Create an Account
Paying for College
Repayment Guide
Scholarships & Grants
Savings Programs
Tax Savings
Loan Programs
Stafford Loans
GRADPLUS Loans
Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
Federal Consolidation Loans
Federal Perkins Loan
Service Cancelable Loans
Tools & Calculators
Publications & Forms
Ask an Expert

HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan

If you love teaching and want to earn an advanced degree, or if you have an undergraduate degree and would like to become a teacher, Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Loan Program may be able to help you pay for your education. The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program — a component of the lottery-funded HOPE Program — provides service cancelable loans to individuals seeking advanced education degrees in critical shortage fields of study. You simply repay your loan by teaching in a Georgia public school after earning your advanced degree, saving you money and helping fill the need for qualified professionals in these teaching fields. It's a program that benefits Georgia teachers and every student in their classrooms.

Click here to view Program Regulations

Eligible Recipients

The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Program assists a broad range of individuals, including:

  • Teachers Without a Master's Degree — This includes teachers who have a Bachelor's Degree and are seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage teaching field.

  • Teachers and Individuals With a Master's or Specialist Degree — This includes:

    • Teachers and individuals who have a Master's Degree in a critical shortage field and are seeking a Specialist or Doctorate degree in their current critical shortage field;

    • Teachers and individuals who have a Master's Degree in a non-critical shortage field and are seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage field; and

    • Teachers and individuals who have a Specialist Degree in a critical shortage field and are seeking a Doctorate Degree in their current critical shortage field.

  • Georgians With a Bachelor's Degree Who Are Not Currently Teaching or Who Have Not Taught — This includes individuals who have a Bachelor's Degree who are seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage field.

Eligibility Requirements

A student must:

  • Be a legal resident of Georgia for at least 12 months.

  • Be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under Federal Title IV requirements.

  • Be fully admitted into graduate school and be certified by the College of Education teacher certification official at an eligible institution in Georgia to be admitted into an advanced degree teacher education program in a critical shortage teaching field leading to certification. (Note that individuals who already hold an advanced degree in a critical shortage field are eligible only for funding in their current field).

  • Agree to obtain a higher-level clear and renewable Georgia Professional Educator Certificate in the field in which you were awarded.

  • Agree to teach in a Georgia Public school classroom in the critical shortage field that you were awarded at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level after graduation.

  • Not owe a refund on a grant, scholarship or scholarship loan previously received under any State of Georgia or Federal program for attendance at any postsecondary educational institution.

  • Not be in default or owe a balance on a previously defaulted student loan obtained under any State of Georgia or Federal program for attendance at any postsecondary educational institution.

Note: If you are not eligible for HOPE and you are an in-service teacher, you may wish to contact your local staff development coordinator to learn about coursework eligible for funding through your school system.

Scholarship Value

Maximum awards are based on the number of credit hours necessary for students to complete their program of study. Scholarship funds can be used toward any part of the student's cost of attendance. Students who attend an eligible public university receive $125 per semester hour. At an eligible private college or university, students can receive $200 per semester hour or quarter equivalent. Scholarship funds can be used toward any part of the student's cost of attendance.

Critical Shortage Fields

The approved critical shortage fields may change each Spring, based on an annual survey of teaching vacancies in Georgia.

The following critical shortage fields were approved for the 2008-2009 academic year. Teaching fields may be added or removed for the 2009-2010 academic year in May 2009:

  • Special Education General Curriculum (P-12)
  • Special Education Adapted Curriculum (P-12)
  • Special Education Learning Disabilities (P-12)
  • Special Education Behavior Disorders (P-12)
  • Special Education General Curriculum / Early Childhood Education (P-5)
  • Special Education Hearing Impaired (P-12)
  • Special Education Orthopedically Impaired (P-12)
  • Middle Grades Math (4-8)
  • Middle Grades Science (4-8)
  • Middle Grades Math & Science (4-8)
  • Middle Grades Language Arts (4-8)
  • Early Childhood Education (P-5)
  • English (6-12)
  • Mathematics (6-12)
  • Science (6-12) (Includes Broad Field, Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space, & Physics)
  • History (6-12)
  • Economics (6-12)
  • Political Science (6-12)
  • Geography (6-12)
  • Spanish (P-12)
  • French (P-12)
  • Music (P-12)
  • Art (P-12)

Application Process

You must be fully accepted in the College of Education before you are eligible to apply. Click here to download the Hope Teacher Scholarship Loan Application and Promissory Note. Complete Section A and forward your attachments and completed application to the College of Education Certification Official. The College of Education will complete Section B and forward all documents to the Financial Aid Office, which will complete Section C and forward to GSFC for approval and processing.

Approximately 1,000 scholarships are awarded each academic year on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarship funds are provided directly to the school's financial aid office and will be disbursed on a term-by-term basis.

Service Commitment

Recipients of the HOPE Teacher Scholarship are granted a grace period of one year after completing their approved program. After the grace period, recipients are obligated to teach in their critical shortage field of study in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level one academic year for each $2,500 awarded through the scholarship, with a maximum of five years to repay.

For example, if you receive a total of $5,000 (40 semester hours x $125) to complete your advanced degree and teach two years after graduation in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level, your loan will be completely repaid by your completion of your service commitment to Georgia.

If the teaching/service obligation cannot be met, any outstanding loan amounts, plus interest, must be repaid to the State of Georgia.

Note: Once you have fulfilled your loan obligation, you may reapply for the HOPE Teacher Scholarship if you continue to meet eligibility requirements.

Eligible Colleges and Universities

You may participate in the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Program at any of the public and private colleges or universities currently offering teacher preparation programs approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. These include:

Public Colleges/UniversitiesPrivate Colleges/Universities
Albany State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Augusta State University
Columbus State University
Fort Valley State University
Georgia College & State University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia State University
Kennesaw State University
North Georgia College & State University
University of Georgia
University of West Georgia
Valdosta State University
Agnes Scott College
Berry College
Brenau University
Clark Atlanta University
Emory University
LaGrange College
Mercer University
Oglethorpe University
Piedmont College
Toccoa Falls College
Wesleyan College

Renewal Applicants

If you are currently receiving the HOPE Teacher Scholarship, you must complete a Renewal Application each academic year.

Important Sources for Teaching Professionals

For more information on teaching certification requirements, you may contact the Georgia Professional Standards Commission toll-free at 1-800-869-7775. In Metro Atlanta, call (404) 657-9000 or visit their web site at www.gapsc.com.

For employment opportunities, please contact Public School Recruitment Services at the Georgia Professional Standards Commission at (404) 232-2675 or visit their web site at www.teachgeorgia.org.


back