HOPE Scholarship

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What is HOPE Scholarship?

A merit-based scholarship that assists with the cost of tuition at eligible public/private Georgia postsecondary institutions for students completing a degree program. Students must maintain at least a cumulative post-secondary GPA of 3.0 and meet all other requirements to remain eligible to receive HOPE at each checkpoint. You may create an account with GA Futures to track your status.

Did You Know?

If you have previously received a baccalaureate (four year) college degree of any type from any post-secondary institution domestic or foreign you are no longer eligible for the HOPE Scholarship program. This will NOT prevent a student from changing to the degree program at Wiregrass.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • You must meet the Citizenship (p. 7 section 104.1) and Georgia Residency requirements (p. 7-8 section 104.2), per 2023-2024 HOPE Regulations.
  • Be enrolled at a TCSG Eligible Postsecondary Institution in a Matriculated status leading to a degree.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined and certified by his or her Postsecondary Institution.
  • Register with Selective Service (Males only)
  • Not be in default on a Federal Title IV or State of Georgia educational loan or owe a refund due to an over-award on a Federal Title IV or State of Georgia student financial aid program, or in any other way be in violation of Federal Title IV Programs Regulations or State of Georgia student financial aid program regulations. A student must meet the requirements of this section at the time funds are disbursed by GSFC on behalf of the student.
  • Comply with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990
  • A student seeking a Degree from an Eligible Postsecondary Institution is ineligible for HOPE Scholarship payment while Incarcerated. Upon release from Incarceration, such student may begin receiving HOPE Scholarship payments, if he or she meets all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements.
  • Not have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Have at least a Cumulative Postsecondary GPA of 3.0 or higher at each checkpoint, including End of Spring Term
  • Students not eligible at 90 hours become permanently ineligible

How to Apply

You must have completed a Financial Aid file, whether a GSFAPP or current year FAFSA, in addition to the HOPE Scholarship Eligibility Application Form.

What is a Scholarship Checkpoint?

  • The Checkpoint is the end of a term at which a student’s academic transcript data must be calculated to determine the student’s continued HOPE Scholarship GPA and eligibility.
  • The HOPE Scholarship program has several Checkpoints that determine when a student gains, loses, or regains eligibility. Your total Attempted-Hours and when you have received the Scholarship determine the terms when Checkpoints occur.
  • The 30/60/90 semester Attempted-Hours Checkpoints occur when you have taken at least 30 credit hours, 60 credit hours, and 90 credit hours. At each of these Checkpoints, your GPA will be calculated to determine eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.
  • Scholarship eligibility cannot be regained at the End of Spring Checkpoint, unless that term is also when you reach the 30/60/90 semester (45/90/135 quarter) Attempted-Hours Checkpoint.
  • Your GPA will also be calculated at the end of each spring term if you received the Scholarship that year.
  • HOPE Scholarship can be earned or regained at the 30/60/90 semester (45/90/135 quarter) Attempted Hours Checkpoints with a minimum required Checkpoint Calculation GPA of 3.0. (Students not eligible at 90 hours are permanently ineligible.)

Attempted Hours:

  • Credit hours are to be counted as Attempted-Hours regardless of whether the course was completed, the hours were earned, or a letter grade was recorded on the student’s official academic transcript. Credit hours are counted regardless of whether the student received payment from HOPE. It does not matter how old the course is or if it is still a valid course for transfer. All post-secondary course work from the point of high school graduation counts (p 22-24 section 105.15). 2023-2024 HOPE Regulations
  • Credit Hours taken prior to high school graduation or home study completion or successful GED test date do not count in Attempted-Hours calculation. (See 2g on page 24 for exceptions based on date classes attempted to this rule).2023-2024 HOPE Regulations
  • Credit hours earned for Learning Support in Fall term 2011 or later, or accepted for Degree credit in Fall term 2011 or later do not count in Attempted-Hours calculation.
  • Students are allowed a lifetime max of 190 quarter or 127 semester hours and then they are no longer eligible for HOPE Scholarship. (p. 22 section 105.14). 2023-2024 HOPE Regulations
  • Please see 2023-2024 HOPE Regulations for additional descriptions of what is defined as Attempted Hours.

Combined Paid-Hours:

  • Students are limited to a lifetime max of 190 quarter or 127 semester hours and are no longer eligible for HOPE Scholarship once their total number of Paid-Hours has accumulated from any combination of the HOPE Scholarship Program, Zell Miller Programs, HOPE Grant Program, plus Accel Program (attempted through FY 2011) (p 24 section 105.16) 2023-2024 HOPE Regulations

Need Help?

For more information, please contact:

Records Department

Hopescholarship@wiregrass.edu

229-333-2142