Academic Catalog > Financial Aid > Types of Aid > HOPE Grant

HOPE Grant

The HOPE grant is available to Georgia residents in certificate or diploma programs of study who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who also meet residency requirements. If a student was a resident of Georgia at the time of his or her high school graduation, home study program completion, or successful GED test, that student must also meet the residency requirement for twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the school term/semester for which the HOPE grant is sought. Students who do not meet these requirements must meet the Georgia residency requirement for twenty-four (24) consecutive months immediately prior to the term for which the HOPE grant is sought.

The HOPE program currently pays $76 per semester hour toward the cost of tuition only at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. The current rate of tuition is $100 per semester hour. Below is an example to illustrate.

Example:

A student enrolls in 10 semester hours in a diploma program of study and is eligible for the HOPE grant based on residency requirements. The HOPE grant will pay $650.00. The student is responsible for paying the difference between the actual charges and the amount paid by the HOPE program.

$100 x 10 semester hours = $1000.00 (tuition charged by GPTC).

$76 x 10 = $760 (this is the amount that will be paid by HOPE).

$1000 - $760 = $240 (The student is responsible for the $240 + $359 in fees, for a total of $599).

If the student is receiving other types of financial aid assistance (for example, the Pell grant), in excess of the $240 and fees, those funds may be applied to lower or eliminate the balance.

Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA at two checkpoints (30/60 semester hours) to remain eligible. Students who do not have a 2.0 GPA at the 30 hour checkpoint will lose the grant but may regain it at the 60 hour checkpoint if the student then has a 2.0 GPA or better.

There is a solid cap of 63 paid semester hours. For the term that a student reaches the Paid-Hours limit of 63 semester hours, the grant will only pay for hours up to the limit.

Example:

The student has 60 semester hours that have been paid by HOPE at the end of Fall semester. The student registers for 6 hours for Spring semester. The HOPE grant will only pay for 3 credit hours. The student is responsible for paying for the other 3 credit hours).