Comparing the Efficacy of the HOPE Scholarship between Rural and Urban Students at Regional Comprehensive Universities in Georgia
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Authors
McGee, Shannon Lee
Issue Date
2026-01-12
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Education and state , Education, Higher , Student aid , Dissertations, Academic , Georgia
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Abstract
This study examines whether academic performance and outcomes differ betweenrural and urban HOPE Scholarship recipients attending Georgia’s four regional comprehensive universities. Guided by the Geography of Opportunity framework, the study explores how place of origin can influence a student’s ability to benefit from a merit-based financial aid program. The study used a quantitative design with deidentified administrative data provided by the University System of Georgia for first-time, full-time freshman from 2013 through 2019. The dataset included demographic, academic, and financial aid information that enabled the creation of six trajectory categories capturing change in scholarship eligibility throughout the course of enrollment. Descriptive statistics, spatial analyses, and inferential models were used to assess differences in cumulative university GPA, credit hours earned, and bachelor’s degree completion between rural and urban HOPE Scholarship recipients. Findings indicate that rural origin is a slight negative predictor of academic performance and degree completion. Differences in outcomes were found to be driven more by scholarship trajectory patterns than by geography. Students who maintained or regained HOPE Scholarship eligibility achieved the highest GPAs and completion rates regardless of origin. Students who lost eligibility were least likely to graduate, with rural students losing HOPE at a higher rate than urban students, highlighting some rural challenge. However, several rural counties demonstrated strong academic performance, challenging assumptions of rural disadvantage. Overall, results suggest that academic preparation and continuity of financial support are vital for all students, indicating that poor outcomes could stem from structural conditions other than geography.
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This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed.