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Many people believe that they will not be able to afford college because of rising tuition fees. In comparison to a high school diploma, a college degree has been shown to bring superior pay and career prospects. Regardless of your family’s financial situation, attending college does not have to be out of reach. The TN Promise Scholarship is a wonderful place to begin your scholarship search.
The award is open to students who plan to attend a community or technical school. Moreover, we love that it does not require any income requirements. This scholarship from the state of Tennessee can alleviate the costs of college. You can find the scholarship program’s details on this page. Everything you need to know about applying to it is here. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
About the TN Promise Scholarship
Tennessee Promise Scholarship, abbreviated TN Promise Scholarship, is a scholarship, mentorship, and community service initiative that debuted in the fall semester of 2015. TN Promise Scholarship allows Tennessee high school graduates to attend a community or technical college for free, including tuition and obligatory fees.
It offers students a last-dollar scholarship, which means that the Tennessee Promise will cover tuition and fees that are not covered by the Pell Grant, the HOPE Scholarship, or the TSAA Funds. Students may apply for the scholarship at any of Tennessee’s 13 community colleges or 27 institutions of applied technology.
With the financial burden removed, the most important aspect of Tennessee Promise is that students receive one-on-one guidance from a mentor while they negotiate the college application process. Additional requirements include eight hours of community service per term, as well as maintaining a 2.0 GPA at the college or university where they are enrolled.
Students who participate in the TN Promise Scholarship must submit an FAFSA or renewal FAFSA every year in order to be eligible for the scholarship. In addition, partnered organizations will collaborate with high school guidance counselors to target at-risk kids who would otherwise not pursue any education beyond high school, even though the Tennessee Promise is offered to all students regardless of socioeconomic status.
Program Benefits
There are no loans or work-study requirements for the TN Promise Scholarship. It covers any remaining costs at Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TCAT) schools, including two- and four-year colleges awarding associate’s degrees. Expenses like travel and gas, however, cannot be deducted from the reimbursement amount.
However, the Tennessee Promise Scholarship does not cover the entire cost of tuition and fees at a four-year university. Students will be given money based on the average cost of a community college education, which is estimated at $4,000 per year.
For instance, a student who receives $3,000 in HOPE money but no other federal or state financial aid can apply for a $1,000 grant from the TN Promise Scholarship, which can be used to pay for the remaining costs of attending a four-year college.
TN Promise Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Any high school senior who graduates from a Tennessee eligible high school or completes a Tennessee home school program can apply for the Promise. Basically, to receive a TN Promise Scholarship, a student must:
- Participate and meet all requirements of a Tennessee Promise partnering organization;
- Apply senior year and meet established application deadlines;
- Attend all scheduled team meetings and a mandatory college orientation;
- Begin at the post-secondary institution in the fall directly following high school graduation and remain at an eligible institution for consecutive semesters;
- Maintain at least 12 hours each semester;
- Attend a post-secondary institution for consecutive semesters;
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1 of each year beginning in high school and throughout his/her post-secondary experience;
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress; and
- Complete at least eight hours of community servicec each semester.
Once in the program, students must do the following to retain their scholarship:
- Maintain full-time enrollment and participation if at a community college or in an eligible program at a participating four-year institution or continuous enrollment and satisfactory academic progress if at a TN College of Applied Technology;
- Complete and submit eight hours of community service per term enrolled, by thedeadlines communicated in Rule and by the partnering organization; and
- Complete the FAFSA by the deadline each year the student participates in the program.
TN Promise Scholarship Application
Visit the Tennessee Promise webpage at the bottom of this page to apply. The TSAC Student Portal is the only way to apply for TN Promise. Your application for state financial aid can be updated and tailored through this portal. You can check the status of your awards, get in touch with TSAC, or update your profile information on this page.
To complete the TN Promise application, you must have the following:
- First and last name as they appear on your Social Security card;
- Social Security number as it appears on your Social Security card;
- Date of birth; and
- Email address.
If you do not already have an account, click “Register” or “Sign In” on the TSAC Student Portal. However, click “Create a Log In” if you are a new user. Tennessee Promise Scholarship Award can be found in the list of scholarships, so click on it to get to the application. To see the status of your application, go to your account page and click “View Summary.”
Finally, a confirmation message will display once you have completed the application. All students will receive a confirmation email to the e-mail address they provided when registering for the program. Moreover, the email address of the student’s parent will receive a confirmation email if one was provided.
Next, partnering organizations will contact students after the application deadline in November to assign mentors and provide details about required meetings and other requirements.
Closing Date
Complete the Tennessee Promise application at TSAC Student Portal by November 1 for the fall term and the FAFSA by February 1. If you missed the deadline, you will not be able to participate in the program in the future.
Contact Details
If you have any issues completing the TN Promise application or any questions regarding the program, please contact the TSAC Helpline at 1-800-342-1663 or live chat between 8 AM and 4:30 PM Monday-Friday at http://www.tn.gov/collegepays/article/livechat.
TN Promise Scholarship Official Website
Finally, apply to or find more information about the scholarship program at http://tnpromise.gov/. Not what you are looking for? We have a comprehensive guide for you about the company-provided scholarships.
