Zell Miller Scholarship
The Zell Miller Scholarship is supported by the Georgia Lottery for Education and is regulated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. The Scholarship is available to those degree-seeking undergraduate students who meet the requirements of a Georgia Resident for HOPE Scholarship purposes.
The Scholarship is a merit program with specific academic grade and average qualification. The motive of the program is to support the academic achievement of Georgia’s high school students and Georgians looking for degrees from postsecondary organizations located in Georgia.
In this article, My Study Extra has shared detailed information about everything you need to know on how to Apply for Zell Miller Scholarship, requirements, criteria, Award Amounts, Application and Deadline.
Eligibility
In all cases, a student must be a U.S. Citizen or an Eligible Non-Citizen and meet the requirements to be classified as a Georgia resident according to University System of Georgia (USG) in-state tuition policy for either 12 or 24 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes of the school term for which the HOPE Scholarship is sought.
Zell Miller Scholarship Requirements:
- Must complete an application – FAFSA or GSFAPPS.
- Meet U.S. 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 be confirmed as a Zell Miller Scholar by GSFC (requirements include a 3.7 HOPE GPA from high school along with a 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration).
- If a student is not designated as a Zell Miller Scholar by GSFC at the time of high school graduation, they cannot gain the Zell Miller Scholarship at a later time.
- Must have at least a 3.30 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 not have reached your expiration of eligibility date.
- Must not have earned an baccalaureate (four-year) degree, regardless of whether or not HOPE or Zell Miller funds were received while earning the degree.
Regaining Eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship
Students who lose the Scholarship at any checkpoint may still get HOPE Scholarship, For instance if all requirements, including the 3.0 HOPE GPA, are met.
A student may regain the Scholarship after losing it only one time. A student may regain eligibility if they have a 3.3 HOPE GPA at the point of attempting 60 or 90 semester hours.
If a student loses the Scholarship a second time, the student may still keep the HOPE Scholarship, assuming all requirements, including the 3.0 HOPE GPA, are met.
When a student loses Zell Miller and HOPE Scholarship, simultaneously by dropping below a 3.0 HOPE GPA, the student would be considered as losing both Zell Miller and HOPE Scholarship.
If a student loses Zell Miller and retains HOPE Scholarship, but then loses HOPE twice, the student would no longer be eligible to regain Zell Miller.
Award Amounts – Tuition only
The amount of percentage for tuition to be paid will be determined yearly by Georgia Student Finance Commission. For now the current percentage for:
- Bachelor’s degree is 100% of tuition or $298.27 per credit hour
- Associate degree is 100% of tuition or $95.00 per credit hour
How to Apply
Interested and eligible applicants have two options when applying for the Hope and Zell Miller Scholarship:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or,
- Complete the online Georgia Student Finance Application (GSFAPP)
Note: The FAFSA must be completed each year. The GSFAPP remains valid for 10 years.Required Application
Application Deadlines
Students should have an application submitted by the last day of the semester in which they are looking for the Zell Miller Scholarship. The deadlines for applications are listed below:
- SUMMER SEMESTER: July 17
- FALL SEMESTER: November 17
- SPRING SEMESTER: April 15
Note: If there is extra or additional information needed, it Must be submitted in no less than 15 days of request.