Georgia College Grants

Approximately two-thirds of full-time college students receive some form of financial aid. When looking for funding for college, it is best to start with grants as opposed to loans since a grant does not need to be paid back. A variety of grants are available with some specific to certain students based on gender, ethnic background, religion and other factors. However, many other grants are available solely based on the financial need of the student.

Getting Started

Before applying for grants, a student should have certain information available to make the application process easier. Many of these items will be required to apply for most grants.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Apply for a PIN number to sign applications and other forms online. Applications and related forms can also be printed out and physically returned by mail.

Tip: Downloading a grant application package allows you to complete it offline and review it or obtain additional information before submitting it.

Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is perhaps the most well-known grant program. This is where most future college students should start when applying for grants. The U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula to determine a student’s eligibility for a Pell Grant.

The maximum award amount is $5,550. The specific grant amount depends on a student’s Expected Family Contribution or EFC. The student’s selected institution of higher learning must inform the student of the specific amount of the Pell Grant. Disbursements are typically twice per academic year. There are ten basic grant requirements:

1. Applicant must be an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor’s degree.
2. Applicant must be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
3. Applicant must have a high school diploma or a GED or demonstrate an ability to benefit from the program.
4. Applicant must submit a completed FAFSA to demonstrate financial need.
5. Applicant must possess a Social Security number.
6. Applicant (males from ages 18 to 25) must register with the Selective Service program.
7. Applicant must promise that the grant will be used exclusively for education.
8. Applicant must show satisfactory academic progress in all academic subjects.
9. Applicant must study at an approved educational facility.
10. Applicant must apply to an institution of higher learning before applying for the Pell Grant.

Note: Most colleges and universities in Georgia accept Pell Grant funds.

Georgia Grants

College students who meet certain requirements can earn a degree at more than 100 educational institutions in Georgia, ranging from 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities to private specialized schools and technical programs, with financial assistance from a variety of grant programs.

Many of these grants are available from private sources such as local businesses and organizations and large corporations operating in Georgia. With a little effort, a college education is more than just a dream for those concerned about the financial impact of earning a degree.

HOPE Grant

Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) – HOPE provides grants to students with a 3.0 GPA or better expected to graduate from a Georgia high school with a family income less than $100,000. The grant covers 45 credit hours. This includes in-state tuition, books and other related fees at any public school in Georgia. State residents attending private or tech schools may qualify for some assistance through the grant program, funded by Georgia’s Lottery for Education.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All majors are eligible
Grant amount: $1,800 per semester, $1,200 per quarter (full-time) and $900 per semester, $600 per quarter (half-time)
Apply: Online or send application via email to gacollege411@gsfc.org
Phone: (800) 546-HOPE/4673

Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant

The Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant is for dependent children for a law enforcement officer, EMT, firefighter, prison guard or correction officer who was disabled or killed in the line of duty. Applicants must have been a resident of Georgia for a year or more.

The grant award is renewable pending satisfactory academic progress. Students must reapply each year. GSFC will notify students if their application has been accepted with details of when the award amount will be disbursed.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All majors are eligible
Grant amount: Award amount covers the total cost of attendance, minus any other student financial aid up to, but not to exceed $18,000 per year.
Apply: Online

ACCEL Program

The ACCEL Program is for students enrolled in accredited private or public high schools in Georgia. Eligible students will receive dual credit for college-level courses during their Junior or Senior years of high school. A student’s guidance counselor will have the list of approved courses.

These courses fit within the core high school curriculum for schools in Georgia including mathematics, science, English, social studies and foreign language. The grant provides funds for tuition and related fees for classes at a public university. The grant provides $125 per semester if the student selects a private university. Related expenses are the responsibility of the student. The ACCEL Program works in connection with the HOPE grant program in terms of credit hours.

Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Program

This program is for students who wish to attend a private four-year institution in Georgia. This is a non-need-based grant designed to encourage enrollment in private colleges or universities in Georgia. Funding is also provided for students living near the Georgia border who wish to attend a college or university within 50 miles of their home.

Eligible students must be in compliance with Selective Service requirements, not currently in default on a student loan and in compliance with the state’s drug-free policy. A student must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible for grant funding.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All undergrads
Grant amount: Award amount is $600 per semester or $400 per quarter.
Apply: Online or by mail

Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Tucker, Georgia 30084
Phone: (800) 505-GSFC/4732

TEACH Grant

The TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year for qualifying students. This grant is available to full-time students who plan to teach full-time in high-need subject areas after graduation.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: Undergrad/graduate students majoring in an education-related field.
Grant amount: Award amount is $16,000 total for an undergraduate program and $8,000 for graduate studies.
Apply: Online or by mail

TEACH Grant Program
c/o U.S. Department of Education
Consolidation Department
Loan Consolidation Center
P.O. Box 242800
Louisville, KY 40224-2800
Phone: (800) 848-0979

Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant

The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant is for children of Georgia law-enforcement officers, prison guards or firemen killed or disabled in the line of duties. Grants are renewable up to $8,000 during a four-year period. References and recommendations are required.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All majors
Grant amount: Award amount is $2,000 per academic year.
Apply: Online or by mail

Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Tucker, Georgia 30084
Phone: (800) 505-GSFC/4732

College Opportunity Grant

The College Opportunity Grant is a needs-based grant for students enrolled in a Georgia college, university or technical school. There is no required GPA for eligibility. Students must complete a community service requirement performed for a non-profit organization in Georgia. The required hours must be completed for each semester to maintain eligibility. A student is ineligible if they have already received a Baccalaureate Degree from any previous institution.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All majors
Grant amount: Varies
Apply: Online or through school

Georgia LEAP Grant

The Georgia Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) provides needs-based funding to students who receive federal Pell Grant funding. The LEAP Grant provides up to $2,000 per year for students seeking a technical diploma or degree from a Georgia institution of higher learning. Students seeking an undergraduate degree from a private or public Georgia college or university may also be eligible for funding.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: Technical majors
Grant amount: Up to $2,000 per academic year
Apply: Online or through school

Specialized Degree Grants

Destination Teacher Program

The Destination Teacher Program is for students looking to change their focus to teaching. Students must be enrolled in a participating institution and agree to teach in an under-served public school after they graduate. Eligible students receive up to $5,000 towards tuition fees.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: Teaching/education-related majors
Grant amount: Up to $5,000 towards tuition
Apply: Online

North Georgia College & State University ROTC Grant

This ROTC Grant is for students who plan to attend North Georgia College and State University. A student must be active in the Reserve Officers Training Corps to be eligible.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All majors
Grant amount: Award amount is $1,500 per academic year with the exact award amount varying.
Apply: Online or through school

North GA College & State University ROTC Grant for Future Officers

This grant, established in 2008, is available to ROTC members seeking undergraduate education. Recipients must plan to attend North Georgia College and State University to receive this grant courtesy of the Georgia General Assembly. Additionally, grant recipients must sign a contract agreement to accept an officer commission in any branch of the U.S. military.

Residency: Georgia
Majors: All majors
Grant amount: Varies
Apply: Online

Georgia Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grant Program

This program awards up to $2,000 per year to 3,000-3,500 undergraduate students attending college in Georgia.

Apply: Online or by mail

Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Tucker, Georgia 30084

Phone: (770) 724-9000; (800) 505-GSFC/4732 (toll free)

Corporate Funding

Dell Scholars Program

Dell Scholars funding is for students with financial need. The program is offered to high school students who participate in an AVID program. Total funding is up to $20,000.

Deadline: January 15th, annually
Residency: N/A
Majors: All majors
Funding amount: Up to $20,000
Apply: Online

Walton Family Foundation Scholarship

To qualify for the Walton Family Foundation Scholarship, a student must be a legal dependent of a full-time Walmart employee who has worked at the retailer for at least a year. Additionally, a student must be a graduating high school senior, have a minimum 1030 SAT or 22 ACT score and document financial need.

Deadline: January 31st, annually
Residency: N/A
Majors: All majors
Funding amount: Varies
Apply: Online

Best Buy Scholarship

The Best Buy Scholarship is available to current high school students in grades 9-12 planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an eligible two- or four-year institute of higher learning. Vocational and technical schools are acceptable.

Deadline: February 16th, annually
Residency: N/A
Majors: All majors
Funding amount: 1,000 receive a $1,000 scholarship
Apply: Online

African Studies

The Ruth Simms Hamilton Research Fellowship is awarded to one or more graduate students enrolled in a social science program studying the African Diaspora. A panel of judges makes the award decisions. The award amount varies.

Apply: Online or by mail

Research Fellowship Processing
c/o ISTS
PO Box 23737
Nashville TN 37202-3737
Phone: (615) 320-3149

Agriculture

Future Farmers of America grants are provided to undergraduate students studying farming or agriculture. Over $2 million in grants are provided each academic year. Interested students should apply early since funding is limited.

Apply: Online, by mail or through local FFA chapter

Georgia FFA Association
316 Poultry Science c/o University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: (706) 552-4456

Business

National Society of Accountants grants are provided to students enrolling in two- or four-year institutions offering an accounting degree. Award amounts vary.

Apply: Online or by mail

Georgia Association of Accountants and Tax Professional (affiliated with National Society of Accountants)
c/o Norma Jean Ogle, Executive Director
P. O. Box 236
Hiram, GA 30141
Phone: (770) 439-2000

Minorities

Minority students in Georgia have several options when it comes to finding funding for educational purposes. National organizations such as the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic College Fund, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the American Indian College Fund offer grant and scholarship programs with varying eligibility requirements for ethnic minority students. These programs are open to all qualifying Georgia students seeking financial assistance for continued education beyond high school.

American Anthropological Association

American Anthropological Association funding is available for doctoral-level anthropology students. Award amounts vary.

Apply: Online or by mail

American Anthropological Association
2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 528-1902

Multicultural Advertising Intern Program

Funding through the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program is available to African-American, Asian-American, Latino-American, Native-American, multiracial and multiethnic students pursuing advertising-related degrees. A 10-week paid internship during summer months is a part of the program.

Apply: Online

Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students

Minority students pursuing a degree in Hospitality Management meeting eligibility requirements may receive a grant award sponsored by Hyatt Hotels. The award amount varies.

Apply: Online or by mail

American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation
1201 New York Avenue, NW, #600
Washington, DC 20005-3931
Phone: (202) 289-3100

Saludos Business Grant

Saludos Business Grants are targeted at Hispanic business students. Award amounts vary for students who meet eligibility requirements.

Apply: Online

Fellowship for Ethnic Minorities

Funding through the Fellowship for Ethnic Minorities is provided by the American Society of Criminology to encourage more minority students to pursue legal and criminal justice careers. Award amounts vary.

Apply: Online or by mail

American Nurses Association
SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
Phone: (301) 628-5247

Note: Similar minority grants/scholarships are offered specifically for Georgia students by Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University.

Women

Women have made great strides in closing the gap in regards to most fields. A recent study referenced by the U.S. Department of Education found that one major exception is technology fields. This makes grant opportunities for women even more valuable. Funding is available on both a national and state level.

Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund

Sponsored by the World Bank, the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund awards up to $11,000 for women from around the world to study in the United States to benefit their homeland. Recipients must plan to return to their country of origin following graduation to be considered for funding. Some major universities and colleges in Georgia are a part of the program.

American Association of University Women

Grant funds from the American Association of University Women are provided to women who have been displaced from college due to financial hardship. Award amounts vary, but the goal is to encourage women to complete their education.

Apply: Online or by mail

American Association of University Women (National Office)
1111 Sixteenth St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 785-7700 (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST)

International Federation of University Women

In addition to grant money to complete their education, IFUW also provides some funding opportunities for women seeking funding for studies or for research fellowships.

Apply: Online or fill out an email request for additional information.

Jeanette Rankin Foundation

Awards from the Jeanette Rankin Foundation are need-based for women 35 years of age or older with financial disadvantages.

Apply: Online or by mail

Jeannette Rankin Foundation
1 Huntington Road, Suite 701
Athens, GA 30606
Phone: (706) 208-1211

Zonta International Grants

Zonta International sponsors several large grants to women in general with such programs as the Young Women in Public Affairs Award program. Eligibility requirements and award amounts vary.

Apply: Online, through the organization’s website or via mail

1211 West 22nd Street, Suite 900
Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA
Phone: (630) 928-1400

Nursing

Georgia Nurses Association

Grants, scholarships and other related funding is available for eligible students pursing a nursing degree in Georgia through the GNA, the state version of the National Nurses Association. Award amounts and eligibility requirements vary. Additional nursing grants are available with various award amounts.

GANA Scholarship

Funded by and administered by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists the GANA Scholarship is provided to Georgia residents who are also nursing majors. Applicants must be AANA members and a resident of Georgia or attending a school in the state. Applications should be submitted by April.

Georgia Legion Auxiliary Past Presidents Parley Nursing Scholarship

Funding through the Georgia Legion Auxiliary Past Presidents Parley Nursing Scholarship is provided to help nurses related to American veterans. Applications should be filed by May. Applicants must be both residents of Georgia and the descendants of veterans.

Additional Grant Sources

Some grants are not as well publicized as others. Remember that when you are applying for the more popular grant options, you are going after the same funds other students are seeking. Even funding for corporate grants may be limited, especially since qualifications for these grants are typically more general than other grants. Students may wish to seek other sources for grants that are out of the mainstream.

A student should apply for as many grants as possible. Even small grant awards absorb some of the costs associated with higher education. Some additional grant sources in Georgia may include:

Military

Service in any branch of the U.S. military by the student or in some cases by their parents may qualify them for a grant.

Church

Church membership may offer unexpected benefits if there is a college fund available. Students should check with their minister or church office to determine if there is funding available. Some church-based grants or scholarships are offered by the Aid Association for Lutherans, the American Baptist Church National Ministries and the Georgia Baptist Convention. Generally, a student must be a member of the church funding the grant to be eligible.

Football/School Band

Students who stand out in the school band, on the football team or even in some school clubs may be eligible for certain grants. Sports scholarships and grants are dealt with by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Lesser known grants are available from associations such as the National Strength Conditioning Association.

Additional state-based sports grants may also be available. The University of Georgia offers band scholarships to students who meet eligibility requirements. Students should check with their high school’s athletic office for additional information and contact details.

Arts

Arts-based grants are offered to artists in many fields. Some common arts-based grants include a grant specifically for female painters from Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Sorority for Women Educators.

Filmmakers may be eligible for the Carole Fielding Student Grants. Videographers may be eligible for grants from the University Film and Video Association and the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation for writers.

Accounting/Insurance

Students pursuing an accounting or insurance degree may receive financial aid from the National Society of Accountants or State Farm Insurance Company.

Math/Computer Science

Math students have many financial options. Some of these include funding from the Raytheon Company to math majors who agree to teach a math team in exchange for financial assistance. Additional math grants or scholarships are available from Alpha Mu Theta and the American Math Society. Requirements and award amounts vary.

The National Science Foundation provides financial aid to combined math and computer science students. Computer students may find additional funding from the Electronic Document Systems Foundation and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Student Enterprise Award

Musicians

Musicians will find financial aid by competing for grants from several sources. Some of these include grants from the Edgewood College Music Department and the James M. and Virginia M. Smyth Scholarship Fund, specifically for Georgia students.

Photographers

Photographers may be eligible for funding from the MyParkPhotos.org Foundation and the McKnight Photography Fellowship. Additional photography grants are available to students who enter a competition or meet other eligibility requirements.

Sports

Many Georgia colleges and universities offer financial assistance for students who play a particular sport while attending school. Athletic scholarshipsand related funding is available at most major institutes of higher learning in Georgia. A student generally applies directly to the athletic department at the school they wish to attend. Applications should be designated in care of the school’s coach or athletic director.

Industry-Sponsored Grants

Company and sector-sponsored grants to students may offer extra perks beyond financial assistance to pay for school. Some companies may offer a student an internship that may lead to permanent job following graduation. Funding is available from large and small companies and businesses. While larger companies may offer larger grant amounts, grants from smaller businesses may be easier to obtain since they sometimes go unnoticed and unclaimed by eligible students.

Theater

Theater students may find financial assistance from many sources. Some of these include the Stella Blum Student Research Grant from the Costume Society of America. This grant is intended to assist the research of a current undergraduate or graduate student. Eligible students must be members of the organization. The $2,000 grant is awarded to a student to provide financial assistance with research in a theater-related field.

Park and Recreation

Students involved with park and recreation studies may be eligible for financial assistance from the National Recreation and Park Association.

Disability

Students studying fields related to disability research may be eligible for funding from various foundations such as the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research.

Hotel Management

Students pursuing courses related to hotel management may be eligible for funding from the
American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation if attending a qualifying university or college.

Beauty School/Cosmetology

Students interested in pursuing a career in cosmetology have a wide selection of grant opportunities in Georgia. The Beauty School Network provides current information on available beauty school grants for qualifying students.

Journalism

Journalism students may receive funding from local newspapers throughout Georgia that may provide grants or scholarships. Additional sources include the American Banking Association, the Broadcast Education Association and the Ocean Science Journalism Fellowship.

Grant Tips

1. Do not limit your sources. Apply for grants from as many sources as possible. Start by applying directly through the school’s financial aid office or financial adviser along with other sources such as online or directly through local organizations or businesses providing grants or scholarships.
2. Grant applications can be filled out online or downloaded and filled out later. The second option may be better in order to avoid mistakes. Typos, misspelled words or skipped sections can mean the difference between approval and denial of a grant, especially for those that are competitive due to limited availability or funding.
3. If photos are required for an application, avoid using casual photos. Usually, a simple head shot or school picture is best.
4. Communicate ideas clearly. Some grant applications require an essay or have a section where a student expresses their reasons for wanting the grant they are applying for. Try to avoid cliched answers or expected responses. Genuine enthusiasm can be very appealing and shows a desire to acquire an education in a particular field of study.
5. Before submitting an application, have someone else review it or read it back before sending it out. Sometimes common errors or omissions can be missed, especially after spending several hours on an application.

College Grant Information By State