The Tennessee Hope (lotto) Scholarship does not come close to covering the total cost of college and it's requirements would leave most ineligible. As I've shown in the past, the lotto money for college has become more of a stipend that will only decrease further as time goes on. Huge waste of money in my opinion.
A person who spends $20/week on lotto tickets could invest that money into a Coverdell ESA, after 18 years they would have much more money than what the state would pay thru HOPE and they would not be subject to the eligibility requirements. Plus, they can go to ANY school they choose. Unfortunately this takes personal discipline, which automatically excludes the those who think like JT, and that's a lot of people.
https://www.tn.gov/collegepays...see-hope-scholarship
- Entering freshmen must achieve a minimum of a 21 ACT (980 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests OR
- Overall weighted* minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA)
- Home School graduates – minimum 21 ACT (980 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests
- GED ® recipients – minimum 21 ACT (980 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests and qualifying GED ® score. Minimum average Revised GED ® score is 170.
- HiSet recipients – minimum 21 ACT (980 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests and qualifying HiSet score. Minimum average HiSet score is 15.
- ACT/SAT exams must be taken on a national test date or state test date and prior to the first day of college enrollment. The ACT Residual test is not accepted.
- Must enroll within 16 months following high school graduation at any postsecondary institution. However, enrollment at an ineligible postsecondary institution during the 16 months will make the student permanently ineligible.
*Weighted grade point average means a grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional internal quality points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses according to the Uniform Grading Policy adopted by the State Board of Education.
AWARD AMOUNTS FOR THE TENNESSEE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
For entering freshmen beginning with fall 2015 and thereafter
Four-Year Institutions and two-year institutions with on-campus housing: Up to $1,750 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshmen and sophomore; then up to $2,250 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior
Two-Year Institutions: Up to $1,500 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshman and sophomore
- Award amounts are available for summer enrollment
- Class status is determined by the postsecondary institution
For students who first received HOPE in fall 2009 through summer 2015
Four-Year Institutions and two-year institutions with on-campus housing: Up to $2,000 per full-time enrollment semester; including summer
Two-Year Institutions: Up to $1,000 per full-time enrollment semester; including summer
- See more at: https://www.tn.gov/collegepays...sthash.7D9LxPjZ.dpuf