**Eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship
[color=red]Basic Eligibility**[/color
All HOPE programs require students to meet basic requirements. An eligible student must:
Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements;
Be a legal resident of Georgia;
Meet enrollment requirements;
Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements;
Meet academic achievement standards;
Be in good standing on all student loans or other financial aid programs;
Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990;
Not have exceeded the maximum award limits for any HOPE program.
Program Eligibility
To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must:
Meet one of the following academic requirements:
Graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC).
Receive a high school diploma through petition of the local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, from a HOPE-eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (as calculated by GSFC).
Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete a home study program in Georgia, or earn a GED and score in the national composite 75th 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 a home study program in Georgia 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 minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours after high school graduation, home study completion, or receipt of GED.
Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a public or private HOPE-eligible college or university in Georgia.
Meet academic rigor requirements. Beginning with students graduating from an eligible high school on or after May 1, 2015, students must complete a specific number of academically rigorous courses, as identified on the Academic Rigor Course List, in addition to meeting the GPA requirements.
This does not include students who received a high school diploma through petition of his or her local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, nor does it apply to students graduating from home study programs.
Initial Academic Eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship | Georgia Student Finance Commission