September 21, 2009

With State Budgets Tanking, Cost of Merit-Based Scholarships Gets a Second Look

With State Budgets Sinking, Merit-Based Aid Programs Get a Second Look 1

Peter Frey, U. of Georgia

Students at the U. of Georgia (above) and the state's other public colleges who get the merit-based HOPE scholarship may see their benefits dip over the next several years.

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close With State Budgets Sinking, Merit-Based Aid Programs Get a Second Look 1

Peter Frey, U. of Georgia

Students at the U. of Georgia (above) and the state's other public colleges who get the merit-based HOPE scholarship may see their benefits dip over the next several years.

By Beckie Supiano

As lottery revenues plateau and budget pictures worsen, students may see some state merit scholarships become less generous. Historically, lawmakers have been reluctant to trim the popular programs, but their cost has been a concern for years.

Even in Georgia, whose HOPE scholarship has been the model for other states since it began in 1993, cuts are expected soon. A plan that was developed in 2004 to trim the lottery-financed program may be triggered in the summer. Running the

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