Tennessee Offers Free Community College
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship was established in 2014. It was created to help Tennessee’s high school seniors earn a college degree by covering two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in the state. Since then, the program has expanded.
Tennessee Offers Free Community College
Tennessee Promise is a program for Tennessee high school graduates offering a path to tuition-free higher education. It functions as a so-called “last dollar scholarship,” covering tuition and fees at community colleges and technical schools across the state. The program fills the financial gap remaining after a student applies all other gift aid, such as federal Pell Grants or state HOPE scholarships.
The scholarship serves Tennessee residents who graduate from an eligible high school or homeschool program. Individuals who earn a GED before their 19th birthday also qualify for the program. Eligible students must enroll in a participating college or technical school during the fall semester immediately following their graduation to receive funding.
Create a profile in the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation portal to submit your initial state application. Then, apply for admission to an eligible community college or technical school and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what financial aid is available beyond this program.
As a condition of eligibility, students must attend mandatory program meetings and volunteer for community service before their first semester begins.
Participating Institutions
Students may use the scholarship at any of theTennessee community colleges or participating Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology located throughout the state. Some Tennessee four-year public and private universities also accept the scholarship for students enrolled explicitly in associate degree programs.
While the program covers tuition at community and technical colleges, funding at four-year universities may be capped at the average cost of a community college education.
Participants must maintain full-time enrollment during fall and spring semesters and carry a minimum (cumulative) 2.0 grade point average and perform eight hours of community service before the start of every new term.
Students renew their eligibility annually by refilling their federal financial aid documents and participating in any required mentorship activities.
Start Exploring Tennessee Colleges
- Jackson State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Memphis
- Nashville State Community College
- Walters State Community College
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
Scholarship + Mentoring
The scholarship program is two-fold. While removing the financial burden is key, a critical component of the Tennessee Promise is the individual guidance each participant will receive from a mentor who will assist the student as he or she navigates the college admission process.
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- Colleges With Military Discounts
- Military Spouse Scholarship Program
