Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Georgia's official program pages.
The short answer: Zell Miller, Georgia's full tuition award, takes a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT from a single test date plus a 3.7 HOPE GPA. The HOPE Scholarship needs no test score for graduates of an eligible Georgia high school, only a 3.0 HOPE GPA. Both also require 4 rigor course credits.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zell Miller Scholarship | 1200 | 25 | 3.7 HOPE GPA | Tuition and most mandatory fees at eligible Georgia public colleges |
| HOPE Scholarship | No score needed | No score needed | 3.0 HOPE GPA | A set amount per credit hour toward tuition |
Beyond the score:
- Zell Miller Scholarship: 4 rigor credits. A valedictorian or salutatorian with a 3.0 HOPE GPA and 4 rigor credits qualifies with no test score.
- HOPE Scholarship: 4 rigor credits. Graduates of an ineligible high school or unaccredited home study need a 1160 SAT or 24 ACT.
How the test score counts
The SAT score (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing plus Math) must come from a single national administration, and the ACT from a single national or state administration, taken before high school graduation. GSFC reposts the ACT equivalent each January 15. Graduates of ineligible high schools or unaccredited home study need a 1340 SAT or 29 ACT for Zell Miller.
How the GPA is calculated
The HOPE GPA is calculated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) from required core courses, not taken from the report card. High schools send transcript data to GSFC, and your teen can see the HOPE GPA in a GAfutures account. It is never rounded up, so a 3.69 does not count as a 3.7.
Which class year these rules cover
GSFC publishes one set of score and GPA lines rather than separate ones by graduating class. The 25 ACT equivalent applies to students graduating after December 31, 2023.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| FAFSA or Georgia State Aid Application (GSFAPP) | The last day of the school term or the student's withdrawal date, whichever comes first |
| Retroactive eligibility review in college | Last day of the term after the one in which the student reaches 30 semester or 45 quarter attempted hours, not counting summer |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Georgia SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
HOPE needs a 3.0 college HOPE GPA at each checkpoint: 30, 60, and 90 semester hours, or 45, 90, and 135 quarter hours. Zell Miller needs a 3.3 college HOPE GPA at the same checkpoints.
Where it pays
Eligible Georgia public and private colleges listed by GSFC. HOPE pays per credit hour, up to 15 hours at public colleges and up to 12 at private ones, and neither award pays at schools outside Georgia.
The misconception: HOPE needs an SAT score
For graduates of an eligible Georgia high school, HOPE requires no test score. The SAT or ACT matters for Zell Miller, along with a 3.7 HOPE GPA that GSFC calculates itself. That GPA is as firm a line as the 1200, so protect it while your teen works on the test.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Georgia colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does my teen need an SAT score to get HOPE in Georgia?
No, not from an eligible Georgia high school. Your teen needs a 3.0 HOPE GPA and 4 rigor credits. A score is required only for graduates of an ineligible high school or unaccredited home study.
What SAT score gets Zell Miller instead of HOPE?
A 1200 SAT or 25 ACT on a single test date, plus a 3.7 HOPE GPA and 4 rigor credits.
Can a valedictorian get Zell Miller without a test score?
Yes. A named valedictorian or salutatorian with a 3.0 HOPE GPA and 4 rigor credits qualifies for Zell Miller with no SAT or ACT.
Is the HOPE GPA the same as my teen's report card GPA?
No. GSFC calculates it from required core courses reported by the high school, and it is never rounded up. A 3.69 does not become a 3.7.
If my teen misses Zell Miller in high school, can strong college grades earn it later?
Not for graduates of an eligible Georgia high school. Under GSFC's published rules, earning Zell Miller in college is open to graduates of ineligible high schools or unaccredited home study who had at least a 1200 SAT and reach a 3.3 college HOPE GPA after 30 semester or 45 quarter attempted hours.
Does HOPE pay at private Georgia colleges?
Yes. HOPE pays a set amount per credit hour at eligible private Georgia colleges, up to 12 hours, compared with up to 15 hours at public colleges.
Sources
- GAfutures: Zell Miller Scholarship Initial Academic Eligibility
- GAfutures: Zell Miller Scholarship FAQ
- GAfutures: Zell Miller Academic Eligibility in College
- GAfutures: HOPE Scholarship Initial Academic Eligibility
- GAfutures: HOPE Scholarship Award Amounts
- GAfutures: HOPE Scholarship Application and Deadline
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the Zell Miller line and the ranges at their Georgia colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Georgia families: Georgia SAT prep and SAT Scores for Georgia Colleges.