HOPE & Zell Miller

The HOPE Program consists of six different aid programs. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on all six of these programs, visit the Georgia Student Finance Commission website or the GAfutures website.

HOPE GED Grant is available to Georgia residents who earn a General Education Development (GED) diploma awarded by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).

HOPE Grant is available to Georgia residents who are pursuing a certificate or diploma. A HOPE Grant recipient must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible.

HOPE Career Grant is available to Georgia residents who are receiving the HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant and pursuing an approved certificate or diploma at an eligible college or university in Georgia. The grant provides assistance toward educational costs for students enrolled in career fields that have been identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growth.

Zell Miller Grant is a merit-based program available to Georgia residents pursuing a certificate or diploma. A Zell Miller Grant recipient must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible.

HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based award available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. A HOPE Scholarship recipient must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.00 grade point average and maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible.

Zell Miller Scholarship is a merit-based award available to Georgia residents. A Zell Miller Scholarship recipient must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.70 grade point average, combined with 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, and maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative postsecondary grade point average to remain eligible. 

Your HOPE GPA is typically different than your high school GPA. Your HOPE GPA is calculated using your academic courses, foreign languages, and other academic electives. Refer to GAfutures or your school counselor to determine what classes are HOPE eligible. Your HOPE GPA is also weighted differently than your high school GPA. Please see your college adviser or school counselor to better understand how your HOPE GPA is calculated and weighted.