Since 2014, $207 million in funding has supported the enrollment of more than 150,000 students pursuing their dreams of college, creating a more skilled and competitive workforce in Tennessee. Learn more .
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 the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. 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 November 1, complete the FAFSA by April 15, attend a mandatory meeting, and complete eight hours of community service each semester to be eligible for the award.
The TN Promise Application opens on August 1 and closes on November 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:
The FAFSA is the primary college financial aid application students must complete in order to determine state and federal scholarship and/or grant qualification. All students should file the 2025-2026 FAFSA regardless of post-secondary plans!
Students and parents will utilize 2023 tax information to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible as some state/federal financial aid grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The deadline to submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA to remain eligible for TN Promise is April 15, 2025!
Tennessee Promise partners with two statewide organizations to coordinate requirements for the award.
If you live in Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Warren, or Wayne counties, your award will be coordinated by The Ayers Foundation Trust.
It is imperative that all students be mindful of the email address and phone number(s) provided to the partnering organization. This information will be used to communicate important program eligibility details and upcoming deadlines directly to the student.
The application for the class of 2025 will be available HERE on August 1, 2024. Please create an account in the TSAC Student Portal, log-in, and submit the application.
Submit the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) HERE. Available October 2024.
Attend a mandatory meeting coordinated by your assigned partnering organization. Details about these mandatory meetings will be provided to applicants following the application deadline in the fall.
Apply to a community or technical college or a four-year institution which offers an associate degree.
Complete and report your first eight (8) hours of community service to your assigned partnering organization. Community service must be completed on or after August 1, 2024 to be considered.
Summer students must report community service hours by April 1, 2025.
If selected, provide requested documentation to complete FAFSA verification.
Additional information will be provided by the postsecondary institution for those selected for verification following submission of the FAFSA.