TN Future Teacher Scholarship

The Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship is a loan-scholarship program intended to encourage exemplary students to enter the teaching field in Tennessee. Participation is limited to college juniors, seniors, and post-baccalaureate students admitted to an approved educator preparation program (EPP) in a Tennessee college or university.

For students attending an eligible institution, the award amount will be $1,750 per semester up to a maximum of $3,500 per academic year.

To be eligible, the applicant must:

• Be admitted to and enrolled at least half-time in an approved EPP
• Be a college junior, senior, or post-baccalaureate student
• Be a U.S. citizen and have resided in Tennessee for at least one (1) year prior to the student’s admission to the EPP
• Maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average required by the EPP
• Complete and submit the scholarship application as required by THEC
• Submit a letter of recommendation, including confirmation of enrollment, from an official of the EPP at the eligible postsecondary institution
• Sign a promissory note agreeing to teach in a Tennessee public school for at least two (2) consecutive years in a targeted setting (a targeted setting is either: 1) a Tennessee public k-12 school located in a distressed or at-risk county, as determined by the department of education, or 2) a subject area for which there is a critical shortage, as determined by the department of education)

Targeted Settings

The list of Targeted Settings (distressed/at-risk counties and critical subject areas) are below by academic year.

If your Targeted Setting is based on a critical shortage subject area, you can click on the year in which you first received funds to view the list of subject areas. 

If your Targeted Setting is based on a distressed or at-risk county, you can click on the year in which you will begin qualified teaching service to see if the county is listed.  If the county is on the list, then you will receive cancellation after providing service.  If the county is not on the list, you must pick a different county listed to receive cancellation or monetary payment will be required. 

• Critical Shortage Subject Area – If a student’s chosen critical shortage subject area is removed from the targeted setting list after the initial disbursement of funds, the student’s repayment obligation will be cancelled upon completion of the two-year teaching service period.
• Distressed or At-Risk County – If a student’s designated distressed or at-risk county is removed from the targeted setting list prior to beginning the qualified teaching service, the student must designate a new distressed or at-risk county prior to beginning the qualified teaching service.
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  • • • If a student’s designated distressed or at-risk county is removed from the targeted setting list after beginning the qualified teaching service, the student’s repayment obligation will be cancelled upon completion of two (2) consecutive years of teaching service in a public K-12 school in Tennessee.

2023-2024

2024-2025

2025-2026

Students must complete and submit the scholarship application no later than September 1^st for fall semester,  March 1st for spring semester, and May 1st for summer semester. 

The current application is for the 2025-2026 academic year. The 2026-2027 application will be available after May 1st.