The starting point
Clayton State publishes almost no fixed merit grid of its own — its flagship Presidential "E3" Scholars award tops out at $3,000/year on a published GPA table — so for Georgia residents the real merit money is the state HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships the university administers, plus a no-application automatic-consideration system for dozens of small endowed scholarships.
Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 5 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Presidential "E3" Scholars Program
$1,500-$3,000 per year (valued at up to $12,000 over four years) · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: 3.25-3.49 for $1,500/year; 3.5 and above for $3,000/year
Eligibility: Qualified fall freshmen given automatic consideration, but must complete a basic questionnaire and a 5-7 minute personal-statement video; awarded on a competitive basis while funding is available
Renewal: Awarded for a total of eight consecutive semesters as long as eligibility is maintained. To renew 100%: earn 30 CSU credits in one academic year and a CSU 3.0 cumulative GPA. Partial-renewal 'Success Action Plan': 70% of original award after 1st semester of not meeting criteria, 60% after 2nd consecutive semester, 0% after the 3rd. Must be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 CSU credit hours each fall and spring; 15 recommended).
Other terms: Funds are applied to direct tuition/fee costs each term; if direct costs are covered, leftover can go to books up to $1,000/yr (top tier) or $400/yr (lower tier). Disbursement is fixed fall/spring and cannot be combined or accelerated.
https://www.clayton.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/presidential-scholarships
Clayton State University Coca-Cola Scholars Program (First-Generation)
$5,000 per academic year ($2,500 per semester) · Published award terms
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: Cumulative and term GPA of 3.0 or higher
Eligibility: First-generation students only (neither biological parent/guardian attained a four-year degree); must be enrolled full-time (minimum 15 credit hours) in a bachelor's program for consecutive Fall and Spring semesters; must complete current-year FAFSA; must submit application, 600-word essay, two letters of recommendation, and a professional resume; must participate in required cohort activities
Renewal: Continuing Coca-Cola student scholars who remain in compliance with all programmatic and academic requirements will not be required to submit a new application annually, but must annually sign the Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship Agreement. Eligible to receive the $2,500 award every semester until degree completion or all funds are disbursed — schedule for final disbursement is Spring 2028 (May), whichever is sooner.
Other terms: Competitive award covering tuition and fees, awarded Fall/Spring semesters only. Application deadlines: July 31 for Fall, December 15 for Spring.
https://www.clayton.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/coca-cola-scholars.php
HOPE Scholarship (Georgia state award administered by Clayton State)
Amount not published (covers a portion of tuition; award amounts determined annually by the Georgia Student Finance Commission) · Published coverage or package
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: 3.0 HOPE GPA
Eligibility: Georgia residency per USG/GSFC requirements; U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen; degree-seeking at an eligible institution; Selective Service registration if applicable; must complete FAFSA annually or the GSFAPP (valid 10 years); must not have earned a baccalaureate degree
Renewal: Must have at least a 3.0 HOPE GPA, which includes all college level coursework attempted since high school and from any institution attended; must have attempted less than 127 hours; eligibility expires 10 years after high school graduation; must meet the institution's SAP policy.
Other terms: Tuition-only assistance: applied toward standard undergraduate tuition only, up to a maximum of 15 hours, whether enrolled full time or part time. It does not cover fees, housing, or food, and covers only a portion of tuition.
https://www.clayton.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/state-grants/hope-scholarship.php
