Georgia's HOPE Program
HOPE — Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally — is Georgia's unique scholarship and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges.
HOPE is funded entirely by the Georgia Lottery for Education, which also funds Georgia's statewide prekindergarten program.
Since the HOPE Program began in 1993, over $4.6 billion in HOPE funds have been awarded to more than 1.2 million students attending Georgia's colleges, universities, and technical colleges.
You can benefit from HOPE in several ways.
If you are interested in the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan for individuals pursuing a masters, specialist or doctorate degree in education in a critical shortage teaching field, or the PROMISE Teacher Scholarship Loan for undergraduate education majors, click here.
HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant
The HOPE Scholarship program is for students that have demonstrated academic achievement and that are seeking a college-level degree.
There are several ways to become eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, either by graduating from high school as a HOPE Scholar or by earning it while in college.
For more information, please review the HOPE Scholarship regulations.
The HOPE Grant program is for students seeking a technical certification or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade point average or graduation date.
For more information, please review the HOPE Grant regulations.
Both the HOPE Scholarship and the HOPE Grant pay a certain amount for tuition, fees, and book allowance.
The amount of the award depends on the type of school the student is attending, the number of credit hours the student is enrolled in, and the specific rates of the college.
HOPE GED Grant
Georgia's HOPE GED Grant is available to students who earned a General Education Development (GED/high school equivalency) diploma awarded by the Technical College System of Georgia after June 30, 1993.
The Grant provides a one-time $500 HOPE award that can be used towards tuition, books, and other educational costs at an eligible public technical college or public or private college or university.
Full-time enrollment is not required. Students must use their HOPE GED Grant award within 24 months of the date of their GED diploma.
For more information, please review the HOPE GED Grant regulations.
All three HOPE programs require students to meet basic requirements.
An eligible student must:
- Be a legal resident of Georgia;
- Meet academic achievement standards required by the program or the college;
- Be registered with Selective Service, if required;
- Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990;
- Meet HOPE's U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements;
- Be in good standing on all student loans or other financial aid programs;
- Not have exceeded the maximum award limits for any HOPE program; and
- Meet enrollment requirements.
For a complete listing of eligibility requirements, please review the individual HOPE Scholarship,
HOPE Grant,
or HOPE GED Grant program regulations.