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State Student Aid

Zell Miller Scholarship 
Georgia’s Zell Miller Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship pays per credit hour up to 15 credit hours (not including Learning Support classes) toward tuition to assist students with their educational costs of attending Georgia Highlands College. To receive Zell Miller Scholarship funding, students must meet all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements and:

  • Meet one of the following academic requirements:
    • Graduate from an eligible high school or accredited high school program as the Valedictorian or the Salutatorian.
    • Graduate from an eligible high school or accredited high school program with a minimum 3.7 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC) combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration.
    • Receive a high school diploma through petition of the local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281, from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.70 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC) combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration.
    • Complete an unaccredited home study program with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration and then earn a minimum 3.3 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework after home study completion. This option allows retroactive payment of the first 30 semester or 45 quarter hours after they are taken.
    • Enroll in an eligible post-secondary institution between 2007 and 2010 as a freshman, meeting one of the academic qualifications listed above and earn a 3.3 cumulative postsecondary grade point average at the most recent Zell Miller Scholarship checkpoint.
  • Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a Georgia Highlands College.
  • Meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirement.
  • Be a legal resident of Georgia.
  • Be within the seven-year eligibility limit.
  • Be registered with Selective Service, if required.
  • Maintain SAP Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the college.
  • Not be in default or owe a refund due on a student financial aid program.
  • Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with GHC School Code 009507 or the Georgia Scholarship/Grant Application (GSFAPP)

A student is ineligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship if the student has:

  • Received payment from any combination of HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships, HOPE or Zell Miller Grants, and Accel Program (through spring term 2011) funds totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
  • Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not Zell Miller funds were received while attempting the hours; or
  • Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) degree, regardless of whether or not Zell Miller funds were received while earning the degree; or
  • Reached the seven-year expiration of eligibility date.
HOPE Scholarship
Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship pays per credit hour  up to 15 credit hours (not including Learning Support classes) toward tuition to assist students with their educational costs of attending Georgia Highlands College. To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must:

  • Meet one of the following academic requirements:
    • Graduate from an eligible high school or accredited high school program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC) and meet the academic rigor requirement.
    • Receive a high school diploma through petition of the local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281, from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC).
    • Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete an unaccredited home study program, an accredited high school program, or earn a GED and score in the national composite 80th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT prior to completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework.
    • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an unaccredited home study program and then earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework for retroactive HOPE Scholarship payment.
    • Earn a 3.0 grade point average at the college level on degree coursework after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours, regardless of high school graduation status.
  • Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at Georgia Highlands College.
  • Meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements;
  • Be a legal resident of Georgia;
  • Be registered with Selective Service, if required;
  • Be within the seven-year eligibility limit;
  • Maintain SAP Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the college;
  • Not be in default or owe a refund due on a student financial aid program;
  • Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with GHC School Code 009507 or the Georgia Scholarship/Grant Application (GSFAPP).

A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship if he or she has:

  • Received payment from any combination of HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships, HOPE or Zell Miller Grants, and Accel (through Spring term 2011) Program funds totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
  • Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while attempting the hours; or
  • Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) degree, regardless of whether or not HOPE Scholarship funds were received while earning the degree, or
  • Reached the seven-year expiration of eligibility date.
Dual Enrollment (DE)
The Dual Enrollment Program (formerly known as MOWR or Move On When Ready) provides a student-specific award amount to be applied toward tuition, mandatory fees and book allowance to students who are dual credit enrolled at a participating eligible public or private high school, or home study program in Georgia, and Georgia Highlands College. These students take post-secondary coursework for credit towards both high school graduation or home study completion and post-secondary requirements. The program is offered during all terms of the school year; fall, spring and summer semester. To be eligible for the Dual Enrollment Program, a student must:

  • Be enrolled in the ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade of a private or public high school in Georgia or a home study program within the State of Georgia operated in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(c);
  • Be admitted to an eligible, participating USG, TCSG or Private post-secondary institution as a dual credit enrollment student;
  • Be enrolled in courses listed in the approved Dual Enrollment Course Directory;
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible post-secondary institution.

Dual credit enrollment hours taken at a post-secondary institution, under which Dual Enrollment payments have been made, are not counted as attempted hours, nor included in the combined paid hours limit.

For more information and application procedure for Dual Enrollment, click HERE.
Applying for the State Student Aid

New Freshman

You MUST be deemed a Final HOPE Scholar by the state (Georgia Student Finance Commission) based on your High School Transcripts. Our Office does not determine your eligibility. You DO NOT have to submit a HOPE Eligibility Review Form. If you believe you are eligible and you are not showing as eligible on the Offers link in your Charger Portal, or you do not see your HOPE award, please click here to contact our office.

Transfer Students

If you are requesting HOPE at GHC you need to complete the HOPE Eligibility Review Form and submit the completed form to the Financial Aid Office. All final transcripts must be received by Admissions and evaluated by the Registrars Office. Students who are transferring to GHC should be prepared to pay in advance and be reimbursed once eligibility is determined.

Transient Students

If you are a GHC student attending another institution as a Transient Student; complete the HOPE Transient Form and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid. Our office will process accordingly and send a HOPE Transient Certification to the Host Institution indicated on the form.

As a Transient Student visiting Georgia Highlands College, your Home Institution must submit a HOPE Transient Certificate to us through the state website in order for us to award any HOPE/Zell funds. Your Home Institution must also be HOPE/Zell eligible institution in the state of Georgia in order to be considered a HOPE Transient student.

Home Schooled Students

Any Home Schooled student seeking HOPE must completed 30 attempted semester hours first. Once you meet 30 attempted semester hours, you must submit a final transcript to GSFC to be evaluated and approved for retroactive pay for the first 30 hours.

To receive the HOPE Scholarship for future semesters after the first 30 attempted semester hours. Please complete the HOPE Eligibility Review Form.
HOPE/Zell Miller GPA Reviews

Eligibility reviews  are conducted at the 30, 60, 90 attempted semester hour checkpoints and at the end of every spring. If your GPA is below the required minimum at a checkpoint, eligibility will be lost.

Three Term Checkpoint – This checkpoint is conducted when a student does not attend full-time during the first three semesters. Eligibility will be evaluated after the third semester.

Eligibility can only be regained during 30, 60 or 90 attempted semester hour checkpoints (all institutions attended and courses taken towards a degree program are calculated). A HOPE Eligibility Review Form must be submitted to be evaluated.