Tennessee Promise
Tennessee Promise supports Tennessee students with college scholarships, mentoring, and community service to increase college attendance and help build a more skilled and competitive workforce.
Funder: Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (Class of 2027 application) | January 12, 2027 (Early graduates: both FAFSAs and community service) | April 1, 2027 (Class of 2027 FAFSA) | August 1, 2027 (Class of 2027 community service)
Funding Amounts: Last-dollar scholarship covering tuition and mandatory fees remaining after other gift aid
Summary: Tennessee Promise combines scholarships, mentoring, and community service to increase college attendance among Tennessee students.
Key Information: Students must attend a mandatory meeting and complete at least 16 community service hours each year.
Description
Tennessee Promise is a scholarship and mentoring program administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). It aims to increase the number of students attending college in Tennessee while helping build a more skilled and competitive workforce. Its last-dollar scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees remaining after other gift aid has been applied.
Students can use the scholarship at Tennessee’s 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institutions offering associate degree programs. Financial support is paired with mentoring and community service requirements. Two statewide partners, The Ayers Foundation Trust and tnAchieves, coordinate program requirements by county and communicate eligibility information and deadlines directly to students.
