Will I be eligible for merit-based financial aid?
Merit-based scholarships can be managed by the State of Georgia, the college or university you plan to attend, or through a private organization.
To determine what options are available to you, we suggest you start with our Scholarship Finder tool which can provide a list of possible scholarships that match your needs.
The largest merit-based scholarship in Georgia, the HOPE Scholarship, is managed by Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).
For details on these programs, visit Find Scholarships.
Details on eligibility requirements, award amounts, and application procedures can be found for each of these programs in that section.
Many colleges and universities, technical colleges, and career schools have their own institutional (school-based) scholarship programs.
Larger schools often have many donors and endowments (gifts or donations) for scholarships that they administer for eligible students.
Your high school counselor and other people you know may help you with the application processes.
Often an essay is required (be sure to write the essay yourself).
The best source for information on institutional scholarships is the school itself.
To research scholarship programs at your specific schools of interest, we recommend starting with the information provided in the Explore Schools section of this web site.
In addition to the larger programs administered by GSFC and institutional scholarships, there are many other scholarships available which you may be eligible for.
The Scholarship Finder tool offers access to many of these programs.
There are other ways to research potential scholarships.
Your high school guidance counselor will be able to help you find scholarships.
You may also research scholarships at public libraries, businesses, organizations, clubs, retailers, and a nearby college campus (even if you don't plan to attend that school), and, of course, on the Web.
There are several honest web sites for scholarship searches.
If you find one that charges a fee or if you are solicited by telephone, mail, or e-mail, be careful.
You can almost always find everything you need for free.
For more information on Scholarship Scams, click here.