73:I[245983,["$2","$3","$1a","$1b","$1c","$1d","$1e","$1f","$20","$9","$21","$22","$23","$a","$24","$25","$26","$27","$28","$29","$49","$4a","$4b","$4c","$4d","$4e","$4f","$50","$51","$52","$53","$54"],"default"] 74:T412,Tennessee Promise, administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, combines college scholarships and mentoring to increase the number of students attending college in Tennessee. The program funds tuition and mandatory fees remaining after other gift aid, pairing financial assistance with support for students pursuing postsecondary education. Its reach includes the state’s 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, and other institutions offering associate degree programs. College attendance and the development of a more skilled and competitive Tennessee workforce are central to its purpose. The Ayers Foundation Trust and tnAchieves provide mentoring and coordination, with each organization serving designated counties across the state. These partnerships bring together the program’s scholarship support and mentoring work. Since its launch in 2014, the initiative has supported enrollment for more than 150,000 students, helping them pursue college while contributing to Tennessee’s workforce goals.75:T1a88,

[Tennessee Higher Education Commission](https://www.tn.gov/thec)

November 2, 2026 (Class of 2027 application) | December 2026–January 2027 (Mandatory meeting) | January 12, 2027 (Early graduate FAFSAs and service) | April 1, 2027 (Class of 2027 FAFSA) | April 1, 2027 (Next annual application opening) | August 1, 2027 (Class of 2027 community service)

Last-dollar scholarship covering tuition and mandatory fees not covered by gift aid

Tennessee Promise pairs college scholarships with mentoring to increase college attendance and strengthen Tennessee’s workforce.

Students must attend a mandatory meeting and complete 16 hours of community service each year.

--- ## Description Tennessee Promise is a scholarship and mentoring program administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to increase the number of students attending college in Tennessee. Its last-dollar scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees remaining after gift aid. Students may use the scholarship at the state’s 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institutions offering associate degree programs. The program combines financial assistance with mentoring and coordination through The Ayers Foundation Trust and tnAchieves, each serving designated counties. Since its launch in 2014, Tennessee Promise has supported enrollment for more than 150,000 students, helping students pursue college while contributing to a more skilled and competitive workforce. --- ## Due Dates For the Class of 2027: - November 2, 2026: Tennessee Promise application deadline. - December 2026–January 2027: Mandatory meeting coordinated by the assigned partnering organization. - January 12, 2027: Early spring enrollees must submit both 2026–27 and 2027–28 FAFSAs. - January 12, 2027: Early spring enrollees must complete and submit 16 community service hours. - April 1, 2027: Submit the 2027–28 FAFSA for standard Class of 2027 eligibility. - April 1, 2027: Next annual Tennessee Promise application opening. - August 1, 2027: First 16 community service hours due for the 2027–28 academic year. The Class of 2027 may count community service completed since August 1, 2025. Meeting details are provided after the fall application deadline. Apply to an eligible college in spring 2027. Continuing summer students must report community service by April 1. December 2026 graduates enrolling immediately in spring 2027 must follow the [early graduate checklist](https://www.collegefortn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Promise-early-grad-checklist-Co27.pdf). Students graduating before May and attending spring or summer, or graduating May or later and attending summer, may also need the 2026–27 FAFSA. --- ## Funding Amount The scholarship covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by gift aid. This is a last-dollar award. Since 2014, $207 million in program funding has supported enrollment for more than 150,000 students. --- ## Eligibility Applicants and continuing recipients must: - Submit the Tennessee Promise application and required FAFSA by the applicable deadlines. - Attend a mandatory meeting coordinated by their assigned partnering organization. - Complete 16 hours of community service each year. - Use the scholarship at an eligible Tennessee postsecondary institution. - Enroll and attend full-time in an eligible program when continuing in college. Eligible institutions include Tennessee’s 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, and other eligible institutions offering associate degrees, including four-year institutions with associate degree programs. Additional requirements: - Submit requested FAFSA verification documentation if selected by the postsecondary institution. - Contact the institution’s financial aid office if unable to enroll full-time in any semester. - Provide accurate portal and application information to avoid eligibility delays or potential award loss. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Apply through the [THEC Student Portal](https://www.tn.gov/thecstudentportal). - **Completion:** Creating an account alone does not constitute a submitted scholarship application. - **Account information:** Provide the following: - First and last name as shown on the Social Security card. - Social Security number and date of birth. - Personal email address, rather than a school-issued address. - **Financial aid:** Complete the [FAFSA](https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) using 2025 tax information for 2027–28. - **FAFSA preparation:** Have an FSA ID, contributor email, and income/assets information if required. - **Guidance:** Use the [program requirements](https://www.collegefortn.org/tennessee-promise-scholarship/) and applicable early graduate checklist. After creating an account, sign in, answer the challenge question, accept the User Agreement, and select “Apply for Scholarships” to submit the Tennessee Promise application. Financial aid applications must be completed each year. --- ## Additional Information ### County coordination [The Ayers Foundation Trust](https://ayersfoundationtrust.org/) coordinates awards for students living in Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Decatur, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Johnson, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, and White counties. [tnAchieves](https://www.tnachieves.org/) serves all other counties. Partnering organizations use students’ supplied email addresses and phone numbers to communicate eligibility details and upcoming deadlines. Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA promptly because some state and federal grants are awarded first-come, first-served. --- ## External Links - [Tennessee Promise program page](https://www.collegefortn.org/tnpromise/) - [Tennessee Promise scholarship requirements](https://www.collegefortn.org/tennessee-promise-scholarship/) - [THEC Student Portal](https://www.tn.gov/thecstudentportal) - [Early graduate checklist for spring 2027 enrollees](https://www.collegefortn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Promise-early-grad-checklist-Co27.pdf) - [FAFSA application](https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Webpage | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | THEC Help Desk | thec.aidinfo@tn.gov | | | | Student Portal login assistance (8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CT) | | 800-342-1663 | [Portal guidance](https://www.collegefortn.org/tsacstudentportal/) |76:T7b2,Funder: Tennessee Higher Education Commission Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (Class of 2027 application) | December 2026–January 2027 (Mandatory meeting) | January 12, 2027 (Early graduate FAFSAs and service) | April 1, 2027 (Class of 2027 FAFSA) | April 1, 2027 (Next annual application opening) | August 1, 2027 (Class of 2027 community service) Funding Amounts: Last-dollar scholarship covering tuition and mandatory fees not covered by gift aid Summary: Tennessee Promise pairs college scholarships with mentoring to increase college attendance and strengthen Tennessee’s workforce. Key Information: Students must attend a mandatory meeting and complete 16 hours of community service each year. --- ## Description Tennessee Promise is a scholarship and mentoring program administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to increase the number of students attending college in Tennessee. Its last-dollar scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees remaining after gift aid. Students may use the scholarship at the state’s 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institutions offering associate degree programs. The program combines financial assistance with mentoring and coordination through The Ayers Foundation Trust and tnAchieves, each serving designated counties. Since its launch in 2014, Tennessee Promise has supported enrollment for more than 150,000 students, helping students pursue college while contributing to a more skilled and competitive workforce. --- --- ## Funding Amount The scholarship covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by gift aid. This is a last-dollar award. Since 2014, $207 million in program funding has supported enrollment for more than 150,000 students. --- ## Eligibility Applicants and continuing recipients must: - Complete 16 hours of community service each year. - Enroll and attend full-time in an eligible program when continuing in college.45:[null,["$","$L73",null,{"grant":{"id":"401ec139-9b29-4f24-b1a5-6375908275c1","created_at":"2026-09-09T08:52:43.431028+00:00","updated_at":"2026-10-08T09:02:36.200465+00:00","title":"Tennessee Promise","description":"$74","summary":"Tennessee Promise supports students with college scholarships and mentoring, funding tuition and mandatory fees to increase college attendance and strengthen Tennessee’s skilled workforce.","funder_id":"0a278c35-06e5-495f-81c0-1c0c25cb8021","url":"https://www.collegefortn.org/tnpromise/","slug":"tennessee-promise-tennessee-higher-education-commission","legacy_opportunity_id":null,"primary_sources_id":"c44a7f0c-e620-44a4-bd7e-99c8289d7850","questions":["What eligibility requirements apply to Tennessee Promise applicants, including enrollment, full-time attendance, meetings, and community service?","What are the Class of 2027 application and FAFSA deadlines, including any separate requirements for early graduates?","How much funding can Tennessee Promise provide, and how long may students receive the last-dollar scholarship?","How do students submit the Tennessee Promise application through the THEC Student Portal, and what information is needed to register?","Which eligible Tennessee colleges and associate-degree programs can students attend using Tennessee Promise, and what costs does it cover?"],"opportunity_number":null,"grants3_pages":[{"id":"54dac923-358e-467a-91de-dfc5919c9163","markdown":"$75","created_at":"2026-10-08T09:02:03.827657+00:00","grants3_id":"401ec139-9b29-4f24-b1a5-6375908275c1","updated_at":"2026-10-08T09:02:24.680778+00:00","eligibility":"## Grant Eligibility Requirements\n\n### Geographic/Institutional\n- The scholarship may only be used at an eligible Tennessee postsecondary institution: one of the state's 13 community colleges, 22 colleges of applied technology, or another eligible institution offering an associate degree program — including four-year institutions that offer associate degrees.\n\n### Career Stage\n- The program serves students, not researchers/faculty — specifically the high school senior class for the applicable cycle (e.g., \"Class of 2027\") and continuing student recipients.\n\n### Other Eligibility Requirements\n- Continuing recipients must enroll and attend full-time in an eligible program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution when continuing in college.","fit_summary":"$76","update_summary":null}],"funders":{"id":"0a278c35-06e5-495f-81c0-1c0c25cb8021","fts":"'commiss':4 'educ':3 'higher':2 'tennesse':1 'thec':5","name":"Tennessee Higher Education Commission","slug":"tennessee-higher-education-commission","address":null,"country":"USA","group_id":null,"home_url":"https://www.tn.gov/thec","name_code":"THEC","created_at":"2026-09-08T18:46:06.109128+00:00","other_urls":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-08T18:46:06.109128+00:00","contact_url":null,"description":"The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) coordinates the state's public colleges and universities and administers Tennessee's student financial aid programs. 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Tennessee Promise

Tennessee Promise

Fund Tennessee

GEAR UP TN

Future Forward Innovation Grant

Federal Match Program

Fund Tennessee

GEAR UP TN

Future Forward Innovation Grant

Federal Match Program