Evaluating the Georgia HOPE Scholarship Program

Impact on Students Attending Public Colleges and Universities

Executive Summary

Two years after starting college, recipients of Georgia’s HOPE scholarship program are more likely to still be enrolled in college, have higher grade point averages (GPA), and have earned more credit hours than their counterparts, according to a study by the Council for School Performance. The following graphs illustrate the difference in college performance for the two groups selected for the study, 1994-95 borderline HOPE recipients (those with a 3.0-3.16 GPA) and a matched sample of students who did not receive HOPE. For purpose of comparison, similar information is provided for all 1994-95 first-time HOPE recipients and for all first-time students enrolled in Board of Regents institutions in 1994-95.

College Performance for 1994 - 95 Entering Students at Georgia

Public Colleges and Universities

Findings from the study show that HOPE has the following effects, after controlling for other factors:

• African-American students with HOPE have higher college GPAs, have more college credits, and are less likely to drop out of college than African Americans without the scholarship.

• Non-HOPE students were more likely to attend state two-year colleges, while borderline HOPE students were more likely to attend state universities and regional universities.

• Even when students lose the scholarship, those who received HOPE in their first year of school are staying in college at higher than expected rates.