HOPE Grant

Georgia residents seeking a diploma or certificate at a Georgia public technical college may be eligible for a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Grant regardless of the student’s high school grade point average (GPA) or graduation date. The HOPE Grant will pay up to 63 semester credit hours. The Georgia HOPE Program will pay up to 127 combined HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant credit hours, of which only 63 semester credit hours can be HOPE Grant.

Students are required to have a minimum HOPE grant paid hours cumulative GPA of 2.00 at certain checkpoints. The first checkpoint occurs after a student has attempted 30 semester hours (dual enrollment courses and learning support courses are excluded from the attempted hours checkpoint, but these courses will be included in your paid hours limit of 63 semester hours). Dual Enrollment courses in which the student received HOPE grant funding are not excluded. The second eligibility checkpoint occurs after a student has attempted 60 semester hours. Students can only regain the HOPE Grant one time before he/she will become permanently ineligible.

A student who does not meet the Georgia residency requirements of the Technical College System of Georgia at the time of high school graduation, home study program, or successful GED test must establish residency for at least 24 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which HOPE Grant is sought. Otherwise, a student must have been a resident for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which HOPE Grant is sought if he or she graduated from a GA high school, home study program, or GED program.

The HOPE Grant covers a percentage of tuition at Georgia Technical Colleges. That percentage is determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission based on projected lottery revenues and expenditures on an annual basis. The HOPE award amount is subject to change each academic year (beginning in fall semester).

There are two options to apply for the HOPE Grant.  Students may complete the applicable FAFSA or the electronic GSFAPPS application.  It is strongly encouraged, however, that all students complete the FAFSA so that CTC can ensure a student is receiving all funding to which he or she is entitled.