Georgia budget includes fully funding HOPE scholarship

Aspen Ricca

Graduates of the Class of 2019 celebrate with a traditional cap toss.

You HOPE'd, they delivered

Since 1993, Georgia’s HOPE scholarship is a scholarship that allows students with a B average to receive tuition. This means that students do not have to pay extra tuition funds as long as they can maintain a B average. On April 6, Georgia’s lawmakers signed an agreement for the $32.6 million budget starting on July 1 to change the coverage of tuition. The Georgia funding is coming from extra funds from lottery revenues. According to an article from the Associated Press “the agreement also boosts the amount for HOPE scholars recipients who attend private colleges in Georgia.”  This change goes into effect on July 1.

Previously, HOPE covered only about 90 percent of funding for tuition, according to a 2018 story “As HOPE marks 25 years, some say changes could aid more students,” in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Students at McIntosh are excited about their new possible future and students who are attending a private college are excited that private colleges are finally getting HOPE tuition. 

“[This] is helpful because generally tuition for private schools [is] higher. [This will] help take some of the weight off [students attending private schools],” senior Camryn Jordan said. 

HOPE Scholarship breakdown

This information comes from the Georgia Student Finance Commission website.

HOPE Scholarship

• A minimum 3.00 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC
• Maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average
• An undergraduate degree at a HOPE Scholarship eligible college or university in Georgia.
• A student is ineligible to receive HOPE Scholarship funds once the student has reached the 127 semester or 190 quarter hour limit.

HOPE Grant

• Georgia residents who are pursuing a certificate or diploma.
• Maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average
• The grant provides tuition assistance to students enrolled at a HOPE Grant-eligible college or university in Georgia.
• A student is ineligible to receive HOPE Grant funds once the student has reached the 63 semester or 95 quarter-hour limit.

Zell Miller Scholarship

• Similar to the HOPE Scholarship, but with more stringent academic requirements.
• A Zell Miller Scholarship recipient must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.70 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC),
• A minimum SAT score of 1200 on the math and reading portions or a minimum composite ACT score of 26 in a single national test administration
• Maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible.
• A student is ineligible to receive Zell Miller Scholarship funds once the student has reached the 127 semester or 190 quarter hour limit.

Zell Miller Grant

• Zell Miller Grant is a merit-based program available to Georgia residents pursuing a certificate or diploma.
• Must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative postsecondary grade point average
• Eligible students are provided full standard tuition assistance while enrolled at a Zell Miller Grant-eligible college or university in Georgia.
• A student is ineligible to receive Zell Miller Grant funds once the student has reached the 63 semester or 95 quarter hour limit.

Students are thrilled about the more opportunities that they are given because of HOPE. 

“The idea of HOPE being able to fully fund means that I have a lot more of a range of opportunities of places that I could go instead of being shut down to just a very small amount of schools,” junior August Moss said. 

Students who struggled with keeping both HOPE and the Zell Miller grant now feel this will make it easier for them and other students who struggle to get the GPA requirement in high school.

“I’ve been right on the edge between Zell Miller and HOPE for a while, so having HOPE cover it all makes it easier so it’s [a] guarantee if you just get a B average, and I think a lot of kids that would need that tuition aren’t going aren’t necessarily be the kids that are going to earn high A’s in all their classes,” senior Reagan Vetter said. 

Senior Sophia Campbell agrees with Vetter. 

“I had a hard year last year and it dropped my GPA. This year I’m trying to make sure I get HOPE because if I don’t get it, then the first year I’lll have to go to a smaller college rather than the college I want to go to,” Campbell said. 

McIntosh School Counselors went in depth with GA Student Finance to find out more about this situation, but on Monday, May 1, they were unavailable to comment about any follow-ups. 

“[We] spoke to Georgia Student Finance and [they told us] they will push out information to us as counselors once they receive word [about any changes],” School Counselor Diana Le said. 

Students are hoping HOPE continues to be fully funded tuition so students who need this coverage have the coverage. 

“I’m completely ecstatic and I hope that [a fully funded HOPE scholarship] will continue for more and more generations,” Moss said. 

Students interested in learning more about their potential HOPE award should reach out to their school counselors, can visit the GAFutures website and also use the GAFutures Award calculator.