WHAT HOPE WILL COVER
The HOPE scholarship used to cover all tuition and provide some money for books and fees if students attended a public college in Georgia. That changed when lawmakers overhauled the program in 2011 to prevent it from going broke. No more money for books and fees. HOPE payouts are now tied to lottery revenue, not tuition. As a result students saw their out-of-pocket expense jump in fall 2011, which is Fiscal Year 2012.
Using the University of Georgia as an example, here is how students and families can expect costs to increase:
| Fiscal Year | Tuition and fees | HOPE payment | What student owes |
| 2011 | $4,368 | $3,970 | $398 |
| 2012 | $4,736 | $3,182 | $1,555 |
| 2013 | $4,921 | $3,182 | $1,740 |
| 2014 | $5,131 | $3,277 | $1,854 |
| 2015 | $5,332 | $3,277 | $2,055 |
| 2016 | $5,543 | $3,277 | $2,266 |
| 2017 | $5,764 | $3,277 | $2,487 |
| 2018 | $5,996 | $3,277 | $2,719 |
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Source: University System of Georgia, Georgia Student Finance Commission, AJC analysis.
NOTE:Â Information for Fiscal Years 2015-18 is based on projections. The chart assumes an annual 5 percent increase in UGA tuition, while mandatory fees and HOPE payouts remain flat. Figures rounded to nearest dollar.