Can a 26 year old qualify for Georgia HOPE?

Paying for College
1

I was born back in 1989 and have lived in Georgia my whole life. I never actually attended high school, and got a GED when I was 24 and went to a local CC. I just got my Associates Degree with a 3.95 GPA and I wanted to go to a four year college. But I live in the middle of nowhere, and it will require I move/quit my job(the nearest 4 year is over 60 miles away and isn’t any good).

I was originally planning on doing this(probably attending either Georgia State or Kennesaw), but I thought I’d get HOPE to help cover my tuition and Pell could cover the rest(and fees), and hopefully some of my housing until I got a job.

HOPE’s website says you qualify for 7 years from the time you graduate high school. I got my GED two years ago and started college a few weeks later. I believed that meant I still qualified. Since I have more than 30 credits in college, I thought I could apply since I’ve established a track record. But I was talking with another student who is 28 and she said that no one over 25 can receive HOPE. That isn’t what their website says. I tried calling them, and they told me they “Can’t disclose this information over the phone” which is a pretty mind boggling statement. They also told me I have to apply through a college that I’m attending.

I don’t want to move somewhere, only to find I don’t qualify for any aid and then have a huge mess on my hands. Can you qualify if you’re over 25 or not? I don’t understand why they don’t just say “No one over 25” if that’s how it works. They say seven years after graduation. And I didn’t graduate until 2013.

2

quote, GED test date, or home study completion date, whichever occurs first.

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You’ll need to call them. The way I read it you would not be eligible. The Graduation date of the HS class from which you withdrew, or your GED date, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. But do call them. Maybe they’ll allow a waiver or something else.

3

There is a separate program for adult education called HOPE Grant:

https://secure.gacollege411.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/HOPE_Program/Georgia_s_HOPE_Grant_Program.aspx

4

But did OP “withdraw from a high school class” if he never attended high school?

5

IIRC (and this is from memory) you must have had the GED for 5 years to qualify as a non-traditional student for the HOPE options.

6

http://www.gsfc.org/main/publishing/pdf/2016/2016-HOPE%20GED.pdf
The 5 year rule I was remembering has to do with the time between getting a GED and qualifying as a non traditional student. Apologies. The link here is of the regulations for the one time $500 GED HOPE grant. Be sure to read the qualifications and expiration time frame of 2 years from acquision of GED.