With Pell Grant rules changing, these scholarships can help Georgia students

As a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being passed into legislation, eligibility standards for Pell Grants will change in 2026, limiting who the awards go to.

Under the new rules, students with a Student Aid Index that’s at least double the maximum Pell Grant will be disqualified. The Student Aid Index is a number calculated through the financial resources a student and their family have.

Additionally, loan limits are being put on parent borrowers, graduates and professional students outside of professional and graduate PLUS loans that are set to terminate around the same time.

These limits, though meant to regulate spending, could hurt Georgia undergraduate and graduate students who rely on federal loans to complete their degree programs. But there are several scholarships available for Peach State students that could offset some financial needs.

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest

The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship is a quarterly contest that awards four different $8,000 scholarships for each quarter.

To compete for the scholarship, students must submit written or video essays about someone they personally know and are inspired by in their community. Scholarship applications open on the first of January, April, July and October.

Southern Automotive Women’s Forum Scholarship

This scholarship for female college students pursuing a degree or career in STEM has allowed applicants to earn $2,500 to $5,000 since 2011. Applicants are eligible if they meet the set requirements, including a minimum 2.5 GPA and being a full or part-time student in the STEM field (not including medical).

Scholarship recipients are also expected to apply and participate in the SAWF mentor program over 2 semesters. Scholarship applications open in the fall and remain open until March of the following spring.

The Utopia Management Scholarship

For students looking to help create communities that are healthier and well-structured for the future, Utopia Management awards $1,000 every spring and fall for students pursuing a career-oriented degree.

Applicants are required to have a 3.5 GPA and must respond to the essay prompt “How will your education contribute to a Utopian world?” Deadlines to apply for the Utopia Management Scholarship land on May 1 for the spring and Nov. 1 for the fall.

Carl C. Yount Charitable Scholarship

Though performing arts and medical studies students are often considered to be opposites in terms of curriculum and nature, the Carl C. Yount Scholarship offers a significant financial opportunity to both.

Applicants can range from the high school level to postgraduate and must be studying theatrical arts, music, any medical courses, orthopedics, and any allied fields. Recipients will be awarded $5,000 and are selected based on academic performance, community participation, and unique life circumstances. Applications open annually in November.

HOPE Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship provides an opportunity for Georgia residents to attend eligible in-state universities with a maximum of $10,512 awarded over two semesters if all other requirements are met.

HOPE is available to both public and private high school seniors with a requirement of a 3.0 GPA and four full rigor credits. Currently enrolled college students can also reapply for the Hope Scholarship if they were previously ineligible and have completed 30, 60, or 90 credit hours while maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

To apply for HOPE, applicants are required to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Georgia Student Finance Application.

CouponBirds ‘Help to Save’ Scholarship

CouponBirds financially assists high school and college students as they pursue higher education in both the U.S. and Canada. Requirements for this scholarship include uploading a video describing their best money-saving secrets for at least two minutes without exceeding the five-minute limit.

Participants will post the video to X or Facebook with information related to CouponBirds SmartCoupon Extension to qualify for the scholarship, with a select few being chosen to give an on-site presentation of their money-saving ideas. Three final recipients of the scholarship are chosen, with first place receiving $1,500, second place receiving $1,000, and third place receiving $500.

Applicants must be over the age of 15 and show proof of enrollment in an accredited high school or college program (transcripts or acceptance letters are allowed).

The Brown Medical and Educational Society Healthcare Scholarships

Made for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in healthcare, the Brown MAE Foundation scholarship gives students from diverse backgrounds assistance in funding their educational journeys and fulfilling their professional aspirations.

The scholarship awards $5000 to recipients, requiring applicants to be undergraduate or graduate students with a 2.5 GPA and to be of Black/African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latin American, or Asian/Pacific Islander descent.

Applications must be physically mailed in for applicants to be considered. Submissions open in February annually.

Future Designer Scholarship

For this creative scholarship opportunity in the spring, applicants can win $1,000 to any post-secondary institution and a featured greeting card design on the CardsDirect website.

To apply, participants must be be of at least 17 years of age and enrolled or accepted in a post-secondary institution, including junior colleges and vocational schools. Applicants will email CardsDirect the required details along with their design for a customized greeting card.

An internal panel of judges selects five designs from all submissions to be voted on by the general public. After voting ends, the final winner of the scholarship will be selected based on aesthetic appeal, creativity, originality, and practicality as a greeting card.