Free Higher Ed Opportunities

Tennessee Promise

The state of Tennessee offers its college-bound high school graduates an extra financial boost through the Tennessee Promise and HOPE Scholarship programs.

Tennessee Promise provides state high school or home school graduates free tuition to any in-state community or technical college. The program requires students to work with a mentor. All students are eligible regardless of socioeconomic status. This is a last-dollar scholarship that may cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the federal Pell grant, the HOPE Scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. Students can use this funding to attend any of the state’s 13 community colleges or 27 colleges of applied technology as well as at state colleges offering an associates degree. However, the scholarship will be capped at the average cost of tuition and fees at a state community college. For more information: tnpromise.gov.

HOPE Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship is funded through the state lottery. Tennessee high school graduates attending an in-state four-year public or private university are able to receive up to $2,250 per semester as a full-time student for the first two years and up to $2,850 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior. If a student chooses a twoyear school, they are eligible for up to $1,600 per semester as a full-time student. Award amounts are also available for summer enrollment. This scholarship program requires applicants to complete the FASFA to apply, www.fafsa.gov. For more information, go to: tn.gov/collegepays/money-for-college/tn-education-lotteryprograms/tennessee-hope-scholarship.see-hope-scholarship.