TEST SCORES FOR HOPE

Test Scores for HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships

Unaccredited Program:

Most homeschools in Georgia are considered by GSFC to be an "unaccredited home study program". Graduates from these programs use test scores instead of high school GPA to qualify for HOPE/Zell Miller.

Below is a breakdown of which scholarship your child is eligible for based on their best test score. Note that SAT/ACT test scores need to be from a single sitting taken BEFORE the date that you assign as their graduation date. Also note that dual-enrollment classes taken before a student graduates from high school do NOT count in their HOPE GPA.

  • SAT 1340-1600 (ACT 29-32):
    • Eligible for Zell Miller scholarship as an entering freshman.
    • (Technically the test score needs to be 93rd percentile, which is 1340/29 per GSFC as of August 2024).
  • SAT 1200-1330 (ACT 26-28):
    • Eligible for HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman.
    • If they complete 30 college semester hours with a 3.3 HOPE GPA, they can apply to GSFC for the retroactive Zell Miller scholarship*.
  • SAT 1160-1190 (ACT 24-25):
    • Eligible for HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman.
    • (Technically the test score needs to be 75th percentile, which is 1160/24 per GSFC as of August 2024).
  • SAT 0-1150 (ACT 0-23):
    • If your child does not have a test score, or their score doesn't fall into the above ranges, then they are ineligible for the HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman.
    • But all HOPE is not lost (pun intended). If they complete 30 college semester hours with a 3.0 HOPE GPA, then they can apply to GSFC for the retroactive HOPE scholarship*.

*Retroactive scholarship:

  • Retroactive HOPE means that the student starts receiving HOPE moving forward and also gets reimbursed for what HOPE would have paid for their previous semesters.
  • Retroactive Zell Miller means that the student starts receiving Zell Miller moving forward and also gets reimbursed the difference between what Zell Miller and HOPE would have paid for their previous semesters.
  • If a student completes 30 semester hours in a Fall semester, then they need to apply to GSFC for retroactive HOPE/Zell by the last day of the next Spring semester.
  • If a student completes 30 semester hours in a Spring or Summer semester, then they need to apply to GSFC for retroactive HOPE/Zell by the last day of the next Fall semester.

Accredited Program:

None of the above applies to students that graduate from an accredited program. They qualify for HOPE with a 3.0 GPA, including rigor courses. They qualify for the Zell Miller Scholarship with a 3.7 GPA, including rigor courses, and a 1200 SAT (26 ACT) test score from a single sitting before they graduate from high school.