AU awards 69 students with DREAMS Scholarships

Augusta University’s Office of Student Financial Aid has recently awarded 69 students the state’s new DREAMS Scholarship introduced this year by Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp.

The DREAMS Scholarship Program is Georgia’s first statewide, need-based scholarship program for students attending a college or university in the University System of Georgia or Technical College System of Georgia.

Supported with a $325 million allocation in the state budget this year, this program provides eligible undergraduate students with up to $3,000 per year to help cover costs.

“I believe we owe it to every child to ensure they start out on a level playing field, no matter their zip code,” Kemp said earlier this year. “In future years, this one-time endowment will create opportunities for generational economic advancement for thousands of students, and down the road it will allow them to complete college and begin meaningful careers without the burden of crippling debt.”

Augusta University President Russell T. Keen said the DREAMS Scholarship represents another valuable resource aimed at reducing barriers to enrollment and completion of a student’s degree.

“At Augusta University, we pride ourselves on being a student-centered research university committed to student success, and initiatives like the DREAMS Scholarship help more students access the life-changing opportunities that a college degree provides,” Keen said.

To be considered for the scholarship, Augusta University students had to meet the Georgia Student Finance Commission’s DREAMS eligibility requirements, including being a Georgia resident, being Federal Pell Grant eligible, meeting applicable GPA requirements, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and having at least half-time enrollment status, which is six semester hours.

“Augusta University received an overwhelming response to the launch of the new DREAMS Scholarship,” said Kyle Parsons, director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at AU. “Within just one week of opening the DREAMS application, 444 students applied, representing approximately six times the number of students AU had funding available to support with its initial awards.”

Since the number of eligible applicants significantly exceeded available funding, AU developed a review process to help prioritize recipients, Parsons said. Consideration included factors such as demonstrated financial hardship, enrollment level, progress toward degree completion, full-time enrollment and the student’s ability to fulfill the program’s required 60-hour per-term work or service requirement.

The 69 selected AU students may receive up to $3,000 for the academic year. The students must complete the DREAMS financial literacy requirement and required work or service hours to maintain eligibility for scholarship disbursements. The initial selection of students and notification of applicants have been completed.

“The tremendous response demonstrates both the level of student interest in DREAMS and the need for additional financial resources that help Georgia students persist toward graduation,” Parsons said.

More than half of the college students in this country report they would struggle to find $500 in an emergency, and data from the National Institute for Student Success show that students who do not have to take time off from college for financial setbacks are three-and-a-half-times more likely to graduate.

In FY 2025, Augusta University awarded $64,227,435 in scholarships, grants and loans to undergraduate students. Nearly 53% of those students received the HOPE or Zell Miller grants.