Additional eligibility requirements and definitions:
The HOPE Scholarship program is for students that have demonstrated academic achievement and are seeking a college degree.
There are several ways to become eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, either by graduating from high school as a HOPE Scholar or by
earning it while in college.
The HOPE Grant program is for students seeking a technical certificate or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade
point average or graduation date.
Zell Miller Scholarship program is a merit-based scholarship program with specific academic and grade point average eligibility
requirements. “Academically Eligible” means the student entered an Eligible Postsecondary Institution in 2008 or later with a high
school Grade Point Average of 3.70 or higher as calculated by GSFC, and received a minimum score of 1200 combined critical reading
and math on a single administration of the SAT test at the time of high school graduation; or received a composite scale score of 26
on a single administration of the ACT test at the time of GA high school graduation; or having graduated Georgia High School being
named the Valedictorian or the Salutatorian.
Postsecondary Cumulative Grade Point Average: the calculation of postsecondary grades earned in postsecondary coursework
(including grades for Learning Support courses attempted through Summer term 2011) to determine eligibility for programs at
various checkpoints. A checkpoint is the end of the term at which a student's Postsecondary Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
must be calculated to determine the students’ eligibility.
• End-of-Spring Checkpoint the student must have a Postsecondary GPA of at least 3.0 at the (End-of-Spring Checkpoint) in order to
continue eligibility beyond Spring term.
• Three-Term Checkpoint the student must have at least a 3.0 GPA at the end of three consecutive terms in order to continue
eligibility. The GPA is also calculated after the student reaches various tier levels. The Student can gain or lose eligibility at the
various checkpoints. (Refer to HOPE Regulations for more information on each tier level requirement.)
Attempted-Hours: Degree Credit hours that are used to determine when the Postsecondary Cumulative Grade Point Average must
be checked for HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility. Also used to determine when a student has reached his or her
maximum hours of eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship Program. (Please see HOPE Regulations for
complete information.)
• Any credit hours for coursework attempted by a student prior to high school graduation, or equivalent, are not counted as
Attempted-Hours (some exceptions may apply for coursework completed prior to summer 2011).
• HOPE Scholarship no longer pays for Learning Support level coursework effective fall 2011. All Learning Support courses taken
prior to fall 2011 will still count in Attempted-Hours.
Combined Paid-Hours: The total number of Paid-Hours a student has accumulated as a result of payment from any combination of
Zell Miller or HOPE Scholarship Paid-Hours, plus HOPE or Zell Miller Grant Paid-Hours, plus Accel Program Paid-Hours (through
FY2011).
Do you have in excess of the max limit of Attempted-Hours or Paid-Hours? In order to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship
Program, a student may not have exceeded the cumulative Attempted-Hours and/or Combined Paid-Hours limit of 190 quarter
hours or 127 semester hours since high school graduation or the equivalent.
7-Year Limit- 1.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 until June 30 following the completion of the
seventh full year after the first of one of the following events has occurred:
a. His or her high school graduation date; or b. The graduation date of the student’s high school class if the student withdrew from
high school prior to his or her graduation date; or c. His or her Home Study completion date; or
d. His or her successful GED test date.
2. A student who is enrolled during a term, which begins prior to his or her expiration of eligibility date and ends after his or her
expiration of eligibility date, may be paid for the term.
3. A student who received a HOPE Scholarship award prior to Summer term 2011 (FY2012) is not subject to the Seven Year Limit.
Active-Duty Military Waiver-A student that serves on active duty in the military during the seven-year period after his or her high
school graduation, Home Study completion or successful GED test date will have that active duty period of his or her military service
added to the seven year limit.
The evaluation process takes approximately a week to evaluate, please make sure your completed request is submitted prior to
registration. If not, your request will be processed in the order that it is received. This means that we can not guarantee your
evaluation will be completed prior to schedule bills being processed. Therefore, you may have to pay out-of-pocket and be
reimbursed once your HOPE Scholarship is processed.
You will be notified via CPTC student email account concerning your eligibility.
