Georgia HOPE Scholarship

About this scholarship

The Georgia HOPE Scholarship is a state merit award for Georgia residents pursuing an undergraduate degree at an eligible public, technical, or private college in Georgia. It is not a separate Clark Atlanta University scholarship; Clark Atlanta is one of the private institutions where an eligible student may use the statewide benefit. At public USG and TCSG institutions, HOPE applies the approved standard undergraduate tuition rate for the enrolled credit hours, up to 15 hours per term. At eligible private institutions, the official 2026–27 schedule provides $2,985 per semester for 12 or more hours, or $1,493 for six to eleven hours. The annual sorting value shown here uses two full-time private-institution semesters ($5,970); actual awards vary by institution and enrollment and do not cover every cost of attendance. Students apply through either the annual FAFSA or the one-time Georgia Student Finance Application. The state deadline is the last day of the school term or the student’s withdrawal date, whichever comes first, though a college may impose an earlier deadline. Initial eligibility for graduates of an eligible high school generally requires a 3.0 calculated HOPE GPA and four rigor credits. Students must continue meeting institutional satisfactory academic progress and the HOPE academic checkpoints, remain in good financial-aid standing, and stay within the program’s paid-hour and expiration limits.

Eligibility

• Meet U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen requirements
• Meet the applicable Georgia residency requirement determined by the eligible college
• Enroll as a degree-seeking undergraduate at a HOPE-eligible USG, TCSG, or private Georgia institution
• For the standard eligible-high-school pathway, graduate with at least a 3.0 calculated HOPE GPA and four academic rigor credits
• Meet the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy and continuing HOPE academic checkpoints
• Be in good standing on federal and Georgia student loans, grants, scholarships, and required refunds
• Comply with Selective Service requirements when applicable and the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act
• Complete either the FAFSA or GSFAPP by the last day of the term or withdrawal date, and meet any earlier institutional deadline
• Remain within the maximum HOPE paid-hour and expiration limits