HOPE Scholarship FAQs

The State of Georgia Legislature passes legislation every year on the HOPE Factor Rate. The Factor Rate is the percentage HOPE scholarship will pay using last year’s per credit hour tuition rate. Since the Bachelor tuition rate for 2025-2026 is the same as 2024-2025 this means HOPE will cover 100% of the UNG On-campus rate and UNG Online rate for those students enrolled in a Bachelor degree program. 

If you are in an Associate program, there was an increase in tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year. This means that HOPE for Associate degree students will pay $119 per credit hour for 2025-2026 because that is the tuition rate for the last year.  

Not at all. The 100% HOPE factor rate does not impact you. Zell Miller Scholarship will still pay 100% of UNG On-campus rate and UNG Online rate. 

Zell Miller Scholarship can only be earned during high school. Zell Miller Scholarship is not impacted by the factor rate that may change each year. If the factor rate goes down next year, Zell Miller Scholarship eligible students will still receive the full tuition amount they are eligible for as Zell Miller scholars.  

If you are an Associate degree seeking student taking UNG on-campus or UNG online courses, your tuition rate will be $143.00 per credit hour. For 2025-2026, the HOPE for Associate degree seeking students will pay the equivalent of last year’s tuition rate of $119.00 per credit hour (up to 15 hours enrolled per semester).

If you are a Bachelor degree seeking student taking UNG on-campus or UNG online courses, your tuition rate will be $191.00 per credit hour which is 100% of the standard tuition rate. (up to 15 hours enrolled per semester).

If you are an associate degree seeking student, HOPE pays $119.00 per credit hour. The eCore tuition rate is $159 per credit hour. This means you will need to pay the difference between the $159 (tuition rate) and the $119.00 HOPE per credit hour rate. This is a difference of $40.00 per credit hour. HOPE regulations state that HOPE pays based on the regular undergraduate tuition rate so HOPE will not pay 100% of the full cost of eCore tuition for associate degree students.

If you are an associate degree seeking student taking eCore classes, you could change your major to a bachelor degree. HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship will then pay the full amount. Learn more about Major, Campus and Degree Level Changes. There is a deadline to submit this change; therefore, it is important to submit the form as quickly as possible.

Since the eCore class tuition rate is $159 per credit hour, HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship will pay $159 per credit hour. HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship will not pay more than the tuition amount charged.

If you are an associate degree seeking student taking eCore classes, you could change your major to a bachelor degree. HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship will then pay the full amount. Learn more about Campus and Degree Level Changes. There is a deadline to submit this change; therefore, it is important to submit the form as quickly as possible.

HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship only pays towards your tuition costs. You will still have a balance for your mandatory fees, class lab fees and inclusive material charges if assessed.

This information can be found on our Georgia Aid webpage.

Please remember the amounts can change based on if the course is UNG on campus, UNG online or an eCore course.  

Unfortunately, HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship is not eligible for Learning Support classes. Learning Support classes have a class code of less than 1000. For example, MATH 0999 is a learning support class while MATH 1001 is not.