For the Class of 2027, all eligible Tennessee Promise applicants will receive a TN Direct Admissions letter from Governor Bill Lee. All letters will include a list of universities, colleges, and technical schools where they have already been accepted AND the estimated grants and scholarships they are on track to receive at each.
What TN students are saying about Direct Admissions
“I feel like if a lot of people actually knew about this, it would help them a lot, especially in a home where they’re struggling. If they are a low-income family, or people who struggle with bills and money, whatever, I feel like this will help them a lot. In general, I feel like it’s a very good thing to actually do and enter.”
“So, when I first did Tennessee Direct Admissions, I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know if it might accept me or not. I’m a very worried person; what if I won’t get accepted? What if they won’t see it? You know, with people it takes a long time to do stuff. So, my mom did open the letter before I did. Then she said, go look over there. I was so happy, I almost cried! I was so happy, and I felt like I’m on the right path of actually going to college and feeling accepted in (it). And I felt like I actually did something that might change my life.”
“I felt like I could actually do things now. To the point where I felt like, in my mindset, saying now that I can actually go into college this way, I can actually do a lot more stuff. Like I’ve been trying to actually enhance my baking [business] and everything. That’s what I was thinking of, because now that I’ve been [accepted] into college, that means I can try to show off my skills and try to see if this actually fits for me.”
Participating Institutions
PROJECTED TIMELINE
- April 1, 2026 – TN Promise application opens for juniors.
- May 15, 2026 – Secure portal opens for 6th semester HOPE GPA upload (State Uniform Grading Policy).
- August 17, 2026 – GPA upload deadline for 1st round of letters. Mid-September arrival.
- September 8, 2026 – 2nd round GPA deadline. Early October arrival.
- October 5, 2026 – 3rd round GPA deadline. Early November arrival.
- November 2, 2026 – TN Promise application closes. Final round GPA deadline. Late November arrival.
AT A GLANCE
The new timeline offers distinct benefits for students and school districts:
- Provides a convenient touchpoint for college planning conversations in the junior year.
- Juniors applying for the state’s dual enrollment grant in the spring can complete their TN Promise application at the same time.
- Arrival of letters aligning with TN College Application & Exploration Month in September allows fall college fairs and campus visits to focus on choices, not uncertainty.
Why Direct Admissions?
Tennessee Higher Education Commission is leading this effort to streamline college entry and increase enrollment statewide. We believe every student is college material.
Communications
These communications will allow participating high schools, colleges, and technical schools to share their own Direct Admissions stories.
News
Direct Admissions is making news in Tennessee and across the nation.