Georgia Scholarship Guide for Families: How to Get a Private School Scholarship Through an SSO

Georgia's Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit (QEEC) program has helped thousands of families access private school education since 2008. Through the program, approved Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs) distribute scholarships funded by private donors who receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit. If you're a Georgia family exploring private school options, here's what you need to know.

How it works

The QEEC program doesn't require families to deal with tax credits directly — that's the donor side. For families, the process is straightforward:

1. You apply for a scholarship through one of Georgia's approved SSOs
2. The SSO reviews your eligibility and financial need
3. If approved, the SSO sends scholarship funds directly to your child's private school
4. The scholarship covers tuition and fees (partially or fully, depending on available funding)

The maximum scholarship per student is set annually by the Georgia Department of Education based on statewide per-pupil spending — most recently $11,903 per year. The average award is around $4,400, though amounts vary by SSO and family circumstances.

Does my child qualify?

Georgia has several pathways to eligibility:

Automatic eligibility (no prior public school needed)

• Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade students are automatically eligible — no public school attendance required

Grades 2-12 eligibility

Students in grades 2 through 12 must meet one of these criteria:

• Prior public school attendance — attended a Georgia public school for at least 6 weeks during the prior school year
• Low-performing school zone — live in the attendance zone of a school in the bottom 25% of CCRPI scores, as determined by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement
• Documented bullying or violence — subject to an officially documented case of violence, verbal abuse, or threatened physical harm at a Georgia public school
• Previously homeschooled — enrolled in a qualifying home study program for at least one full school year

Income requirements

Georgia's law does not set a statewide income limit. Instead, each SSO sets its own criteria. In practice, most SSOs prioritize families with demonstrated financial need. For example:

• AAA Scholarship Foundation uses a sliding scale: 100% scholarships for families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, with partial awards up to 300% FPL
• GOAL Scholarship considers household income and family size — 79% of their scholarships go to families earning under $48,000

The important thing to know: you don't have to be in severe financial hardship to qualify. Many middle-income families receive partial scholarships.

How to apply

There is no single statewide application. Each SSO manages its own process. Here's the general approach:

1. Find an SSO — Georgia has roughly 28 approved SSOs. You can browse them on our Georgia SGO directory or check the Georgia Department of Education's list
2. Contact the SSO or have your child's school connect you — some schools work directly with specific SSOs
3. Complete the application with required documentation (proof of income, student eligibility documentation, enrollment verification)
4. Wait for a decision — the SSO evaluates your application based on eligibility criteria and available funds
5. If awarded, the scholarship is paid directly to your child's school

Important things to know

Funding is limited

Georgia's program has a $120 million annual cap on tax credits, and demand now exceeds supply by more than 2:1. In 2026, donor requests were prorated to just 48% of the amount requested. This means less scholarship money is available, and some SSOs have had to limit new applications. AAA Scholarship Foundation, for example, did not accept new student applications for 2025-26 due to funding constraints.

Scholarships may be partial

The average scholarship covers roughly 34-45% of private school tuition (which averages about $11,500 in Georgia). Many families combine the SSO scholarship with financial aid from the school itself. Ask your school's financial aid office about additional support.

You can't pick your donor

Georgia law strictly prohibits donors from directing their contribution to a specific student. SSOs award scholarships based on eligibility and need — this protects the program's integrity and ensures broad access.

Renewals are generally easier

Once your child receives a scholarship, they maintain year-over-year eligibility. Renewing families typically have a smoother process than first-time applicants, and some SSOs give renewal students priority.

The federal program adds another option starting 2027

Georgia opted in to the new federal tax credit scholarship program in January 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, an additional pool of scholarship funding will become available through federally qualified SGOs. This is separate from the state QEEC program and could expand scholarship access for Georgia families. Students in households earning up to 300% of Area Median Income will be eligible.

Program results

Georgia's QEEC program has a strong track record:

• 18,743 scholarships awarded in 2022 alone
• 65-68% of scholarships go to families earning under 250% of the federal poverty level
• GOAL scholarship students have a 99% high school graduation rate compared to 82% statewide
• 87% college entrance rate for GOAL scholarship recipients vs. 68% statewide

Next steps

1. Browse Georgia SSOs on our directory to find organizations serving your area
2. Check the state program page at Georgia on SGOlist for the latest program details
3. Contact SSOs directly to ask about application timelines and eligibility
4. Talk to your child's school — many private schools have relationships with specific SSOs and can help connect you