TITLE: WHAT IS THE HOPE GRANT?

BY: Jody Darby

Director of Financial Aid

Gwinnett Technical College

jdarby@gwinnetttech.edu

Jeff Fitzpatrick

Tech Prep Coordinator

Gwinnett Technical College

jfitzpatrick@gwinnetttech.edu

DATE: October 10, 2006

HOPE Grant? HOPE Scholarship? Are there differences? YES! Lucky for most students, there are major differences between HOPE Grant and HOPE Scholarship.

The Georgia HOPE Grant is made available to technical college students who are enrolled in a diploma or a certificate program of study. As long as the student is a resident of Georgia, hasn’t been convicted of any prior drug felony convictions, is registered for selective service (if required), and isn’t in student loan default, the student is more than likely qualified for HOPE Grant. High school graduation date, GED completion date, or HS/GED grades do not affect eligibility.

Also, students do not have to be enrolled full-time. This is a myth that is incorrect. HOPE Grant will pay whether the student takes one class or is enrolled full-time.

If eligible, HOPE Grant pays all of the student’s tuition, most mandatory fees, as well as a book allowance per quarter.

The HOPE Grant program is one that is sometimes, and rightly so, confused with the HOPE Scholarship program which has more eligibility restrictions as far as GPA requirements, etc.

High school graduates interested in attending Gwinnett Technical College should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for HOPE Grant/Scholarship at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Gwinnett Technical College’s federal school code needed on the FAFSA is 016139.

Visit http://www.gacollege411.org for more information about state aid programs such as HOPE, or contact the Gwinnett Technical College Financial Aid Office by phone at 770.962.7580 ext. 6636 or by e-mailing financialaidoffice@gwinnetttech.edu.