We have more HOPE scholarship scholars graduating this year than we’ve had in the six years that I’ve been here at a Savannah High and we are on track to have even more next year!!!

Why is that important?  Here are a few thoughts:

·         Georgia has 26 universities as part of the University System of Georgia (USG) and 22 colleges as part of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

·         HOPE scholarship pays 90% of tuition to state schools (USG or TCSG)

o   If a student goes to:

§  Savannah Tech, they’d pay just $300 in tuition for a FULL year

§  Savannah State, they’d pay just $360 in tuition for a FULL year

§  Georgia Southern, they’d pay just $452 in tuition for a FULL year

o   While this does NOT include room/board; it also doesn’t include what they may get from the Pell grant (up to $7,395) or any other scholarships!

·         Zell Miller Scholarship pays 100% tuition!!!!

But what if they haven’t performed as well in high school and don’t qualify for the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship?

Then they have access to the HOPE/Zell Miller Grants.  These grants DO NOT depend on a high school GPA but both have GPA requirements to remain active while in a diploma or degree seeking program.

·         The HOPE grant acts like the HOPE scholarship in that it will pay 90% of tuition but only at a TCSG school like Savannah Tech

·         The Zell Miller grant will pay 100% tuition

·         The HOPE Career Grant is an additional grant that awards additional money for degrees/certificates that the state of Georgia has deemed in short supply

·         All of this is available while also potentially receiving a Pell Grant based on financial need

While I hope I still have your attention, do you know of a Georgia graduate who never got their degree (2 or 4 year) or never took advantage of these opportunities?  The TCSG schools, such as Savannah Tech, offer 17 programs with FREE tuition!!!!