HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally)

HOPE Scholarships and Grants are available for qualified students attending MSC and may be applied to eligible tuition charges not covered by another source that is applied to student's tuition. The HOPE programs have changed with the passage of House Bill (HB) 326 recently signed into law by the governor. Please visit https://secure.gacollege411.org/default.aspx for additional information and eligibility requirements as policies and procedures are finalized in addition to the following questions and answers related to the changes.

When do the changes to HOPE go into effect?

The HOPE changes will go into effect for Fall Semester 2011.

Are there changes for Summer Semester 2011?

Yes, the one change to Summer Semester 2011 is the Hope Book Allowance. If you are a PELL eligible student, your Hope Book Allowance will not change; however, if you are not PELL eligible, your Hope Book Allowance will be reduced from a maximum of $150 to $75.

I have attempted 125 HOPE hours after Spring Semester 2011. How much will HOPE pay for courses I am taking Fall Semester 2011?

HOPE will cover up to 127 attempted hours. Since you only have 2 attempted hours left, HOPE will pay for 2 hours. You will be responsible for paying for the remainder.

If I decide to attend Summer Semester 2011 and have attempted 125 hours, how much will HOPE pay for my tuition?

HOPE will pay for your full tuition.

For Fall Semester 2011, how much will HOPE cover for fees and books?

HOPE will not pay for any funds towards fees or books.

I heard the new Hope law also included a 1% loan program from the state. How do I apply?

The regulations for this program have not been released. Check out www.gacollege411.org for additional information.

I am currently a HOPE scholar. How do I find out if I am a Zell Miller Scholar?

In order to be a Zell Miller scholar, you must meet all three of the requirements listed below:

• You must maintain a college Hope GPA of a 3.3 or above.
• Your SAT score on one single test for Verbal and Math must be at least 1200 or a composite ACT score of 26 or higher.
• You had a Hope high school GPA of 3.7 or more.

If I am eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship, how much does it cover?

The Zell Miller Scholarship will pay your full regular tuition.

Is there now a time limit besides attempted hours to use HOPE scholarship?

Yes, you must use your HOPE scholarship within 7 years of graduating from High School. If you received HOPE Scholarship during Summer Semester 2010 – Spring Semester 2011, you are grandfathered in until June 2015. Example: You graduated from High School May 2005 and received the Hope Scholarship Summer Semester 2010 – Spring Semester 2011, you then have until June 2015 to use HOPE scholarship. If you graduated May 2010, you have until June 2017. If you were on Military Active Duty during your seven years, your time will be extended the equivalent of the length of your active duty. If you did not attend during Summer 2010 – Spring 2011, and have already been out of high school seven years, you are not eligible for the HOPE scholarship.

I was a HOPE scholar but I lost it. Can I still get back into the program?

Yes – you can get back into the program after you reach an attempted hours checkpoint of 30, 60 or 90 hours. The new rule is that you can only get back into the HOPE program one time. If you lose it a second time you can never get back into the program. For example, you lose HOPE at a spring checkpoint. You get it back at the 30 hour attempted checkpoint. The next spring semester checkpoint you drop below 3.0 GPA again. You will never be eligible for HOPE again.