Zell Miller Scholarship Eligibility Based on Test Scores
A student who graduated from an ineligible high school, or completed an unaccredited home study program, may qualify for the Zell Miller Scholarship as an entering college freshman based on ACT or SAT scores earned prior to high school graduation. The student must score in or above the 93rd percentile on a single national or state/district administration of the ACT or single national administration of the SAT.
A minimum composite score of 29 is required for the ACT. A score of 1340 or higher is required for the SAT. If the SAT was taken prior to March 1, 2016, the 93rd percentile score is based on the reading and math portion of the test. If the SAT was taken on or after March 1, 2016, the 93rd percentile score is based on the total test score.
To have your SAT scores sent to Georgia Student Finance Commission for scholarship eligibility evaluation, a request may be submitted to College Board or call 866.630.9305. Select Georgia Student Finance’s score recipient code of ‘0472’ so that the report will be sent directly to the Georgia Student Finance Commission office. The request for an ACT score report may be submitted to ACT or call 319.337.1270. The score report should be mailed to the student’s home address and the unopened report should then be sent to Georgia Student Finance Commission at the address below.
An ineligible high school or unaccredited home study program is a school or home study program in the state of Georgia that is not accredited by one of the agencies listed below:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
- Georgia Accrediting Commission;
- Georgia Association of Christian Schools;
- Association of Christian Schools International;
- Georgia Private School Accreditation Council; or
- Southern Association of Independent Schools
If the high school or home study program is located outside the state of Georgia and is not accredited by one of the agencies listed below:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
- Northwest Accreditation Commission;
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges;
- Alabama Independent School Association; or
- Southern Association of Independent Schools
For purposes of the Zell Miller Scholarship Program, a home study program is an educational entity that is not a public or a private school in Georgia and meets the requirements for home study programs pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c).
If you meet the criteria listed above, complete and submit the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship Eligibility Evaluation Request form and required documents as one package to the following address:
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Program Administration
2082 East Exchange Place
Tucker, Georgia 30084
A student must also complete the Georgia Student Finance Application (GSFAPPS). The deadline to submit the GSFAPPS is the last day of the semester or quarter that the student is seeking scholarship funds.
Note: Ineligible high school graduates enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution, may receive the Zell Miller Scholarship, at the first-tier, regardless of the total number of attempted-hours or at the second-tier, third-tier or fourth-tier, beginning fall term 2016, but not for previous terms of enrollment. The student must have maintained a cumulative postsecondary GPA of 3.3 or greater and have met all other Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility requirements at the time of the student’s high school graduation including receiving a score in the 93rd percentile on a single test administration of the SAT/ACT.
