HOPE Scholarship Program

The HOPE Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship program with specific academic and grade point average eligibility requirements. The purpose of the HOPE Scholarship Program is to encourage the academic achievement of Georgia's high school students and Georgians seeking Degrees from postsecondary institutions located in Georgia. An eligible student seeking a Degree from a University System of Georgia or Technical College System of Georgia institution may receive HOPE Scholarship funds covering a portion of the Standard Undergraduate Tuition amount. The program is fully funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Students are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship as an incoming freshman:
- Having graduated from an eligible high school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and have 4 academic rigor credits OR
- Having completed a home study program meeting the HOPE eligibility requirements and having received a score in or above the 75th percentile on a single national or state/district administration of the ACT or single national administration of the SAT.
  - A minimum composite score of 24 is required for the ACT.
  - A minimum score of 1160 is required for the SAT.
- A student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in college to maintain the Hope Scholar program.
- If a student loses eligibility for the Hope Scholar program for any reason, they may regain that eligibility one time.

The HOPE Scholarship award amount at a public college covers a percentage of the tuition and is determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission based on projected lottery revenues and expenditures. The HOPE award amount is subject to change each year.

If you apply for HOPE or the Zell Miller Scholarship using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you must complete the FAFSA each year. The FAFSA must be completed on or before the last day of the school term or your withdrawal date for that term, whichever occurs first.

Note: Georgia public and private high school students can track their HOPE Scholarship status from high school through their GAfutures account at My High School HOPE GPA.

Note: Graduates of unaccredited home study programs or out-of-state high schools must submit an academic evaluation request and documents for an academic eligibility evaluation. Use the GAfutures Document Upload feature to submit academic evaluation documents as one file.

HOPE Scholarship Evaluation Procedures

All college credit hours attempted and their corresponding grades will be included in the calculation of the HOPE cumulative grade point average, even if those hours are not accepted as transfer credit by Lanier Tech. To be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, a student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at the end of each spring semester and at the term check points he/she attempts 30, 60 or 90 semester hours. Once your eligibility is evaluated, you will be notified by mail of the results.

Students must request HOPE Scholarship Evaluation through Lanier Technical College.
Students must graduate from high school with a 3.0 GPA as calculated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission for a college prep diploma or a 3.2 for a career tech diploma.
Students graduating under the single diploma type must have a 3.0 GPA as calculated by GSFC.
Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in college.
If a student falls below a 3.0 GPA in college, they may only regain the HOPE Scholarship one time.
The HOPE Scholarship will not pay for remedial or developmental courses.
A student may receive the HOPE Scholarship until the first of these events:
- The student has earned a baccalaureate or first professional degree
- The student has attempted at any postsecondary institution a total of 190 quarter hours or 127 semester hours
- The student has received a total of combined payment of 127 semester hours or 190 quarter hours from the HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Accel program (Accel payments made beginning with Fall 2011 term are excluded from the 127 hour cap) or
- Beginning with those students receiving HOPE for the first time on or after July 1, 2011, seven years from a student’s graduation from high school or the equivalent; provided, however, that for a student that serves on active duty in the military during such seven-year period such active duty service time will be credited back to the seven years.

The HOPE Scholarship Evaluation form and all transcripts must be submitted to Lanier Technical College at least two (2) weeks prior to the date you are scheduled to register for processing and notification of HOPE Scholarship status. Failure to request this evaluation by the deadline will require payment of tuition and fees by the student during the registration process. Students determined to be eligible for HOPE Scholarship at a later date may request reimbursement through the Financial Aid Office.