Financial Aid and Student Loans in Georgia

So, you’ve got a college in Georgia on your mind. Good for you, average college costs in Georgia are smack dab in the middle when compared to other states, at $27,738. Now, it’s time to find out your funding options.

You should start planning your finances well in advance so you can afford all the expenses for tuition fees, rent, study materials, and books.

What Scholarship Programs Does Georgia Have?

There are many scholarships available in Georgia. You can see a list of the largest givers in Georgia here. They all have minimum requirements that you must meet to be eligible to apply. Many of them are open only to students in Georgia. Scholarships are mainly based on merit, but some are based on financial need.

You can dig deeper using one of the larger scholarship search tools like Scholarships.com, fastweb.com, and College Board, and you can also approach your college counsellors and college financial aid office. 

Here’s a brief overview of just a few of them:

The Hope Scholarship

The HOPE Program (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) is Georgia’s scholarship and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges. HOPE is funded entirely by revenue from the Georgia Lottery and is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC). 

Generally, the only eligibility requirement to qualify for the scholarship is to graduate from a HOPE eligible high school with a GPA over 3.0. There are other circumstances and limitations for eligibility found here.

Tara Grinstead Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship for students was set up by Tenderfoot TV in honor of Tara Grinstead, a teacher, and former beauty pageant queen. Tara vanished without a trace, and the case was unsolved for years.

Every year, two eligible high school seniors win this scholarship. Undergraduates must attend Irwin County School in Georgia and need a minimum GPA of 3.0. The funds must be used to pay for tuition.

Applicants can secure up to $1,000.

There is a second grant available in Tara’s name. The conditions are pretty specific, though. If you win the Miss Georgia Sweet Potato Pageant, you will win a $1,000 scholarship. Again, funds must be used for college tuition.

5 Strong Scholarship

The 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation is a team of experienced educators who help students of black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native origin. The scholarships must be applied toward tuition.

You have to attend a college classified as a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU.) This scholarship is awarded to the best and brightest and is very popular. Get your application in early or risk missing out completely.

Amounts available range from $10,000 to $16,000

Woodrow Wilson Georgia Teaching Fellowship

The Woodrow Wilson Georgia Teaching Fellowship is one of the largest givers in Georgia. Students in Georgia going on to a master’s degree for teaching careers can secure $30,000.

This scholarship goes to those looking to teach Science, Technology, or Math. To be eligible, applicants need to agree to teach in rural or high-need schools. The fellowship covers 100% of costs up to $30,000.

You may be eligible if:

• You have majored in science, engineering, math, or technology
• You have at least 30 college-level credits in one of the above-mentioned areas
• You’re a US citizen or permanent residence
• You hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited American or international school
• Your GPA is at least 3.0. Students with a 4.0 or better GPA receive precedence, so get those grades up.

Applications typically close at the end of January. If you’re registering for spring sessions, the applications close in March. These dates may vary every year, so it’s a good idea to check the site for the very latest dates.

If you’re studying at a partner university, the application for the scholarship can be made through the school.

Many more scholarship programs are available right here.

What Grant Programs Does Georgia Have?

There are a wide range of grants available in Georgia. Some are based on financial need, and others are based on factors like ethnic background, gender, or religion.

To qualify for a grant, you are generally required to be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional college program.

Georgia’s HOPE Grant Program

The HOPE Grant is for Georgia resident students in a degree program at a college or university. Students must have a 3.0 GPA. This grant is based on financial need. The grant amount varies. Last year the grant was between $911 to $3,181.

Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Program (GTEG)

The Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Program (GTEG) encourages Georgia residents to attend eligible private colleges in Georgia by providing assistance towards educational costs. The program is non need-based and 3ecipients receive an award of $317 per quarter or $475 per semester and can receive payment for up to four quarters or three semesters per year.

What Student Loan Programs Does Georgia Have?

Georgia Student Finance Authority offers the Student Access Loan Program (SAL) for eligible students attending an eligible University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia or Private postsecondary institution in Georgia. The SAL is a 1 % fixed rate loan, designed to assist undergraduate and technical college students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs.

Federal student loans

Prospective Georgia students can receive federal financial aid assistance by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA). 

Private co-signed student loans

There are many private student loan opportunities for those who need additional assistance on top of federal student loans. Many banks, credit unions, and dedicated lending companies offer private student loans, but almost all require a co-signer.

No co-signer student loans in Georgia

Funding U began because we identified thousands of students who were unable to qualify for a private student loan because they didn’t have an eligible co-signer. While we’re no longer the only provider of such loans, we offer no co-signer student loans to career-focused students currently enrolled full time in college. The requirements for receiving a loan are dependent upon the GPA of the student and the graduation rate of the institution they attend. To learn more about our no co-signer student loans click here.

What Schools Does Funding U Lend To In Georgia?

Generally speaking, Funding U’s no co-signer loans are offered to students at eligible four-year, non-profit, undergraduate degree-granting universities (which means we do not lend to for-profit schools, 2-year schools, graduate schools, or trade schools). Our eligibility requirements are based on models that aim to predict how likely a student is to graduate, and because of that we have minimum GPA requirements that students must meet and minimum 6-year graduation rates that schools must reach in order to be eligible. To find out more about how we determine our eligibility, click here.

Below is a table listing all of the schools in Georgia that Funding U is currently lending to, with additional details on which grades we are currently lending to, based on the school’s 6-year graduation rate.