Zell Miller Scholarship 2026 – Eligibility, Requirements & Deadlines

With tuition costs rising annually, financial aid is often the deciding factor in where, or if, a student attends college. 

For Georgia residents, the Zell Miller Scholarship represents the gold standard of state-funded aid. 

Unlike student loans, this merit-based award offers full-tuition assistance for high-achieving students, rewarding academic excellence rather than financial need.

Scholarship Summary

The Zell Miller Scholarship is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. 

It is designed to cover 100% of the standard tuition at public University System of Georgia (USG) and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutions. 

For students attending eligible private colleges in Georgia, it provides a significant fixed award amount per semester.

Key Distinction: While the HOPE Scholarship covers a portion of tuition (often around 90-95% depending on current rates), the Zell Miller Scholarship aims to cover the full tuition cost for public university students, provided they maintain a high GPA.

Eligibility and Selection Process for Zell Miller Scholarship 2026

The selection process is entirely data-driven based on academic performance. There are no essays or interviews. The following table outlines the strict criteria students must meet.

Criteria Category	Requirement Details	Important Notes
Residency	Must be a legal resident of Georgia for at least 12 months prior to the start of the term (24 months if not a resident at graduation).	U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens only.
HOPE GPA	Minimum 3.7 calculated HOPE GPA.	This is not the cumulative GPA on your high school transcript. It includes only core courses (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language).
Test Scores	SAT: 1200 (Math/Reading total) OR ACT: 26 (Composite).	Must be achieved in a single administration. Super-scoring is not allowed for initial eligibility.
Rigor Credits	Must earn at least 4 full credits in academically rigorous courses.	Examples: AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, Advanced Algebra, Chemistry, Physics.
Alternative Method	Graduate as the Valedictorian or Salutatorian of an eligible high school.	You must still meet the rigor requirements and general residency rules.

Detailed Academic Requirements

Many applicants are disqualified because they misunderstand how the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) calculates eligibility.

The “HOPE GPA” vs. High School GPA

Your high school report card might show a 4.0, but you could still be ineligible. 

The GSFC strips away electives (like gym or art) and unweighted “honors” points given by local schools. They recalculate your GPA using only core curriculum courses.

• Weighting: The GSFC adds a 0.5 weight only to AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment courses (up to a 4.0 maximum).
• Verification: You can check your official calculated HOPE GPA via your GAfutures account.

The Rigor Requirement

To ensure students are prepared for college-level work, you must pass at least four rigorous courses. Common courses that satisfy this include:

• Advanced Math (Algebra II, Pre-Calculus)
• Advanced Science (Chemistry, Physics, Biology II)
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses
• International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
• Dual Enrollment courses (taking college classes while in high school)

Test Score Deadlines

This is a critical “gap” in many guides: You must earn the qualifying test score before you graduate high school. 

You cannot take the SAT or ACT the summer after graduation to qualify for the scholarship as an entering freshman.

Scholarship Coverage: What Does It Pay?

The award amount varies depending on the type of institution you attend. Amounts are subject to annual legislative approval, but the 2025-2026 rates provide a solid baseline for 2026 planning.

Public Institutions (USG & TCSG)

For students at schools like the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech, the scholarship covers 100% of the standard undergraduate tuition rate.

• Example: For the 2025-2026 academic year, a student at Georgia Tech taking 15 credit hours receives a maximum of $10,512 for two semesters (Standard tuition).
• Note: It does not cover mandatory fees, housing, or meal plans.

Private Institutions

If you attend a private university like Emory or Mercer, the scholarship functions as a tuition equalization grant. It does not cover full tuition (which is often much higher at private schools).

• Current Rate: The award is a fixed amount based on enrollment status (Full-time vs. Half-time). For 2025-2026, this is typically approximately $2,977 per semester for full-time students (12+ hours).

2026 Application Timeline

Missing a deadline can delay your funding. 

While the absolute final deadline is the last day of the school term, you should follow this recommended timeline to ensure funds are ready by the time tuition is due.

Timeline	Action Item
Oct – Dec 2025	Take Final Standardized Tests: Ensure you have the 1200 SAT or 26 ACT. Scores must be sent to GSFC (Code 0472).
Dec 2025 – Feb 2026	Complete FAFSA: The application opens in December. This serves as your application for both federal aid and the Zell Miller Scholarship.
February 2026	Check GAfutures: Log in to verify your preliminary HOPE GPA status. Ensure your high school has uploaded your transcript data.
April 2026	GSFAPP Option: If you choose not to file a FAFSA, complete the Georgia Student Finance Application (GSFAPP). This is valid for 10 years.
June 2026	Final Transcript Verification: After graduation, your high school sends final transcripts to GSFC. Your status on GAfutures should update to “Eligible.”
July 2026	Award Confirmation: Check your college’s financial aid portal to ensure the award is applied to your Fall 2026 invoice.

How to Apply

You have two options to apply for the Zell Miller Scholarship. You do not need to do both, but doing the FAFSA is recommended to qualify for other federal aid.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

• Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
• This must be renewed every year.
• This is the easiest method if you are also applying for the Pell Grant or federal loans.

GSFAPP (Georgia Student Finance Application)

• Complete the application on GAfutures.org.

Benefit: You only have to file this once. It remains valid for 10 years, meaning you don’t have to reapply every year if you only want state aid.

Maintaining Your Scholarship in College

Getting the scholarship is difficult; keeping it requires consistent effort. Many students lose the Zell Miller Scholarship after their freshman year because they are unprepared for the college grading scale.

The Checkpoints

Your GPA is checked at the following intervals:

1. End of Every Spring Term: Regardless of how many hours you have taken.
2. Attempted Hours Checkpoints: After attempting 30, 60, and 90 semester hours.

GPA Requirement

You must maintain a 3.3 cumulative college HOPE GPA.

Note: This includes all attempted hours, even if you withdrew or failed a class.

• Drop to HOPE: If your GPA falls below 3.3 but remains above 3.0, you will drop to the standard HOPE Scholarship (which covers slightly less tuition).
• Regaining Eligibility: If you lose the Zell Miller Scholarship, you can regain it only once. You must re-achieve a 3.3 GPA at the 30, 60, or 90-hour checkpoint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Zell Miller Scholarship for graduate school?

No. The scholarship is strictly for undergraduate degrees. It ends once you receive a bachelor’s degree or reach the 127 attempted-hour limit.

Does Dual Enrollment count toward my college GPA limit?

No. Credits taken while in high school (Dual Enrollment) are paid for by a separate funding bucket. They do not count toward the 127-hour cap for college eligibility, nor do they factor into your college HOPE GPA.

What happens if I am not a resident when I graduate high school?

If you graduated from an out-of-state high school, you generally must wait until you have established Georgia residency for 24 consecutive months before you can qualify.

Is there a time limit on using the scholarship?

Yes. For most current students, eligibility expires 10 years after high school graduation or upon reaching the 127 attempted-hour limit, whichever comes first.

Next Steps

If you have not yet achieved a 1200 SAT or 26 ACT, register for the next available testing date immediately.

Visit GAfutures.org to create your account and check your current calculated HOPE GPA. This will give you the most accurate picture of where you stand and what you need to do to secure your tuition funding.