DREAMS Scholarship
Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC / GAfutures)
New need-based Georgia award of up to $1,500 a term ($3,000 a year) for Pell-eligible students at public colleges who work or volunteer 60 hours a term.
- How much
- Up to $1,500 per term, $3,000 per year (capped at unmet need)
- Who qualifies
- Federal Pell Grant eligible with unmet need; Georgia legal resident; at least 6 hours in an associate or bachelor's degree at a USG or TCSG college; no prior bachelor's degree; 2.0 SAP and HOPE GPA; Financial Toolkit; 60 hours of work/volunteering per term after the first award term.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time Last day of the term or withdrawal date; colleges may set earlier deadlines; limited funds.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA every year and finish any verification
- Complete the DREAMS Financial Toolkit on GAfutures
- Report work hours each term on your DREAMS Dashboard
- Your college determines eligibility
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (gafutures.org), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Dedicating Resources to Educationally Advance More Students (DREAMS), new for 2026-27. For Pell Grant-eligible Georgia residents with unmet need in an associate or bachelor's degree program at a University System of Georgia or Technical College System of Georgia college, enrolled at least 6 hours. Award: up to $1,500 per term, capped at unmet need (cost of attendance minus SAI minus other grants), $3,000 per year, fall, spring and summer. Requirements: complete the online Financial Toolkit sessions on GAfutures before the first payment; after the first term, complete and document at least 60 hours of paid or unpaid work each term (jobs, work-study, internships, clinicals, student teaching, volunteering or military service count); keep a 2.0 SAP GPA and 2.0 HOPE GPA. Ends after 8 paid semesters or a bachelor's degree. Colleges award it from limited allocations.
More money from Georgia
- Georgia Zell Miller Scholarship100% of standard undergraduate tuition at public colleges; up to $5,309 per semester (Georgia Tech, 2026-27); amount varies by college and hours
- Georgia HOPE ScholarshipPer-credit-hour award toward standard tuition; up to $5,256 per semester at 15 hours (Georgia Tech, 2026-27); amount varies by college and hours
- Georgia College Completion Grant (GCCG)Up to $2,500 (lifetime maximum), applied to your outstanding balance
- Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG)$550 per semester ($367 per quarter), up to three semesters or four quarters a year (2026-27)
- HOPE Career Grant$125-$500 per term for most programs; up to $1,100 per truck-driving program; up to $3,750 for Basic Law Enforcement
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.