolled in fewer than 6 hours.

HOPE recipients are also entitled to a book allowance of $150 per semester if enrolled in six (6) or more credit hours, or $75 if enrolled in fewer than six credit hours.

HOPE Application Process

Students who wish to apply only for the HOPE Scholarship are encouraged to complete the GSFAPPS electronic application which can be accessed at http://www.gacollege411.org. Direction on how to complete this application can be found by reviewing the HOPE Application Procedures on the home page. You must complete the application process before the end of the Semester in order to be paid for that school term. If you completed an E-HOPE Application or GSFAPP in a previous year, you need not complete another HOPE application as we automatically award you HOPE if you are still eligible. Male students must register with the Selective Service System.

If you wish to apply for HOPE and federal student aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. You are required to complete the FAFSA each academic year you wish to apply for federal student aid (this includes the Stafford Loan Program). See Application Process for additional information regarding the federal student aid application process.

Length of HOPE Eligibility
Eligible students may continue to receive the HOPE Scholarship if they have a 3.00 or better HOPE GPA at the end of the semesters in which they attempt their 30/60/90th credit hours. In addition, there is now an End-of-Spring Semester Checkpoint for all HOPE Scholarship recipients. You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the end of each spring term in order to continue eligibility, except for freshman recipients who enrolled less than 12 hours for each of their first three terms. All credit hours attempted after high school graduation are considered in determining a student's HOPE eligibility regardless of whether the credit hours were paid for by HOPE or not.

NOTE: The HOPE GPA does not necessarily match the cumulative GPA shown in Banner.

Eligibility ends once the student graduates with a bachelor's degree or at the end of the semester in which the 127th hour is attempted, regardless of whether or not the student ever applied for or received the Scholarship. There are no exceptions for extra hours for dual degree programs, second majors or change of major.

HOPE Attempted Credit Hours Defined

As previously noted, HOPE credit hours are not necessarily the same as the credit hours reflected on Banner. Credit hours attempted or earned while in high school, including advanced placement credit hours, and hours exempted by examination do not count as hours attempted or in calculating the HOPE GPA. All credit hours attempted at the college level are counted for HOPE purposes, including those assigned "W" or "WF" grades, those attempted at other institutions (including Out of State institutions) whether or not the credit hours transfer to Georgia Highlands college and Developmental Study hours.

In addition to the Attempted-Hour limit, there is now the Paid Hour limit. All hours for which students received payment from Accel (Accel pays for college classes taken while enrolled in high school), HOPE Grant (Summer 2003 forward), and HOPE Scholarship programs are included in calculating the total Combined Paid hours. Students are eligible for combined payment for a maximum of 127 semester hours. If a student reaches the Attempted-Hours limit before reaching Combined Paid-Hours limit, he or she is ineligible to receive further HOPE Scholarship payment.

HOPE Reinstatement
When a student receives a HOPE Scholarship as a freshmen but loses eligibility for failing to have a 3.00 HOPE GPA after attempting 30 credit hours, that student has two opportunities for reinstatement. These opportunities occur after the 60th and 90th credit hours attempted. If the student's HOPE GPA has improved to 3.00 after the 60th or 90th hour attempted, the scholarship may be reinstated. Students who are not eligible for HOPE after attempting 90 credit hours are then permanently ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship. HOPE is regained after at the end of spring only if the spring term is also a 60 or 90 hour benchmark checkpoint.
Residency for HOPE Purposes

1. A student attending a Georgia University System institution who is seeking a HOPE Scholarship as a freshman (1st tier) meets the residency requirements for purposes of HOPE eligibility if he or she met the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia, under Board of Regents in-state tuition policy, at the time of his or her high school graduation. Additionally, the student must meet those requirements at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought. The student may have graduated from an out-of state high school (i.e., the dependent child of military personnel who are legal residents of Georgia stationed outside of Georgia).

2. A student attending a Georgia University System institution who is seeking a HOPE Scholarship as a freshman (1st tier) meets the residency requirements for purposes of HOPE eligibility if he or she receives an out-of-state tuition waiver from the Georgia University System institution he or she is attending, and the student graduated from a Georgia high school in 1993 or later (i.e., the dependent child of military personnel stationed in Georgia would be eligible).

3. A student attending a Georgia University System institution who is entering the HOPE Scholarship Program as a sophomore (2nd tier), junior (3rd tier) or senior (4th tier) meets the residency requirements for purposes of HOPE eligibility if he or she meets the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia, under Board of Regents instate tuition policy at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought. A student who receives an out-of-state tuition waiver is not classified as a legal resident of Georgia and therefore does not meet the residency requirements for entry to the HOPE Scholarship at the 2nd tier and above.
Citizenship for HOPE Purposes

To be eligible as a freshman, a student must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident Alien who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under federal Title IV requirements for the 12-month period prior to high school graduation. To be eligible to enter HOPE as a sophomore (2nd tier), junior (3rd tier) or senior (4th tier), a student must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident Alien who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under federal Title IV requirements for the 12-month period prior to the term for which the scholarship is sought. Full-time employees of the FTAA and their spouses and dependent children are not exempt from these citizenship requirements.

HOPE Enrollment Status

HOPE eligibility is not conditional upon full-time enrollment. There is no minimum number of enrollment hours required in order for this scholarship to be disbursed.

Transfer Students

A student transferring to GHC will not be considered for the HOPE Scholarship until he or she has submitted an official transcript from all previously attended institutions that accurately reflect all previously attempted course work and has completed and turned in a Request for HOPE Eligbility Review form.

Transient Students
Georgia Highlands College HOPE students who wish to enroll as a transient student at another HOPE eligible institution may receive HOPE funds at the transient institution. Please visit our website for proper forms and information.

HOPE GED Voucher

The HOPE GED voucher is awarded to eligible students as a one-time $500 award. Students receiving this award will not be eligible for the HOPE scholarship until the 30 semester hour checkpoint is reached, and the student must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at that time to receive HOPE.