Georgia Zell Miller Scholarship
Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC / GAfutures)
Top-tier Georgia merit scholarship paying full standard undergraduate tuition at public colleges: up to $5,309 per semester in 2026-27 (Georgia Tech).
- How much
- 100% of standard undergraduate tuition at public colleges; up to $5,309 per semester (Georgia Tech, 2026-27); amount varies by college and hours
- Who qualifies
- 3.7 HOPE GPA + four rigor credits + 1200 SAT / 25 ACT (single administration), or named valedictorian/salutatorian with 3.0 HOPE GPA; maintain 3.3 HOPE GPA at checkpoints. Georgia residency, degree-seeking at an eligible Georgia college; same basic eligibility as HOPE.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- When to apply
- Apply any time FAFSA or GSFAPP by the last day of the term (or your withdrawal date); eligibility set at high school graduation and checked at college checkpoints.
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA each year or the GSFAPP on GAfutures
- Your Georgia high school reports your HOPE GPA and valedictorian/salutatorian status to GSFC
- Send SAT/ACT scores
- Your college determines eligibility
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application + transcript + test scores
The details
Pays 100% of standard undergraduate tuition at an eligible Georgia public college (up to 15 hours a term), or a flat half-time/full-time award at an eligible private college (up to 12 hours). 2026-27 examples from GSFC's award-amount table: Georgia Tech $5,309 per semester at 12+ hours, University of Georgia $5,067, Georgia State $4,635; private colleges such as Emory $2,985 full-time. Initial eligibility from an eligible high school: 3.7 HOPE-calculated GPA, four full academic-rigor credits, and a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT (current ACT equivalent for graduates after December 31, 2023) on a single test administration; OR graduate as the named Zell Miller valedictorian or salutatorian with a 3.0 HOPE GPA and four rigor credits. Graduates of ineligible high schools/unaccredited home study need a 1340 SAT or 29 ACT. Cannot be gained in college. Keep it with a 3.3 HOPE GPA at each checkpoint; with 3.0-3.29 you drop to HOPE. Same 127-hour, bachelor's degree and ten-year limits as HOPE.
More money from Georgia
- 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
- DREAMS ScholarshipUp to $1,500 per term, $3,000 per year (capped at unmet need)
- 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
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