Georgia Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs
There are several Georgia student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Georgia, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.
These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.
Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.
There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Georgia can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to.
Georgia Student Loan Programs
Georgia has one student loan program called the Georgia Student Access Loan. The Georgia Student Finance Authority (GSFA) offers the Student Access Loan Program (SAL) for eligible students attending an eligible University System of Georgia (USG), Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or Private postsecondary institution in Georgia. The SAL is a 1% fixed rate loan, designed to assist undergraduate and technical college students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs.
You can learn more about the Georgia Student Access Loan here.
However, there are limits to how much you can borrow (which might be why you're here).
If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:
- Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
- College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.
Check out our complete guide to finding the best student loans here.
Georgia Scholarship Programs
Georgia has several scholarship programs available to Georgia students. You can learn more at Georgia Futures.
HOPE Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship is a merit based scholarship that provides assistance towards the cost of tuition at eligible public and private Georgia postsecondary institutions. A student must graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 HOPE GPA and meet specific course criteria.
Learn more about the HOPE Scholarship here.
Zell Miller Scholarship
The Zell Miller Scholarship is a merit based scholarship that provides full tuition at a public postsecondary institution and tuition assistance at an eligible private postsecondary institution.
A student must graduate from an eligible high school as valedictorian or salutatorian (meeting the requirements of the HOPE Scholarship) or graduate with a minimum 3.7 Zell Miller GPA (as calculated by GSFC) along with a minimum combined score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of a national administration of the SAT or a minimum composite score of 26 on a single national or state/district administration of the ACT and meet specific course requirements.
Learn more about the Zell Miller Scholarship here.
Other Scholarships
These scholarships are sponsored by state organizations.
Georgia Grant Programs
Georgia has several grant programs that Georgia students are eligible for.
Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.
HOPE Grant
Georgia's HOPE Grant (a separate program from the HOPE Scholarship) is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma (continuing education programs are not eligible) at an eligible college or university in Georgia.
You can learn more about HOPE Grants here.
Zell Miller Grant
Georgia's Zell Miller Grant is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma at a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or University System of Georgia (USG) institution.
Learn more about the Zell Miller Grant here.
Other Options
If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Georgia resident, check out our Georgia Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to Georgia residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.
You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.
If you're looking for ways to save for college in Georgia, check out our Georgia 529 Plan and College Savings Guide.
Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.
Editor: Colin Graves Reviewed by: Chris Muller