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Money for College

Tennessee Student Assistance Award

OverviewAward Information Eligibility Application Termination CriteriaRelated Links

Tennessee Student Assistance Award

Overview

The Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) provides non-repayable financial assistance to financially-needy undergraduate students who are residents of Tennessee.

Award Information

Maximum award amounts for an academic year are:

  • Four-year/two-year private postsecondary institutions $4,000
  • Four-year public postsecondary institutions$2,000
  • Two-year public postsecondary institutions $2,000
  • Private career schools $2,000
  • TN College of Applied Technology $2,000

Funds are disbursed to the institution on behalf of the recipient for educational expenses and will be credited to the student’s account in accordance with the institution’s published policy.

Eligibility

Award recipients must attend an eligible Tennessee postsecondary institution and be enrolled at least half-time. Applicants must select an eligible institution as a first choice when completing the FAFSA. 

 

To be eligible, the applicant must:

  • complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and have a valid Student Aid Index (SAI) of 5000 or less
  • Be a Tennessee resident, if a dependent student, parents must also be a Tennessee resident
  • Maintain institutional satisfactory academic progress according to the institution attended
  • Not be in default on a loan or owe a refund on any grant previously received at any institution, and
  • Have not already received a baccalaureate degree.

To receive priority consideration, students are strongly encouraged to submit a FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 each year.

Students who are awarded TSAA will also receive the award in the following academic year if they meet all eligibility requirements and complete the FAFSA on or before April 1. After all returning students are awarded, all remaining funds will be awarded to the neediest applicants who did not receive the award the prior year and completed the FAFSA by April 1. Awards are based on the availability of funds. 

Application Process

Apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at http://www.studentaid.gov by April 1.

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Termination Criteria

Award recipients may receive the award until the program of study is complete or by reaching the maximum of terms for a given program, whichever comes first: 

  • 8 semesters or 12 quarters/trimesters for a 4-Year Program
  • 6 semesters or 9 quarters/trimesters for a 3-Year Program
  • 4 semesters or 6 quarters/trimesters for a 2-Year Program
  • 2 semesters or 3 quarters/trimesters for a 1-Year Program
  • 1 semester or 2 quarters/trimesters for a 6-Month Program
THANK YOUR LEGISLATOR FOR TSAA