Staff File Photo by Dan Henry
Brenda Hill, financial aid counselor at Northwestern Technical College in Rock Spring, Ga., talks to a student about his Georgia HOPE scholarship.WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL?Local universities and community colleges have benefited greatly from the Tennessee lottery scholarship programs. Several area schools have seen record enrollment. UTC exceeded the 10,000-enrollment mark for the first time in 2009.
to KEEP THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours. After attempting 72 hours and beyond, a student can retain the award by earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above or earning a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 and a semester GPA of 3.0 or better. A student who loses the scholarship can regain it only once.
Source: TSAC
How HOPE scholarshipworks in Georgia
To earn the Georgia lottery scholarship students must have a 3.0 or higher high school GPA.
It covers full tuition at public colleges, whether full time or part time, mandatory fees and $150 for books each semester.
The scholarship provides $1,750 per semester for full-time students at private colleges and $875 for part-time students per semester.
Source: Georgia Student Financial Commission
HELP FOR EDUCATION
Tennessee HOPE scholarship: Provides students $4,000 to attend a four-year college, $2,000 to attend a two-year college. Entering freshmen must have a ACT score of 21 or better (980 SAT) or an overall weighted minimum 3.0 GPA.
General Assembly Merit Scholarship: Provides $1,000 (in addition to Tennessee HOPE scholarship) for students graduat-ing from a Tennessee high school with a minimum 3.75 GPA and 29 ACT (1280 SAT).
Aspire Award: Provides $1,500 (in addition to Tennessee HOPE scholarship) to students who meet HOPE requirements and whose annual family income is less than $36,000.
Tennessee HOPE Access Grant: Provides $2,750 for four-year colleges, $1,750 for two-year schools. Entering freshmen must have a minimum weighted 2.75 GPA and 18-20 ACT (860-970 SAT). Family income must be $36,000 or below. The grant is non-renewable, but students can become eligible for the HOPE scholarship if they meet renewal criteria.
Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant: Provides $2,000 for students to attend a Tennessee Technology Center. Students cannot be prior recipients of a HOPE scholarship or Wilder-Naifeh grant and must be Tennessee residents for one year.
Helping Heroes Grant: Provides $1,000 per semester for honorably discharged veterans who have lived in Tennessee for at least a year. The student is eligible for the award after completing one semester of college without failing grades.
Source: Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
ON THE WEB
Georgia: www.gacollege411.org
Tennessee: www.tn.gov/college pays