TerminologyScholarships: An award that does not have to be repaid. Scholarships are generally granted based on an applicant meeting certain eligibility criteria.
Grants: A grant is a financial award given to a student for the purposes of paying for all or part of college expense. A grant does not need to be repaid by the student. Loans: Financial Aid awards that the student or parent borrows from a lender, the school or other third party. Loans must be repaid by the borrower, usually with interest. Work-study: A work-study program allows a student to earn money by working part time during the school year as a component of their financial aid package. The jobs are usually on campus. |
Sources of financial aidFederal Government: The federal government is the largest source of financial aid. Awards are based on financial need. Students fill out the Federal Application for Student Aid each year. Visit www.fafsa.gov for additional information.
Colleges and Universities: Schools offer a wide variety of aid and scholarships to students. These awards are both merit-based and need-based. Students might need to complete an additional application for scholarships or it may be offered as part of the admissions process. Contact your school of interest for additional information. Private Sources: Churches, companies, and other organizations offer a variety of scholarships for students. Each organization has a specific set of qualification requirements. For additional information contact local organizations or visit scholarship search websites. |
HOPE Scholarship ProgramThe HOPE Scholarship program is for students that are seeking a college degree and plan on attending college in Georgia. A 3.0 GPA in academic courses (Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Foreign Language) is required. A part of your college tuition will be covered. This amount will vary depending on projected lottery revenues and expenditures.
The HOPE Grant program is for students seeking a technical certification or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade point average or graduation date. This will cover a certain percentage of tuition at a Georgia public technical college or public college or university. The Zell Miller Scholarship program is for students who have demonstrated academic achievement and that are seeking a college degree in Georgia. To become eligible, a student must graduate with a 3.70 GPA in academic courses and a minimum score of 1200 on the SAT (Critical Reading and Math, one sitting) or 26 on the ACT in one sitting. |