State of Georgia - Funding Opportunities:

The State of Georgia offers a number of funding opportunties to assist with post-secondary education. The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) is the state agency that provides financial aid to help Georgia students realize their higher education dreams. Georgia Student Finance Commission programs include state- and lottery-funded scholarships, grants and service cancelable loans. To learn more about the following programs, please visit the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
 
Due to changes in State legislation affecting the funding of the HOPE programs effective Fall 2011, please visit HOPE Changes.
 
Georgia HOPE Program
The Georgia Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) scholarship and grant programs arestate funded award programs which provide financial assistance to students in degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs. The HOPE program will pay partial tuition as determined by the Commission for eligible students.
 
At Savannah Technical College, the HOPE Grant will cover partial tuition for diploma and certificate programs. The HOPE Scholarship will cover partial tuition for degree programs. HOPE does not cover Continuing Education Courses, books and supplies, or mandatory fees. For further information regarding the HOPE programs, visit www.GAcollege411.org.
 
HOPE Grant
The HOPE Grant assists students who are enrolled in a technical certificate or diploma program. To be eligible for the HOPE Grant, a student must:
•be a Georgia resident;
•not be in default of a student loan;
•have no controlled substance convictions;
•have no overpayments;
•meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements;
•register with Selective Service (Males between the ages of 18-26 only).
HOPE Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship assists students who are enrolled in a degree program. To be eligible as a first year student (Tier 1), a student must:
•be a Georgia resident;
•have earned a “B” average in the core curriculum subjects (if a 2000 and thereafter high school graduate); •have no controlled substance convictions;
•have no overpayments;
•meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements;
•register with Selective Service (Males between the ages of 18-26 only).

A non-traditional student may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship after completing 30 credit hours and maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Cumulative GPA is reviewed every thirty (30) attempted semester hours (30/60/90 semester hour checkpoints). Degree courses from previous institutions are calculated in the GPA even if HOPE was not received.

Beginning with Fall term 2011, a student who has not received HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011, and meets all other eligibility requirements for HOPE Scholarship, may receive the HOPE Scholarship within seven years of high school graduation. Students not acdemcally eligible for the HOPE Scholarship immediately after high school graduation may be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, if a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is obtained after attempting 30 semester hours of study. All students must complete an Evaluation for HOPE Scholars form to be considered for HOPE for degree programs. Contact the Financial Aid Office to obtain a copy of the form.
 
The HOPE GED Grant
A state grant for a one-time non-renewable payment award of $500 awarded to Georgia GED test takers who pass the GED exam after July 30, 1993. After passing the GED exam, graduates will receive a voucher from Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) for $500 in the mail. Graduates must enroll and attend classes in order to use their voucher. The voucher must be signed and brought to the Financial Aid Office.
 
Zell Miller Scholarship
The Zell Miller Scholarship Program is a merit based scholarship program with specific academic and grade point average eligibility requirements. The Zell Miller scholarship program is to encourage the academic achievement of Georgia’s high school students seeking a degree from a post-secondary institution in Georgia. Scholarship will pay tuition amount as determined by the Commission for eligible students. 
General Eligibility Requirements:
•be a Georgia resident;
•must be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary institution
•have no controlled substance convictions;
•must not be in default or have no overpayments on Title IV or State of GA educational loans
•meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements;
•register with Selective Service (Males between the ages of 18-26 only).
 
Specific Requirements:
•Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum of 3.70 Cumulative Grade Point Average on a 4.00 scale as calculated by GSFC.
•Recieve a minimum score of 1200 combined critical reading and math on a single adminstration of the SAT at the time of high school graduation or recieve a composite scale score of 26 on a single adminstration of the ACT at the time of high school.
Georgia HERO Scholarship
Georgia’s Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring (HERO) Scholarship is a state funded award created to provide financial aid to students seeking a post-secondary education, who are current members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves who have served in a combat zone. The children of such service men and women and their surviving spouses are also eligible to receive the scholarship. Recipients may receive up to $2,000 per academic year or $1,000 per semester for any two semesters (summer, fall or spring). The award amount is subject to change during the award year. A student must be a Georgia resident in order to receive the HERO Scholarship. No student shall receive payment for more than two semesters or three quarters for an Award Year. For eligibility criteria and official program regulations, please visit the Paying for College tab at http://www.GAcollege411.org .
 
Georgia Student Access Loan
The Student Access Loan is a low interest loan provided by GSFC.
Loan Program Information
  • The SAL loan program is designed to be funding of last resort for college students who have a gap in their college financing.
  • The interest rate on the loan is 1% and the repayment term is ten years after graduation.
  • Students may borrow up to $10,000 per year up to a maximum of $40,000 over their college lifetime. (See frequently asked questions).
  • Each loan includes an origination fee of 5% of the loan amount not to exceed a total of $50 dollars per loan. The fee is deducted equally from each disbursement.
  • Loan funds may be used towards any part of the student's cost of attendance.
  • Interest payments are required while the student is enrolled.
Student Eligibility
  • Students who have yet to begin their first year of attendance in college must have graduated from an eligible high school with a 2.5 GPA in core subjects.
  • Students who are in their second or subsequent year of attendance at an eligible postsecondary institution must have a cumulative 2.0 college GPA.
  • Students must be Georgia residents and United States citizens or eligible non-citizens.
  • Students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the SAP policy at your college or university. Failure to maintain SAP may result in your ineligibility for this loan.
  • To be eligible for a SAL Program loan, students must have applied for and exhausted other student financial aid including federal and state student loans, Parent PLUS loans, and scholarship and grant programs.
  • Students will be randomly selected from the pool of all applicants received during the application cycle.
  • Student must be attending an eligible college or university IN GEORGIA. Click on the below link to see the list of eligible colleges and universities and find out if your college or university is approved for participation in the SAL Program. If your school is not presently on the list of eligible postsecondary institutions they need to contact GSFA and request participation in the program.
To learn more about this program and to apply, visit GAcollege411 Student Access Loan