Tennessee Promise

Tennessee Promise is both a scholarship and mentoring program focused on increasing the number of students who attend college in our state. It provides students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by gift aid. Students may use the scholarship at any of the state’s 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institution offering an associate degree program.

Applicants must complete the Tennessee Promise application by the due date, complete the FAFSA by April 1, attend a mandatory meeting, and complete 16 hours of community service each year to be eligible for the award.

Apply

The TN Promise Application opens on April 1 each year. The application is accessed through the TSAC Student Portal. To create a Student Portal account, you will be asked to provide the following:

• Student’s First Name and Last Name (as it appears on the Social Security Card)
• Student’s Social Security Number
• Student’s Date of Birth
• Student’s Personal Email Address (Not School Email)

Overview

Tennessee Promise is a scholarship, mentoring, and community service program that covers tuition and mandatory fees not covered by gift aid.

Award Information

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

Eligibility

To be eligible, students must:

• Be a Tennessee resident as classified by the Tennessee Board of Regents policy
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Complete the Tennessee Promise application by the deadline and complete the FAFSA by April 1 of the high school senior year
• Graduate from a TN high school, bordering high school, or homeschool. 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 19th 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.

Application Process

High School students will be required to complete the Tennessee Promise application in the TSAC Student Portal by the November due date and complete the FAFSA by April 1, 2027.