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HOPE Scholarship Information

HOPE Scholarship Application Only


 
  • Go to www.GAcollege411.org and set up an account and set up an account and follow the instructions.
  • GSW will be notified by the Georgia Student Finance Commission once you application is completed.

HOPE Book Fund Information

HOPE regulations now require that institutions make HOPE book funds available to students and specifically that institutions not automatically use HOPE book funds to pay other student account charges.

When a student who is eligible for HOPE book funds logs onto RAIN, he or she will now have to choose one of the following options:

  • Elect to authorize GSW to use any HOPE Book monies to pay other expenses, such as Housing and Meal Plans. You may cancel this authorization at any time prior to incurring such payment of charges, but you may not cancel it once payment has been made on your behalf. To cancel your authorization, you must do so in writing with the Office of Student Accounts
     
  • Elect NOT to authorize GSW to use any HOPE Book monies to pay other expenses. If a student chooses this option, GSW will automatically cut a check for the appropriate HOPE book amount. Please note that this option will require the student to pay out-of-pocket for tuition, room and meal plans to meet established fee payment deadlines.

    Example:

An in-state student registering for 12+ hours on campus with housing and a meal plan would incur the following charges:

 

Tuition

$1280

Mandatory Fees

$269

Residence Hall

$1550

Meal Plan

$1128

TOTAL

$4227
 

Assuming this student is Hope eligible, he or she would have authorized financial aid as follows:

 

Hope

$1549

Hope Books

$150

TOTAL

$1699
 

In order to receive a HOPE Book check, the student would need to pay all other fees by the fee payment deadline ($4227 – 1549 = $2678).

HOPE Scholarship Program

Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) programs are funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education.


    HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS

HOPE scholarships are available to eligible Georgia 1993 or later high school graduates. HOPE covers matriculation, a portion of the mandatory fees and a book allowance ($150 for 6 hours or more; $75 for 5 hours or less). There is no minimum enrollment for the HOPE Scholarship. Students may receive HOPE for as little as one semester hour of enrollment.

1) Georgia Residency. Students receiving a military out-of-state tuition waiver must also have graduated from a Georgia high school.

2) Grade point eligibility for entering freshmen is based on a final high school grade point average of 3.0 or better, as determined by the high school and reported to the Georgia Student Finance Commission by July 1 of each year. As of July 1, 2007, the grade point average will be determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

3) Regardless of high school graduation date or high school grade point average, Georgia residents with a 3.0 GPA at the 30th, 60th, or 90th attempted semester hour are eligible to participate in the program.

4) A 3.0 cumulative grade point average must be maintained while in college. The grade point average is reviewed at the 30th, 60th, and 90th attempted semester hour and end of Spring Semester check-point. This includes attempted courses at all prior colleges attended as well as GSW hours. GSW is a public institution. The HOPE Regulations for public institutions are different from those of private and technical institutions.

5) If a student loses the HOPE Scholarship for failure to maintain the required 3.0 GPA, he or she can reapply for HOPE after the 30th, 60th, or 90th attempted semester hour.

6) The HOPE Scholarship only pays up to 127 attempted hours or 127 paid hours including any prior school and GSW hours. Attempted hours include any letter grade including W, S, and U.


    HOPE TEACHER AND PROMISE Programs

HOPE TEACHER AND PROMISE Programs are also funded by the Georgia Lottery for education majors and are components of the HOPE Scholarship Program. Applications for HOPE Promise and HOPE Teacher will be available during Spring Semester. These applications will be available on-line at www.gacollege411.org(create an account), go to Applications and Transcripts, then Service Cancelable Loans, then Careers in Teaching (application procedures are subject to change). If you have questions, please call the Georgia Student Finance Commission at (770) 724-9030 or toll-free at 1-800-505-GSFC

The purpose of the HOPE Teacher program is to provide financial assistance to teachers, counselors, and individuals who are seeking advanced degrees in critical fields of study. Scholarship recipients agree to teach in a critical field in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, or secondary level after graduation. If a recipient fails to meet this obligation, the scholarship becomes a loan that must be repaid in cash with interest.

The HOPE Promise program is to attract high-achieving undergraduates into the teaching profession and provide them with financial assistance beginning the junior year and continuing through the senior year. Scholarship recipients agree to teach in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, or secondary level after graduation. If a recipient fails to meet this obligation, the scholarship becomes a loan that must be repaid in cash with interest.