HOPE is a merit-based scholarship program available to students who have met the University System of Georgia and the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) residency requirements and are enrolled in an undergraduate degree seeking program.

If you are a Georgia resident enrolling in a degree program at KSU, you may be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. Recipients must demonstrate academic achievement to be considered for the HOPE Scholarship.

HOPE Scholars

If you recently graduated from high school, you can only be awarded after Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) has evaluated your high school transcripts. After noting you are a HOPE Scholar, you may contact our office by email if not awarded HOPE at KSU. You can view your HOPE GPA by logging into your account at the GA Futures website.

If you are not a HOPE Scholar at the time of high school graduation, you could be eligible to earn the HOPE Scholarship by achieving a 3.0 HOPE GPA at the completion of 30, 60 or 90 attempted hours. If you have a 3.00 GPA HOPE at one of these benchmarks, please contact our office.

You may view your HOPE GPA calculation by logging into the GA Futures website. The GA Futures website provides a guide and FAQ for tracking your HOPE/Zell Miller academic eligibility.

submit fafsa ga futures

Hope Requirements

Applying for the HOPE Scholarship

If you think you may be eligible, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Georgia Scholarship/Grant Application (GSFAPPS).

To be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Must complete an application: FAFSA or GSFAPPS.
  • Meet US citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
  • Be registered with Selective Service, if required.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the college.
  • Not be in default or owe a refund due on a student financial aid program.
  • Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.
  • Must have at least a 3.0 HOPE GPA, which includes all college level coursework attempted since high school and from any institution attended.
  • Must have attempted less than 127 hours.
  • Must be a final HOPE Scholar if less than 30 attempted hours. This means your GPA is an eligible GPA for the HOPE scholarship. 
  • Must not have reached your expiration of eligibility date. When you received your first HOPE scholarship payment will determine your eligibility limit. The GAfutures website explains the Length of Eligibility limits.
  • Must not have earned a baccalaureate (four-year) degree, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while earning the degree.

HOPE GPA Reviews

All students must maintain a 3.0 HOPE GPA at their 30, 60 and 90 attempted hours checkpoint and at the end of every Spring semester.

Award Amounts

Award amounts are determined annually by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. To view the current award amounts, please visit GSFC's website.

The amount of a student's HOPE Scholarship is ultimately based on the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled each semester, not to exceed payment for a maximum of 15 semester hours. The initial award amount assumes the maximum HOPE amount (15-hour rate) for which the student is eligible each semester. The HOPE award amount will be reduced when students enroll in fewer than 15 hours and will adjust at the time of disbursement of financial aid. The HOPE award amounts cannot be increased for students who enroll in more than 15 hours. Furthermore, the HOPE Award Amount cannot exceed the student's total tuition charges for the semester.

To view the HOPE Scholarship Rules and Regulations, please visit GSFC's website.

submit fafsa visit GSFC's website

HOPE Transient Student Information

A transient student is a student who is enrolled in one college or university (sometimes referred to as their “home” institution) and takes courses temporarily at another college or university (sometimes known as “guest” or “host” institution) with the intention of transferring the course credit back to their home institution.

KSU students going away as Transients

  • Request a certification of HOPE eligibility by submitting the HOPE Transient Request Form.
  • Certification for a Summer HOPE Scholarship will be pending the end-of-Spring review and cannot be processed until after mid-May. If you are registered for hours at another institution, you are responsible for payment according to their deadlines.
  • No more than 15 hours of payment are allowed per semester.
  • Remember to request all final transcripts be sent to KSU Admissions once the semester is completed at the other institution.

A Consortium Agreement must be completed if you are receiving any Federal Aid (i.e., Stafford Loan, Pell Grant). If you are only receiving the HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship, the consortium agreement is not necessary. You will need to complete the HOPE Transient Request Form. Please remember that you must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to qualify for loans.

HOPE scholarship award amounts vary per eligible institution. Award amounts are determined annually by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC). To view the current award amounts, please visit GSFC's website. Please work with your transient intuition to understand their payment deadlines and refund polices.

SUBMIT FAFSA  VISIT GSFC'S WEBSITE

Incoming Transient students who have been receiving HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship from another Georgia institution

Ask the Financial Aid Office at your home school to send a HOPE Transient certification to the KSU Office of Student Financial Aid confirming continuing eligibility. When this is received, you will see your HOPE award by logging in to Owl Express.

HOPE scholarship award amounts vary per eligible institution. Award amounts are determined annually by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC). To view the current award amounts, please visit GSFC's website. After financial aid credits are applied, any balance that is due must be paid to avoid late charges or deletion from classes. If you have already paid all your charges, you will receive a refund from the Bursar. 

All Transient students receive their federal aid, Stafford student loans and Pell Grant, from their home institution after enrollment is confirmed and after the end of Drop/Add. According to state regulations, a Transient student coming from a school outside of Georgia cannot receive HOPE funding from KSU.

SUBMIT FAFSA  VISIT GSFC'S WEBSITE