Zell Miller Scholarships and Hope Scholarship for Georgia Students 2025
Description
The Zell Miller Scholaships and the HOPE Scholarship are two of the most impactful financial aid programs available to Georgia students. They help students do well in school and make it easier to pay for college. These scholarships are funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. While this article offers detailed insights, students should also consult the official site, www.gafutures.org, for the most current program regulations and application instructions.
The HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships are both meant to help Georgia residents who do well in school, but they have different rules about who can get them, how much money they can get, and how to apply. Families can save thousands of dollars by knowing how these scholarships work, and students can stay on track to keep getting them.
Process
- It’s easy to apply for the Zell Miller Scholarships and the HOPE Scholarship, but you need to pay close attention to the deadlines and requirements. There are two main choices for students:
- Georgia Scholarship/Grant Application (GSFAPP): Completed at gafutures.org. This only needs to be completed once and remains valid for 10 years.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Completed annually.
Experts recommend that students complete both, but at a minimum, the GSFAPP should be on file to ensure consistent scholarship consideration. Importantly, students must have an application on record by the last day of the semester to receive funds for that term.
For students attending another HOPE-eligible institution as a transient student, the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship Transient Process must be followed. Details for this process are provided on the official website, and failure to complete it properly may lead to loss of funding for that semester.
Amounts
The Zell Miller Scholarships cover the standard undergraduate tuition rate in Georgia. The HOPE Scholarship, on the other hand, pays per credit hour, up to a maximum number of hours per semester.
At the University of Georgia (UGA), where tuition is charged on a flat-rate basis, the structure interacts with HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships in specific ways. UGA charges one rate for 1–6 hours and another rate for 7 or more hours. Even if tuition does not change when adding or dropping classes, HOPE pays by credit hour. This means that changes to class schedules can alter the amount covered by HOPE, potentially leaving students with unexpected tuition balances.
Example Case
Consider Malik, who is awarded the HOPE Scholarship. He enrolls in 14 hours with a tuition bill of $5,017. HOPE covers $4,682.58, leaving him with $334.42 to pay. If Malik drops to 12 hours during the add/drop period, tuition remains $5,017, but HOPE coverage drops to $4,013.64, creating an unexpected balance of $668.89.
This illustrates how careful planning is essential to avoid financial surprises.
2025–26 UGA HOPE Award Amounts
| Hours of Enrollment | Tuition Charged | Covered by HOPE (2024–2025) | Remaining Balance |
| 15 | $5,017.00 | $5,017.00 | $0.00 |
| 14 | $5,017.00 | $4,682.58 | $334.42 |
| 13 | $5,017.00 | $4,348.11 | $668.89 |
| 12 | $5,017.00 | $4,013.64 | $1,003.36 |
| 11 | $5,017.00 | $3,679.17 | $1,337.83 |
| 10 | $5,017.00 | $3,344.70 | $1,672.30 |
| 9 | $5,017.00 | $3,010.23 | $2,006.77 |
| 8 | $5,017.00 | $2,675.76 | $2,341.24 |
| 7 | $5,017.00 | $2,341.29 | $2,675.71 |
| 6 | $2,982.00 | $2,006.82 | $975.18 |
| 5 | $2,982.00 | $1,672.35 | $1,309.65 |
| 4 | $2,982.00 | $1,337.88 | $1,644.12 |
| 3 | $2,982.00 | $1,003.41 | $1,978.59 |
| 2 | $2,982.00 | $668.94 | $2,313.06 |
| 1 | $2,982.00 | $334.47 | $2,647.53 |
Basic HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for either HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships, students must:
- Legally resident of Georgia.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Enroll in a degree-seeking program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Additionally:
- Students cannot be in default on federal or state aid.
- Males must be registered with Selective Service if required.
- Students must comply with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.
- Students lose eligibility once they earn their first bachelor’s degree.
Initial eligibility is determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. These requirements ensure fairness and academic responsibility among recipients.
Residency for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
Residency rules are crucial. Students must be Georgia residents at the time of high school graduation to qualify immediately. If they are not, they must wait 24 months after establishing domicile in Georgia.
Example Case
Frank graduated from a Texas high school but moved with his family to Georgia on September 2, 2020. UGA gave him in-state tuition, but he couldn’t get Zell Miller Scholarships until September 2, 2022. He could only apply in the spring of 2023 because this happened after the start of the fall semester.
This example highlights the importance of timing in residency and Zell Miller Scholarships eligibility.
Continuing Eligibility
Maintaining eligibility is just as important as initial qualifications.
- HOPE recipients to must keep a 3.00 GPA.
- Zell Miller recipients must maintain a 3.30 GPA.
Eligibility extends through 127 attempted or paid hours, whichever comes first. Scholarship status is reviewed at 30, 60, and 90 attempted hours, as well as every spring semester. Students can only regain eligibility at the 30, 60, or 90-hour marks, not after spring reviews. If a student loses eligibility twice, they cannot regain it again.
What Counts Toward Attempted Hours and GPA
All post–high school courses attempted at degree-granting institutions count toward attempted hours and GPA—even those at out-of-state or foreign schools. This includes courses repeated multiple times. However, dual enrollment, AP, IB, and similar high school credits do not count.
UGA and the Georgia Student Finance Commission provide detailed guidelines on this to ensure clarity. Students must track their progress carefully on gafutures.org.
Understanding Your HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship GPA
The HOPE/Zell GPA differs from your university GPA. For example, UGA uses a plus/minus grading scale, but the plusses and minuses do not count toward the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholaships GPA.
Since fall 2017, an extra 0.5 weight is added for grades of B, C, or D in approved STEM courses. This incentive makes more students want to study math, engineering, and technology, which are all fields that are in high demand.
Grade Changes and Transfer Credit
If you want to get a scholarship, you need to keep good records. Students who turn in their transcripts or grade changes late may have to give back scholarship money they got when they weren’t really eligible.
Example Case
At first, Lacy’s GPA seemed to be good enough. But her GPA went down below 3.0 when she turned in her summer transfer transcripts late. This meant that she had to give back the HOPE money she got in the fall and spring semesters. These kinds of things show how important it is to get your transcripts in on time.
STEM Courses and the Zell Miller Scholarships
Since 2017, approved STEM courses earn an additional 0.5 weight in HOPE and Zell Miller Scholaships GPA calculations. This makes it slightly easier for students in rigorous majors to maintain eligibility. The official list of eligible courses is updated annually in the STEM Weighted Course Directory.
Second Degrees, Double Majors, and Dual Degrees – Double Dawgs
Eligibility for both scholarships ends once a student meets graduation requirements for their first undergraduate degree. Students pursuing double majors or dual degrees must plan accordingly, as funding does not extend beyond the first completed degree.
Expiration Date for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
For students who received their first scholarship disbursement summer 2019 or later, eligibility expires 10 years after high school graduation. For those who began between summer 2011 and spring 2019, eligibility expires after 7 years. Earlier recipients face no expiration.
This rule ensures that scholarships support timely completion of degrees.
FAQs
1. What GPA do I need to keep Zell Miller Scholaships?
Students must maintain a minimum 3.30 Zell Miller GPA, checked at 30, 60, and 90 credit hours, as well as every spring semester.
2. Can I get both HOPE and Zell Miller at the same time?
No, you are awarded either HOPE Scholarships or Zell Miller based on your GPA and test scores. Zell Miller covers more tuition, but both cannot be received together.
3. Does Zell Miller Scholaships pay for fees and books?
No. Zell Miller covers tuition only. Students must pay for fees, books, housing, and other expenses separately.
4. Can I regain Zell Miller after losing it?
If you lose Zell Miller, you may drop to HOPE Scholarships eligibility. However, you can only regain Zell Miller at the 30, 60, or 90-hour checkpoints, not during spring reviews.
5. Do STEM courses help with Zell Miller Scholaships eligibility?
Yes. Approved STEM courses add a 0.5 weight to grades of B, C, or D, helping students maintain the required GPA.
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