As the cost of college continues to rise, many parents in Tennessee are looking for ways to make higher education more affordable. One option that has helped thousands of families is the Tennessee Promise—a statewide program designed to provide students with a clear and cost-effective path to college.
The Tennessee Promise is a scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees at any of the state’s community or technical colleges. It applies after all other financial aid has been used, ensuring students can attend college tuition-free.
But the program offers more than just financial support. Each student is also paired with a mentor who helps guide them through the transition from high school to college, offering advice on everything from applications to deadlines. In addition, students are required to complete a certain number of community service hours, helping to foster a sense of civic engagement and responsibility.
1. Free Tuition and Fees:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship helps eliminate financial barriers to higher education. It covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at any of the state’s 13 community colleges or 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs).
This coverage kicks in after all other forms of state and federal aid, such as the Pell Grant and the HOPE Scholarship, have been applied. That means students who qualify can attend school tuition-free, significantly reducing the financial burden on families.
This program is ideal for students pursuing two-year associate degrees, technical diplomas, or certification programs that lead directly into Tennessee’s workforce. It also keeps students on track by requiring continuous enrollment and a minimum number of credit hours per semester.
Learn more and apply at the official Tennessee Promise website:
www.tnpromise.gov
2. Eligibility:
The Tennessee Promise is open to a wide range of students across the state. To be eligible, students must be a high school senior graduating from a Tennessee eligible public, charter, private, or approved home school, or be completing an approved home school program.
Additionally, students who have earned a GED or HiSET are eligible, provided they obtain their credential before age 19.
Applicants must also meet key deadlines, attend a mandatory Tennessee Promise meeting, and complete community service hours prior to the start of each semester. Maintaining eligibility also means enrolling full-time and meeting academic progress requirements once enrolled.
Find the full eligibility checklist and deadlines at:
https://www.tn.gov/tnpromise/students.html
3. Application Process:
To apply for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship, high school seniors must complete the application through the TSAC Student Portal by November 1 of their senior year. Additionally, they must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15. Applicants are required to attend a mandatory meeting coordinated by their county’s partnering organization and complete eight hours of community service for each semester they receive the scholarship.
4. Mentorship Program:
The Tennessee Promise program includes a mentorship component aimed at supporting students transitioning from high school to college. Each participant is paired with a volunteer mentor who offers guidance on navigating the college admissions process, meeting scholarship requirements, and adjusting to college life. Mentors commit to engaging with students regularly, providing encouragement and accountability to help them achieve their academic and career goals. This mentorship is facilitated by partnering organizations such as tnAchieves, which recruits and trains volunteers to serve as mentors across the state. The goal is to increase college retention and completion rates by ensuring students have the necessary support and resources during their post-secondary education journey.
5. Community Service Requirement:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship includes a community service requirement designed to encourage students to engage with and give back to their communities. To maintain eligibility, students must complete and submit eight hours of community service before each semester’s deadline: July 1 for fall, December 1 for spring, and April 1 for summer . Acceptable service activities involve volunteering with nonprofit or public service organizations; tasks must benefit the community and cannot be paid, performed for individuals, or supervised by family members. Students may also count job shadowing or unpaid internships related to their field of interest. Up to four of the required hours per term can be fulfilled by watching approved educational webinars through the tnAchieves portal . All service hours must be submitted online via the tnAchieves community service form, and students are responsible for ensuring timely submission to avoid losing scholarship eligibility.
6. Academic Requirement:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship has specific academic requirements that students must meet to maintain their eligibility throughout their college journey. Once enrolled, students must attend a Tennessee Promise-eligible institution full time, which generally means taking at least 12 credit hours per semester. They must also maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to continue receiving the scholarship. In addition to these academic benchmarks, students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress as defined by their institution, which typically includes passing a majority of their classes and staying on track toward a degree or certificate. Failure to meet these requirements could result in the loss of the scholarship, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged in coursework and seeking academic support when needed.
7. Duration of Scholarship:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship provides eligible students with tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college for up to five consecutive semesters (approximately two and a half years) or until they earn a diploma or associate degree, whichever comes first. For students attending a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), the scholarship covers up to eight trimesters. Students must attend consecutive semesters without interruption; taking a semester off without an approved leave of absence results in permanent loss of the scholarship. Approved leaves of absence may be granted for circumstances such as illness, family emergencies, or other extraordinary situations beyond the student’s control.
8. Participating Institutions:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship can be used at a variety of eligible institutions across the state, including community colleges, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), and certain four-year universities offering associate degree programs. The 13 community colleges include Chattanooga State, Cleveland State, Columbia State, Dyersburg State, Jackson State, Motlow State, Nashville State, Northeast State, Pellissippi State, Roane State, Southwest Tennessee, Volunteer State, and Walters State. There are also 27 TCAT campuses statewide, such as TCAT Knoxville, TCAT Nashville, and TCAT Memphis, providing hands-on technical training in various fields. Additionally, several four-year institutions participate in the program by offering eligible associate degree programs; these include Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University (limited to dental hygiene), Cumberland University, South College, and others. It’s important to note that at four-year institutions, the Tennessee Promise scholarship may not cover all tuition and fees, as it is based on the average cost at community colleges. Students should verify program eligibility and funding details with their chosen institution to ensure compliance with scholarship requirements.
9. Financial Impact:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship has significantly impacted the state’s educational and economic landscape since its inception in 2015. By providing a last-dollar scholarship covering tuition and mandatory fees not met by other financial aid, the program has enabled over 150,000 students to pursue higher education, with more than $207 million in funding allocated to support their enrollment .
This initiative has led to a notable increase in college enrollment rates, particularly at community and technical colleges, contributing to a more skilled and competitive workforce in Tennessee . However, it’s important to note that while the scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees, students are still responsible for additional costs such as books, supplies, and other non-mandatory fees, which can average around $1,150 annually for community college students .
10. Statewide Initiative:
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship emerged as a cornerstone of the state’s Drive to 55 initiative, launched by former Governor Bill Haslam in 2014. This ambitious statewide effort aimed to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential to 55% by 2025, in response to a growing demand for a more skilled workforce. Tennessee Promise became the nation’s first statewide program to offer tuition-free community or technical college to high school graduates. Building on the success of local programs like Knox Achieves, the initiative expanded access to higher education by removing financial barriers and pairing students with volunteer mentors to guide them through the college transition. Its success has since inspired similar programs across the country, establishing Tennessee as a national leader in education reform and workforce development
