Federal Aid
Grants are financial aid allowances that do not normally need to be repaid. GNTC offers both federally-funded grants and state-funded grants.
- Watch FATV: Six Things to Know About Grant Money
Types of Aid
Financial Aid
Grants are financial aid allowances that do not normally need to be repaid. GNTC offers both federally-funded grants and state-funded grants.
Although programs have their own unique requirements, there are common eligibility requirements that coincide. Below are the common requirements for federal aid programs.
The Federal Pell Grant is needs-based and provides assistance to low-income students seeking post-secondary education. Pell Grant amounts are determined by the student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)/Student Aid Index (SAI), Cost Of Attendance (COA), the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled for classes, and whether the student attends each semester within the academic year. If a student is enrolled in an associate’s degree, an eligible diploma, or eligible certificate programs, he/she may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a needs-based grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial needs. Only students who receive both the federal Pell Grant and have the greatest financial need will receive the FSEOG first. Each participating school is allotted only a certain amount of funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. Therefore, this is a type of “first-come-first-served” grant. Once the allotted amount of FSEOG funds has been awarded for the aid year, no additional FSEOG awards can be administered until the next fiscal year.
The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) is a needs-based federally funded program that assists students with funding educational expenses by providing employment opportunities. Both on-campus and a few off-campus positions are offered to students. Since education is our primary goal for the student, work hours are generally flexible around the student’s academic schedule. The rate of pay for federal work-study is never less than minimum wage, and Work-Study students are paid twice a month for hours worked. In addition to the Common General Eligibility Requirements, a student hoping to qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program must be Pell-eligible with high financial need, apply for a work-study position, and complete all required documents for the background check. If interested in applying for a work-study position, please view Work-Study Positions.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Program (WIOA) is a federally funded work training program that assists students who meet both eligibility and suitability requirements. The eligible student will be learning new skills for tomorrow’s workforce. WIOA may pay a small travel stipend or assist with child care expenses to those who qualify. It may also pay for program required tuition, fees, books, supplies, and/or other related materials that fall within program limits. View our WIOA page for more information.
Grants are financial aid allowances that do not normally need to be repaid. GNTC offers both federally-funded grants and state-funded grants.
All aid programs have general eligibility requirements that must be met to qualify for those specific aid funds. Common eligibility requirements for state aid programs are:
Brief descriptions of the types of scholarships and general requirements unique to their specific fund group are listed below. For state aid programs (ex: HOPE Scholarship, and Zell Miller Scholarship) the regulations are subject to change. For complete details on state aid program regulations please visit GSFC. College & high school students may also track HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship Academic Eligibility online.
HOPE stands for Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally and is a state-funded program awarded to Georgia residents enrolled in a certificate or diploma program who maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative postsecondary GPA. As of the 24-25 aid year, the grant pays for 93.45% of the tuition costs only and does not include the $366 in fees. As long as eligibility is maintained, qualifying students may receive the HOPE Grant until they reach the Grant Award Limit.
The HOPE Career Grant is state-funded. The HOPE Career Grant is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them. These industries have been identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growth. Please check the HOPE Career Grant for more information on eligible programs. For information on payment amounts, view Award Amounts for the HOPE Career Grant.
Georgia’s Zell Miller Grant is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement. The grant pays 100% of the tuition rate for certificate and diploma-seeking students. The tuition rate does not include the $366 fee.
Zell Miller Grant follows the same guidelines as the HOPE Grant with the exception that the GPA requirement to qualify for the Zell Miller Grant is a 3.5 GPA. Students may receive Zell Miller Grant funds as long as they maintain eligibility requirements until they reach the Zell Miller Grant Award Limit.
The State of Georgia Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver Program exempts or waives payment of tuition and fees (and where applicable, on-campus housing) for students attending a technical college within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Eligible students must be a youth or young adult under the age of 28 who is currently in foster care, has experienced foster care, or who was placed for adoption by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
Visit the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services page for more information.
Scholarships are merit-based financial aid awards that do not normally need to be repaid. The state, the college itself, or outside institutions may offer scholarships.
All aid programs have general eligibility requirements that must be met to qualify for those specific aid funds. Common eligibility requirements for state aid programs are:
Brief descriptions of the types of scholarships and general requirements unique to their specific fund group are listed below. For state aid programs (ex: HOPE Scholarship, and Zell Miller Scholarship) the regulations are subject to change. For complete details on state aid program regulations please visit GSFC. College & high school students may also track HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship Academic Eligibility online.
HOPE stands for Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally and the HOPE Scholarship is a state-funded program awarded to qualifying students enrolled in a degree program who have not reached the Scholar Limits or Expiration of Eligibility. As of the 24-25 aid year, as long as a student maintains eligibility, the Scholarship pays for 93.45% of the tuition costs only and does not apply anything toward the $366 of fees.
Students graduating from High School with at least a 3.0 GPA, and going straight into a degree program, may be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. Likewise, students who have completed 30, 60, or 90 semester hours that will count toward the degree hours, may also qualify for scholarship funds. The HOPE Scholarship Evaluation form may be completed to have your eligibility checked and may be accessed on our Forms page.
Recipients of the HOPE Scholarship must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and will automatically be evaluated at the end of every spring semester as well as the 30th, 60th, and 90th semester hour checkpoints. If a student loses the HOPE Scholarship at any of the checkpoints, he/she may be able to regain it only one (1) time at the next checkpoint. *For students who lost the HOPE Scholarship and regained it before the fall semester of 2011 (when the HOPE guidelines were revised): If you lose the scholarship again, you may regain it one (1) time at the next GPA checkpoint.
Watch FATV: What is the Hope Scholarship?
Georgia’s Zell Miller Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and are enrolled in a degree major. For qualifying students, as long as eligibility is maintained, the scholarship could pay 100% of the tuition rate only which does not include the $366 in fees.
The Zell Miller Scholarship has a high level of academic requirements that must be met as an entering freshman (after high school graduation or home study completion) to qualify. A student who was not academically eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship upon high school graduation or home study completion cannot gain eligibility while in college. A Zell Miller Scholarship recipient must graduate from high school with a minimum 3.70 GPA, combined with a minimum SAT score of 1200 on the math and reading portions, or a minimum composite ACT score of 26 in a single national test administration. For the full eligibility requirements, view Zell Miller Scholarship Eligibility. For award limits and expiration view Zell Miller Expiration.
Students receiving the Zell Miller Scholarship will be evaluated at the end of each spring semester as well as the 30th, 60th, and 90th semester hour checkpoints to ensure they maintain at least a 3.3 calculated HOPE GPA. A student who loses the Zell Miller Scholarship at a checkpoint may regain it at the next checkpoint (except for the end of the spring checkpoint). Eligibility may be regained only one time at an attempted hour’s checkpoint.
Watch FATV: What is the Zell Miller Scholarship?
Donations to the GNTC Foundation support areas of institutional need including scholarships to deserving students, equipment purchases, materials for the library, and staff development. Scholarships are offered through GNTC’s Foundation and may be applied for through AwardSpring. Any incoming, current, or returning GNTC students are encouraged to apply. The scholarship application period will be advertised on the GNTC home page as well as social media sites. It usually opens just before registration for classes opens for the next term and remains open for about one month. View the Academic Calendars section of our Schedules & Calendars page to view when registration opens for a respective term.
Additional scholarship information can be found at these websites:
Notice: Beginning Fall 2025, GNTC will no longer be offering Federal Student Loans. Students may apply for a private education loan from any lender and have the approval sent to GNTC for certification. GNTC does not endorse or recommend any specific lender. Private loans are credit based and may require a cosigner. These loans can be used for allowable education expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and living costs.
Contact Financial Aid for more information.