HOPE/Zell Miller

To apply for HOPE and Zell Miller, complete either:

• 2023-2024 FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid site. This will apply for HOPE/Zell Miller, Direct student loans, Pell Grant, and Federal Work Study. The FAFSA fulfills the application requirement for one aid year (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024) and must be renewed every year to continue to receive HOPE Program and federal student aid funds.
• GSFAPPS on the Georgia Futures site. This will apply for HOPE/Zell Miller only. To receive federal student aid, a FAFSA is required. A GSFAPPS only needs to be completed once.

You must enter the University of West Georgia's school code (001601) for either the FAFSA or GSFAPPS for us to receive that application. Additional inquiries about applying can be directed to HOPEINQ@westga.edu.

HOPE Scholarship General Information

The HOPE Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who are residents of Georgia, maintain a 3.0 HOPE GPA, and meet UWG's academic progress rules. For the High School Graduating Class of 2017 and beyond, a student meeting the requirements to be a HOPE/Zell Miller Scholar at the time of high school graduation must earn a minimum of four full credits from the academic rigor course categories prior to graduating from high school. A student that did not graduate high school as eligible for the HOPE Scholarship can gain eligibility at specified checkpoints. The HOPE Scholarship program has attempted and paid hour maximums of 127 hours.

Zell Miller Scholarship General Information

The Zell Miller Scholarship is awarded to only incoming freshmen who are residents of Georgia, graduated from high school with at least a 3.7 GPA, received either a 1200 SAT or 26 ACT score in one sitting before graduating high school, and maintain a 3.3 GPA in college. For the High School Graduating Class of 2017 and beyond, a student meeting the requirements to be a HOPE/Zell Miller Scholar at the time of high school graduation must earn a minimum of four full credits from the academic rigor course categories prior to graduating from high school.  A student that has lost Zell Miller eligibility can regain eligibility at specified checkpoints (see chart below). The Zell Miller Scholarship program has attempted and paid hour maximums of 127 hours.

Did COVID19 Impact Your Ability to Sit for the SAT/ACT for the Zell Miller Scholarship?

Special Information/Options Available to you from GSFC (Graduating Class of 2021 Only)

Zell Miller Scholarship Award Amounts

2023-2024 Award Amounts

^{*Zell Miller Scholarship will pay the amounts shown below OR the actual tuition amount for your courses (whichever is least).}

^{Per State of Georgia Regulations, Zell Miller Scholarship does not pay mandatory fees. Click here to learn more about the mandatory fees: Mandatory Fees} 

HOPE Scholarship Award Amounts

2023-2024 Award Amounts

^{*HOPE Scholarship will pay the amounts shown below OR the actual tuition amount for your courses (whichever is least).}

^{Per State of Georgia Regulations, HOPE Scholarship does not pay mandatory fees. Click here to learn more about the mandatory fees: Mandatory Fees} 

Checkpoints for HOPE and Zell Miller Eligibility

Click Here for More Information about Checkpoints

How Eligibility is Determined - HOPE GPA and Attempted Hours

What is a HOPE GPA?

Your initial eligibility is determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission** based on your high school HOPE GPA and the completion of academic rigor courses. However, after your first term of enrollment in college, your eligibility for HOPE or Zell Miller depends on your college HOPE GPA.This is not necessarily the same as your GPA on WolfWatch! All the grades you earn from all colleges after high school graduation (your dual enrollment classes will not be included), except for grades of W, S, U, and I, are used to calculate your HOPE GPA.

What is an Attempted Hour?

Attempted Hours are used to determine your HOPE checkpoints, NOT your HOPE GPA. If you begin the class, it will count as attempted hours, unless you drop it during the Drop/Add period. All courses that you withdraw from ("W" or "WF" grade) are still counted in the attempted hours calculation. Classes taken prior to high school graduation (such as dual enrollment) do NOT count as Attempted Hours. Classes taken at other colleges will also count as Attempted Hours. You can find your Attempted Hours and HOPE GPA by logging into or creating a GAFutures.org account.

* The Georgia Student Finance Commission determines high school student eligibility from the student's GPA, fulfillment of academic rigor requirements, and achievement of test scores. UWG only determines that the student is an eligible US citizen and GA resident, and that the application requirement is met. Questions or issues regarding high school graduate eligibility should be directed to 1 (800) 505-4732 (GSFC).

** Academic Rigor Requirements and their fulfillment are determined solely by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. For more information about rigor requirements, please view the HOPE Scholarship Regulations. Rigor requirements do not need to be met if seeking to gain HOPE Scholarship AFTER high school graduation for the first time.

***The HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant are not offered at UWG.

The Dual Enrollment program offers funding for high school students that are enrolled in college courses. Further information about utilizing the Dual Enrollment program and the costs associated with dual enrollment can be obtained by contacting the UWG Office of Undergraduate Admissions at dualenroll@westga.edu

Three other state programs offered here at UWG are the Georgia HERO Scholarship, the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant, and the Georgia National Guard (GNC) Service Cancelable Loan (SCL). Please note, these programs are limited to specific students through an additional application process, based on Georgia National Guard or Georgia Public Safety involvement.