Alma Bowen 770-724-9018 

Georgia No. 1 in student financial aid sixth year in row 

State No. 2 in teacher scholarships and No. 4 in military scholarships 

For the sixth consecutive year, Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the nation for student aid that is merit based. Also, Georgia once again is No. 1 in estimated grant dollars to undergraduates and No. 1 on the percentage of undergraduates receiving state-financed grants and scholarships for education beyond high school, almost seven times the national percentage. 

"Georgia leads the nation in making higher education accessible to all its citizens," said Governor Perdue. "We must continue to improve and reform our entire educational system to ensure a quality future for our students and the state of Georgia." 

New this year were details on all state-financed student financial aid programs. Analysis placed Georgia No. 2 nationally in providing scholarships and grants for students studying to become teachers and No. 4 in scholarships and grants for students choosing a military career. Georgia's teacher scholarships require the recipients to teach a certain number of years in the state's public school systems. Recipients of the military scholarships are required to serve a certain number of years in the Georgia National Guard. 

The rankings are from the latest statistics available - the 2001-2002 academic year - as reported in the 33rd annual survey of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (www.nassgap.org). The continuing No. 1 status is attributed to Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program, which is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. 

Georgia awarded $360.6 million in merit based aid to students to retain the No. 1 position, and Florida, with $245.7 million, was once again the No. 2 state. 

The average full-time undergraduate in Georgia received $1,536.69 in 2001-2002, while the average per student at the national level is $480.10. The second and third states in the ranking were New York, $987.63, and New Jersey, $938.14. Fourteen states distributed more than $500 per student, up from 12 states in the previous year. Twelve states and the District of Columbia distributed an amount less than $100 per student, and Alaska and South Dakota reported no state aid for students. 

The national survey report shows that 73.35 percent of Georgia's undergraduate students received state-financed grants and scholarships to attend the state's public and private colleges and universities in the 2001-2002 year, in contrast to the national percentage of 10.53. The second and third states were Kentucky with 56.37 percent and New York with 51.71 percent. 

In scholarships and grants for future teachers, Georgia awarded $9.589 million, second after Maryland, the No. 1 state in this category, with $13.058 million. 

Georgia's scholarships and grants for students choosing a military career totaled $1.473 million, behind Texas, Illinois and Indiana. Texas, the No. 1 state, reported $2.013 million for military scholarships. 

The 2001-2002 academic year was the first year of Georgia's LEAP (Leveraged Educational Assistance Partnership) program, with $1,539,595 awarded. The LEAP program for postsecondary students is based on family income, a supplement to the federal Pell Grant, which also is based on family income. 

In fiscal 2002, the Georgia Student Finance Commission assisted in the distribution of more than $655 million in total financial assistance through 21 separate financial aid programs.  

 2001-2002 NASSGAP Rankings

* Per full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment  

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