Financial Aid & Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are often called “gift aid” because they are free money—financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Grants are often need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based.                                               

Grants and scholarships can come from the federal government, your state government, your college or career school, or a private or nonprofit organization. Do your research, apply for any grants or scholarships you might be eligible for, and be sure to meet application deadlines! 

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.

More Information on Federal Pell Grant

HOPE Grant

Georgia's HOPE Grant (a separate program from the HOPE Scholarship) is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma (continuing education programs are not eligible) at an eligible college or university in Georgia.

More Information on HOPE Grant

HOPE Career Grant

The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them.

More Information on HOPE Career Grant

Eligible Programs

HOPE GED Grant

Georgia's HOPE GED Grant is available to students who earned a General Education Development (GED/high school equivalency) diploma awarded by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).

More Information on HOPE GED Grant

Zell Miller Grant

Georgia's Zell Miller Grant is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma at a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or University System of Georgia (USG) institution.

More Information on Zell Miller Grant

If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.   

If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. 

There are many different types of loans:

• Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need.
• Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.
• Direct Consolidation Loans allow you to combine all of your eligible federal student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer.

 

Federal Student Aid Website

Complete the FAFSA

Required Documents for FAFSA

FAFSA How To Guides

FAFSA Tips & Tricks Video

Next Steps 

Before beginning the FAFSA, student and parent(s) must create an FSA ID. The FSA ID is needed to electronically sign the FAFSA. You MUST have a social security number to create an FSA ID.

Create an FSA ID

How to Create an FSA ID Video Guide

Applying to college is a complicated process, so College Board created a program that guides you through it. It doesn't require an essay, application, or minimum GPA. Instead, it rewards your effort and initiative. Complete key steps along your path to college for a chance to earn scholarships. Complete all six, and you’re eligible to earn $40,000. Scholarships will be awarded through monthly drawings to students who complete each action.

The College Board Opportunity Scholarships are open to all class of 2020 students who attend high school in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories. Students in the class of 2021 will be eligible beginning in late 2019. There is no citizenship requirement.

Opportunity Scholarship Website

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

• ​Meet HOPE's U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements
• Be a legal resident of Georgia
• Meet enrollment requirements
• Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements
• Meet academic achievement standards
• Be in good standing on all student loans or other financial aid programs
• Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990
• Not have exceeded the maximum award limits for any HOPE program
• Graduate from a HOPE eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 core grade point average (as calculated by GSFC). A core grade point average ONLY factors in grades from academic courses (Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies, Foreign Language)

HOPE Scholarship Application Process

HOPE Scholarship Award Amounts

Track My HOPE Eligibility

Big Future by The College Board

FastWeb

GA Futures

Sallie Mae Scholarship Search

Sallie Mae Paying for College Resrouce Guide

The NHS Counselors gather scholarship information during the school year and upload all information into Naviance. Navigate to the Scholarships portion of Naviance to view local and other scholarship opportunities available to you, under the "Scholarship List."

• Nothing comes free-spend the time and effort to research ALL opportunities. Block off time to dedicate to scholarship searches and information. One suggestion is to create a separate e-mail address for your scholarship search accounts so you are fully committed to reviewing information sent to you by these sites when you login to that particular e-mail account.
• Pay attention to deadlines and required materials. If you need additional materials (recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.) from someone, allow that person at least 10 days notice to get those materials back to you. Also, be sure you are allowing yourself enough time to frame and edit a stellar essay, review your application, and avoid the stress of sending materials at the deadline.
• Become a well-rounded student. Scholarships are competitive. Be sure you are taking all opportunities to challenge yourself academically while being involved in co-curricular organizations or athletics. Choose clubs in areas in which you are passionate to become dedicated and develop leadership roles throughout your high school career.
• Create a resume. Use your resume to concisely describe your achievements. Find ways to document your unique skills. Are you talented at making people feel welcome? Get involved with volunteer opportunities, jobs, or clubs that can allow you to use these skills and document it on your resume.
• Know yourself. Determine what makes you stand out and what makes you a good investment from an organization. Be able to advocate for yourself through personal statements/essays about what makes you stand apart from other applicants.
• Start Early! Begin reviewing scholarship opportunities early in your high school career so you will know what opportunities exist and how to best make yourself eligible your senior year.

The Dream Scholarship

Golden Door Scholarship

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

To be eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship, students must meet the criteria to be awarded the HOPE scholarship, AND​

• Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.7 core grade point average (as calculated by GSFC) combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration and meet all HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements.

Zell Miller Scholarship Application Process

Zell Miller Scholarship Award Amounts

Track My Zell Miller Eligibility