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A scholarship is money that is applied toward college tuition and does not have to be repaid (except in a few rare situations, like dropping out of school in the middle of a semester). You can win a scholarship from any number of sources, from your school to your employer. There are also scholarships and grants available to students who live in certain locations. Luckily, residents of the Peach State have a lot of options when it comes to paying for college.
Public scholarships and grants for Georgia residents:
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Program
Award Amount: Up to $1,425 annually
Application Deadline: Varies
This award is open to undergraduate students who are attending school full-time at an eligible private institution in Georgia. Students can earn $475 per semester or $317 per quarter. The award is renewable and available for up to 127 semester hours (190 quarter hours). Students may apply through the FAFSA (which must be filed each year to maintain eligibility) or the Georgia Student Finance Application. The application deadline is determined by individual institutions, so check with your school for theirs!
Award Amount: Up to $1,000 per semester
Application Deadline: Last day of the semester or quarter
This award is available to students who are enrolled in specific majors, including engineering, computer programming, nursing, and manufacturing, at an eligible Georgia school. You can find the full list of eligible programs here. Eligibility requirements for the HOPE Career Grant are the same as for a HOPE Grant (see below) plus enrollment in an eligible program. Students can apply through either the FAFSA or the Georgia Student Finance Application. Award amount depends on the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled.
Award Amount: $500
Application Deadline: Last day of the semester or quarter
The HOPE GED Grant is available to students who received a GED through the Technical College System of Georgia and are attending an in-state school. The grant is given in the form of a one-time $500 award that can be used toward books, tuition, or other educational costs. The award must be used within 24 months of earning your GED. Students can apply for this grant by filing the FAFSA or completing the Georgia Student Finance Application.
Award Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Last day of the semester or quarter
Students who are pursuing a certificate or diploma at an eligible Georgia institution are likely eligible for the HOPE Grant. The HOPE Grant does not require full-time enrollment in a degree program or a certain high school GPA, however to maintain eligibility, students must demonstrate a 2.0 GPA in their postsecondary courses. Complete the FAFSA or the Georgia Student Finance Application to apply.
Award Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Last day of the semester or quarter
Minimum GPA Required: 3.0
The HOPE Scholarship is available to students who meet certain academic requirements: graduating from a HOPE-eligible high school with at least a 3.0 GPA; graduating from a non-HOPE-eligible high school or homeschool program, or earning a GED and scoring in the top 25% of students on the SAT or ACT; or earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 after attempting at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of college-level coursework. Students must also complete at least four rigorous courses while in high school and enroll at a HOPE-eligible institution in Georgia following graduation. Apply by completing the FAFSA (which must be filed each year to maintain eligibility) or the Georgia Student Finance Application.
Award Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Last day of the semester or quarter
The Zell Miller Grant is available to students who are enrolled in a certificate or degree program at an institution in the Technical College System of Georgia or University System of Georgia. Neither full-time enrollment nor a certain high school GPA are required, but in college, students must have a 3.5 GPA at the end of each term to maintain eligibility. Students can complete the FAFSA or the Georgia Student Finance Application to apply.
Award Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: Last day of the semester or quarter
The requirements for the Zell Miller Scholarship are roughly the same as the HOPE Scholarship listed above, however, this scholarship has one further academic requirement. A student must graduate from a participating high school as the valedictorian or salutatorian, graduate with at least a 3.7 GPA and a combined SAT score of 1200 or ACT score of 26, or one of the other, less common scenarios listed on the program’s website. Students can apply by completing the FAFSA each year or submitting the Georgia Student Finance Application.
Private scholarships for Georgia residents:
Charles Harbin III Memorial Scholarship
Award Amount: Up to $1,500
Application Deadline: April 22, 2019
Minimum GPA Required: 2.75
Letter of Recommendation: Yes
Essay: Yes
This scholarship is open to Georgia residents who will be graduating from high school this spring and attending an accredited institution in the U.S. in the fall of 2019. Students must be able to demonstrate financial need. The application packet includes at least one letter of recommendation, your transcript, your Student Aid Report (from the FAFSA), and proof of acceptance to a two- or four-year institution. Students must submit one 500-word essay answering the question “If it could talk, how would the inanimate object(s) integral to your passion describe you?” and another 500-word short story using one of the following titles:
- Another Brick in the Wall
- The Travel’s Mind
- Conversation with a Turtle
- The Green Jeep
- Answer to a Beautiful Poem
Constitutional Officers' Association of Georgia (COAG) Scholarship
Award Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: March 31, 2019
Essay: Yes
The COAG Scholarship is open to high school seniors, GED candidates, and full-time undergraduate students who are Georgia residents and who are currently or will be attending an accredited institution in Georgia. To apply, you must provide proof of enrollment or acceptance, proof of residency, and a 1000-word essay addressing the following prompt “Interview a constitutional officer in your county. Spend some time with them and describe things that they do on a daily basis.” Four scholarships are awarded annually.
Georgia Mining Foundation Scholarship Program
Award Amount: Up to $1,000
Letter of Recommendation: Yes
Essay: Yes
High school seniors who live in a county where a mining or mineral producer operates are eligible to apply for this scholarship to help alleviate the cost of higher education. Students must earn a combined score of 960 on the SAT or 18 on the ACT; complete four years of English, three years of history or social science, and five math or science courses while in high school; and write a 200-word essay about how this scholarship would help further their education and their plans for the money. Students are also required to submit one letter of recommendation, their high school transcripts, and proof of financial need. The 2019 deadline has passed, but watch for the 2020 application in the fall.
Though private scholarships that are open only to Georgia residents are few in number, the state provides plenty of grants and scholarships that are open to many students. Doing a thorough internet search could turn up even more options, so be sure to spend some time pouring through the results! Your tuition bill will thank you.
