Tennessee Promise Scholarship

Tennessee Promise is a scholarship, mentoring, and community service program that covers tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the Pell Grant, HOPE scholarship, or Tennessee Student Assistance Award. 

Award amount varies based on amount of remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has been applied.

To be eligible, students must: 

• Be a Tennessee resident
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Complete the Tennessee Promise application by November 3 and complete the FAFSA by April 1 of the high school senior year
• Graduate from a TN high school, bordering high school, or home school. A student is also eligible by earning a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education, e.g. – GED, HiSET, or New Pathways, prior to the 19^th birthday
• Attend a mandatory Tennessee Promise meeting
• Complete and submit at least 16 hours of community service for each year in the program
• The student must be continuously enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution in the fall and spring semesters, if enrolled at a community college or eligible four-year institution OR maintain continuous enrollment as determined by the TN College of Applied Technology. 
• Students must also maintain a 2.0 GPA at the end of each academic year while enrolled at a community college or eligible four-year institution OR maintain satisfactory academic progress at a TN College of Applied Technology.

High School students will be required to complete the Tennessee Promise application in the TSAC Student Portal by November 3, 2025 and complete the FAFSA by April 1, 2026.

Tennessee Promise List of Institutions

Tennessee Promise Additional Information

Video: What is Tennessee Promise?

TELS (HOPE) / TN Promise / TN Reconnect – Appeals and Exceptions