Grants and Scholarships

GRANTS

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is a federally funded grant available to students who meet certain income guidelines. This is the largest of the federal student assistance programs.

Pell is not available to anyone who:

• Has a bachelor’s degree
• Owes a refund to any Title IV Aid Program
• Is in default on a student loan
• Is concurrently attending two or more colleges as a regular student

Students must be in a Pell eligible program of study.

The amount of the Pell Grant disbursed each semester is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) shown on the FAFSA Submission Summary and the number of credit hours in which the student is enrolled. Students must apply each aid year (July 1st - June 30th) by completing the FAFSA for the new academic year. FAFSA applications can be completed on or after October 1st of each year.

Apply Online at https://studentaid.gov

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG program is a federally funded, campus-based grant that is administered through the Financial Aid Office to eligible Pell Grant applicants based on exceptional financial need. The award amount is contingent upon the availability of FSEOG funds and the amount of other aid received by the student. Eligible students are processed first by selection of those with the lowest Pell Student Aid Index (SAI), attending at least half-time, and making satisfactory academic progress (SAP).

FSEOG has the same eligibility requirements as the Pell grant.

Federal Work Study

This is a need-based federal work program to help students fund educational expenses by providing employment opportunities on campus. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), have an official SAI as shown on the FAFSA Submission Summary, and demonstrate unmet financial need based on the college's Cost of Attendance budget.

For more information, contact our financial aid professionals.

State Aid: HOPE and Zell Miller Grant and HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship

For all state aid, students must complete a current year FAFSA and/or complete the GSFAPP (good for 10 years) online at https://www.gafutures.org.

By creating an account on GA Futures, you can view your HOPE eligibility at any time.

HOPE program eligibility requirements:

• Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements
• Must be a legal Georgia resident
• Meet enrollment requirements
• Be in compliance with Selective Service Registration requirements. Register or check registration here- Selective Service
• Meet academic achievement standards
• Be in good standing on all student loans or other financial aid programs
• Be in compliance with the Gorgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990
• Not have exceeded the maximum award limits for any HOPE program

If you believe you are eligible for HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship, please complete the HOPE Scholarship eligibility form (AFTER completing your FAFSA or GSFAPP) here: HOPE scholarship Eligibility Application. You must be in a degree program for either scholarship.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You cannot receive both HOPE and Zell Miller at the same time

Award Limits

A HOPE/Zell Miller grant recipient is ineligible for the grant if the student has:

• Earned a baccalaureate degree
• The Grant and Scholarship Combined-Paid hours limit is 127 semester hours. All hours paid by HOPE and/or Zell Miller Grant or Scholarship are counter in the Combined-Paid hours limit
• The Grant Paid-Hours limit is 63 semester hours. All hours paid by HOPE and/or Zell Miller Grant are counter in the Grant Paid-Hours limit

A HOPE/Zell Miller scholarship recipient is ineligible for the scholarship if the student has:

• Earned a baccalaureate degree
• The Grant and Scholarship Combined-Paid hours limit is 127 semester hours. All hours paid by HOPE and/or Zell Miller Grant or Scholarship are counter in the Combined-Paid hours limit

HOPE Grant

Georgia's HOPE Grant (a separate program from the HOPE Scholarship) is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma (continuing education programs are not eligible) at an eligible college or university in Georgia. The HOPE Grant award amount will cover a portion of a student's tuition. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA at the 30 and 60-hour checkpoints to maintain eligibility.

Zell Miller Grant

Georgia's Zell Miller Grant is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma at a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or University System of Georgia (USG) institution. The Zell Miller Grant award amount is the standard undergraduate tuition rate based on the school the student attends and the number of hours enrolled. Recipients must maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher and will receive 100 percent of the assessed tuition each semester.

HOPE Career Grant

The HOPE Career Grant is available to HOPE Grant-eligible students. Pursuing certificates or diplomas in programs in high demand for qualified workers in the state of Georgia. (Click to see eligible programs.) These industries have been identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growth.

A student's HOPE Career Grant award is a fixed amount per term based upon the student's program of study and number of hours of enrollment.

SCHOLARSHIPS

HOPE Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that covers a portion of assessed tuition on a per-credit-hour basis for students seeking a degree at eligible Georgia postsecondary institutions.

A student must graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 HOPE GPA (as calculated by Georgia Student Finance Commission) and meet specific high school rigor course requirements.

A nontraditional student may qualify for the HOPE scholarship after completing 30 semester hours in a degree program with a 3.0 GPA. GPAs are reviewed at the 30, 60, and 90 semester hours checkpoints, at which time the student must maintain a 3.0 GPA to retain the HOPE scholarship.

Zell Miller Scholarship

Georgia's Zell Miller Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with the educational costs of attending a Zell Miller Scholarship-eligible college located in Georgia.

Students must also maintain a cumulative 3.3 GPA at the 30, 60, and 90 attempted-hours checkpoints and at the end of the spring checkpoint to remain eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship.

Veteran Programs

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is approved for veterans’ training under various programs. These programs are briefly described below. Please call (229) 333-2100 EXT. 3001 for information.

• Chapter 30 Active duty educational assistance
• Chapter 31 Vocational rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities
• Chapter 32 Vietnam era veterans educational assistance
• Chapter 35 War orphans (children/spouse of veteran with service-connected permanent and/or total disability or fatal injury)
• Chapter 106 Selective reserve educational assistance

For more information, contact our Veterans Affairs Staff.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

• WIOA may be used in conjunction with HOPE and Pell Grants.
• WIOA assists with student expenses for tuition, fees, books and any other required school expenses not covered by other types of financial aid
• WIOA offers limited financial assistance to help with the costs of childcare and transportation

WGTC Foundation Scholarships

The Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Foundations award a number of scholarships annually to qualifying students. Click to see a complete listing of scholarships as well the qualifications for each. Students who need assistance with educational expenses and reside in Atkinson, Ben Hill, Coffee, Irwin, or Wilcox County should complete the Application for Assistance - North. Students from Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Lanier, and Lowndes counties should complete the Application for Assistance - South.

FASTWEB

Fastweb is a free online resource to help students search for scholarships that are offered by various sources around the nation. The scholarship process through Fastweb is not affiliated with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Users of Fastweb should address all questions to the scholarship provider and adhere to the guidelines established by the scholarship provider. Click to begin your scholarship search.

Georgia College Completion Grant (GCCG)

The Georgia College Completion Grant assists eligible students enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution who are experiencing a financial gap in their cost of education.

Eligible students enrolled in a two-year program must have completed a minimum of 45% of required credit hours and must owe an outstanding balance of direct costs for the current term of enrollment. Students must have a verified, current-year FAFSA on file with Wiregrass.

Grant awards are based on program requirements and available allocated funds at eligible institutions.

Students can receive a maximum lifetime limit of $2500 that can be awarded in one or multiple terms.

NOTE: Students receiving the GCCG cannot receive a refund

HOW TO APPLY

Email: financialaid@wiregrass.edu