The Georgia HOPE Scholarship and the Zell Miller Scholarship are two merit-based scholarship programs offered by the state of Georgia to support eligible students in pursuing higher education.
The Georgia HOPE Scholarship provides financial assistance to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement and maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in high school or college. The scholarship covers tuition, mandatory fees, and a book allowance at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities.
The Zell Miller Scholarship, established in 2005, is a more competitive scholarship program that provides even more significant financial assistance to eligible Georgia students. To qualify for the Zell Miller Scholarship, students must have a minimum 3.7 GPA and either score at least 1200 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT.
The Georgia HOPE Scholarship and the Zell Miller Scholarship are renewable for up to 127 credit hours or until the student receives a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first, as long as the student maintains the required GPA and enrollment status.
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia recently proposed a significant expansion of the state's HOPE Scholarship program. Under Governor Kemp's proposal, the HOPE Scholarship would be expanded to cover the full cost of tuition for all Georgia high school graduates with a 3.5 GPA or higher. This includes tuition costs at any public or private college or university in Georgia and technical colleges.
The proposed expansion of the HOPE Scholarship would need to be approved and passed by the Georgia General Assembly. According to GA Student Finance Commission, this expansion has yet to be approved. For the most up-to-date information, visit GSFC or to learn more go to GAFUTURES.org.
Williams Educational Consultants always gets questions about applications and deadlines for the HOPE/Zell Scholarships. Please see below on how to apply and when the deadline is for the application.
How to Apply Students must file a valid financial aid application to be eligible for the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. Students can apply for the scholarship in two ways:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Students must complete this application annually. If they choose to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA, they will be reviewed for Federal Aid (Federal Loans and Pell Grant) and the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship.
Georgia Student Finance Application (GSFAPP): This application is only for the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship and is valid for 10 years!
Application Deadline
The HOPE/Zell Miller application deadline is the last day of your school's term or the student's withdrawal date, whichever occurs first. However, please encourage your students to file as early as possible. The earlier they apply, the earlier their college can determine eligibility and awards. Students should also monitor their accounts on GAfutures throughout the remainder of the year for final scholar information.