Tennessee Promise

Scholarship Sponsored by Tennessee Higher Education Commission

Overview

Tennessee Promise is a statewide scholarship and mentoring program designed to increase college enrollment in Tennessee by covering remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other gift aid. The program pairs financial support with mentoring and a community service requirement to support student persistence and completion. Eligible students may use the scholarship at Tennessee’s community colleges, colleges of applied technology, or other approved institutions offering associate degrees. Administration and program access are managed through the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) Student Portal.

Description: Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees not met by federal, state, or institutional gift aid, and includes mentoring and community service components.

• Last-dollar scholarship covering tuition and mandatory fees
• Includes mentoring and community service requirements
• Available at participating Tennessee public two-year and technical institutions

Apply

The Tennessee Promise application is accessed through the TSAC Student Portal and typically opens on April 1 each year. High school students must submit the Tennessee Promise application by the November due date and complete the FAFSA by April 1 of their senior year. Applicants must attend a mandatory Tennessee Promise meeting and comply with specified service and enrollment requirements to remain eligible. Creating a TSAC Student Portal account requires personal and identity information for the student.

Application Timeline: The application opens April 1 annually; high school applicants must meet the November deadline for their cohort and complete the FAFSA by April 1 of their senior year.

Application Requirements: To create a TSAC Student Portal account and apply you will need the student’s full name (as on Social Security records), Social Security number, date of birth, and a personal email address (not a school email).

• Apply via the TSAC Student Portal
• Observe the April 1 opening and November cohort deadline for high school students
• Prepare SSN, full name, date of birth, and a personal email to create an account

Award Information

The Tennessee Promise award is a last-dollar scholarship that pays remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has been applied. Award amounts therefore vary by student depending on the total of other grants and scholarships they receive and the institution’s tuition and fees. The scholarship covers eligible costs only while the student maintains program requirements, such as continuous enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Students should consult their institution and TSAC for term-by-term award calculations.

Award Value: Varies per student; the award equals the difference between the institution’s tuition and mandatory fees and any applicable gift aid.

• Award covers tuition and mandatory fees remaining after gift aid
• Amount varies by institution and other student aid received
• Award is contingent on maintaining program requirements

Eligibility

Eligibility for Tennessee Promise is determined by residency, citizenship status, academic completion, application and FAFSA deadlines, and ongoing program requirements. Applicants must be Tennessee residents as defined by the Tennessee Board of Regents and U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Students must graduate from an eligible high school, earn an approved equivalency credential prior to age 19, attend a mandatory meeting, submit required paperwork on time, and complete community service. Continued eligibility requires continuous enrollment and maintenance of minimum academic standards.

Eligibility: Key criteria include Tennessee residency, U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen status, timely application and FAFSA completion, high school graduation or approved equivalency, attendance at a mandatory meeting, completion of 16 service hours per year, continuous enrollment, and maintenance of a 2.0 GPA or satisfactory academic progress.

• Must meet Tennessee residency and citizenship/immigration requirements
• Complete the Tennessee Promise application and FAFSA by stated deadlines
• Attend mandatory meetings and complete required community service each year
• Maintain continuous enrollment and required academic progress (2.0 GPA or satisfactory progress)