The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) is implementing the College HOPE Eligibility Calculation System (CHECS). CHECS has been developed to centralize the review and approval process of determining eligibility for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Programs. Effective December 2018, Georgia Tech along with all other colleges and universities in Georgia will use CHECS to transmit grades and transfer credit information to GSFC for their review and approval to determine continued eligibility.
Effective January 2019, students will need to use GSFC’s website GAFutures to review their status and eligibility. Access to GAFutures does require the student to have a GAFutures account. For more information about GAFutures and access to the portal, please visit the GSFC’s site: www.gafutures.org.
The information below is based on information provided by GSFC. Additional details are available at GAfutures.
HOPE and Zell Miller are merit based scholarship programs available to students who have met the University System of Georgia and the GSFC residency requirements and are enrolled in an undergraduate degree seeking program. Students may receive HOPE or Zell Miller, but NOT both at the same time. This page outlines the differences.
| HOPE | Zell Miller | |
|---|---|---|
| High School Eligibility Requirements | A high school GPA of 3.0 as calculated by GSFC | A high school GPA of 3.7 as calculated by GSFC AND an SAT score of 1200 or ACT of 26. |
| College Eligibility Requirements | Maintain a 3.0 HOPE GPA | Maintain a 3.3 ZELL GPA |
| Check-points (Losing and regaining awards) | Eligibility is checked at the end of each Spring semester and when 30, 60, and 90 credit hours have been attempted.
Once lost, eligibility can be regained just once, and only at the 30, 60, 90 attempted hour checkpoints. Students will be checked at the end of every Spring term, even if they were not enrolled in classes that term. HOPE cannot be regained at this checkpoint unless it is also a 30th/60th/90th attempted hour checkpoint. |
Eligibility is checked at the end of each Spring semester and when 30, 60, and 90 credit hours have been attempted.
Once lost, eligibility can be regained just once, and only at the 30, 60, 90 attempted hour checkpoints. Students will be checked at the end of every Spring term, even if they were not enrolled in classes that term. ZELL cannot be regained at this checkpoint unless it is also a 30th/60th/90th attempted hour checkpoint. |
| Time and Credit Hour Limits | HOPE can be received either
OR
HOPE eligibility may end seven (7) years from the date of high school graduation. HOPE eligibility may end Ten (10) years from the date of high school graduation for students who received their FIRST HOPE payment Summer term 2019 or later. |
Zell Miller can be received either
OR
Zell Miller eligibility may end seven (7) years from the date of high school graduation. Zell eligibility may end Ten (10) years from the date of high school graduation for students who received their FIRST Zell payment Summer term 2019 or later. |
| Award Amounts |
Awards are based on anticipated enrollment in 15 credit hours each semester. For 2020-2021, annual awards will be set at a maximum of $7,680. For students who are enrolled for the summer semester, the HOPE Scholarship will pay per credit hour based on the summer tuition cost in addition to the maximum mentioned above. Beginning Fall 2011, there are no awards for fees or books through this program. |
Awards are based on anticipated enrollment in at least 15 hours each semester. For 2020-2021, the maximum annual award is $10,258. For students who are enrolled for the summer semester, the Zell Miller Scholarship will pay per credit hour in conjunction with summer tuition cost in addition to the maximum mentioned above. For students who are approaching the credit hour limit described above, awards are reduced based on remaining eligibility. Beginning Fall 2011, there are no awards for fees or books through this program. |
| Payment Amounts | Actual payment amounts for HOPE will be pro-rated down for students enrolled in fewer than 15 eligible hours. | Actual payment amounts for Zell Miller will be for exact tuition charges assessed by the Bursar for eligible courses. |
|
How to Apply ANNUAL PRIORITY DEADLINE: JANUARY 31st |
1. Annually, complete the Georgia Tech Application for Scholarships and Financial Aid AND 2. Complete the FAFSA OR Complete the GSFAPPS (HOPE Application). |
1. Annually, complete the Georgia Tech Application for Scholarships and Financial Aid AND 2. Complete the FAFSA OR Complete the GSFAPPS (HOPE Application). |
| Appeals Process | If your final award notice from our office did not include the HOPE scholarship and you believe you should qualify, appeal directly to GSFC. Please notify our office of the outcome once a determination is made. | If your final award notice from our office did not include the Zell Miller scholarship and you believe you should qualify, appeal directly to GSFC. Please notify our office of the outcome once a determination is made |
View Hope and Zell Miller Scholarship Presentation
Page last reviewed/updated 06/09/20
