What is the Tennessee Promise? Tennessee Promise is a financial aid program offering Tennessee high school graduates two years of tuition-free classes at any Tennessee community college or technical college.

What is the Tennessee Promise? The Tennessee Promise program is a last-dollar scholarship. What does that mean? The Tennessee Promise scholarship covers what is left of your tuition and mandatory fees that the Pell grant, Tennessee Lottery Scholarship (TELS), or Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) did NOT cover.

How are the funds administered? Students will never directly receive cash from the Tennessee Promise… (bummer, I know..) Once PELL, TELS, and TSSAA have been applied, the Tennessee Student Assistant Corporation (TSAC) will send the funds covering the remaining costs of tuition and mandatory fees directly to institutions for students who have met all eligibility requirements.

So… If this is you...

Remember to fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) See if you qualify for Pell Grant (0 EFC) Tennessee Lottery Scholarship (3.0 GPA or 21 ACT) or The Tennessee Student Assistant Award

…and get FREE MONEY

Students eligible for the Tennessee Promise Must be a Tennessee resident Graduate from an eligible Tennessee high school, complete a Tennessee home school program, or, prior to reaching 19 years of age, obtain a GED or HISET diploma Enroll in an eligible college or program and attend full time the fall after high school graduation Students enrolling at a TCAT may begin in the summer Complete online application Meet all deadlines and requirements before enrollment

Gov. Bill Haslam on Tennessee Promise Video Gov. Bill Haslam on Tennessee Promise

Tennessee Promise Timeline November 1: Apply for TN Promise Scholarship February 15: Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Before March 1: Attend 1st mandatory meeting Before May 31: Attend 2nd mandatory meeting In the spring: Apply and register for classes at an eligible institution Before start of term: Complete 8 hours of community service by the first day of class

How do I keep the Tennessee Promise? Maintain satisfactory academic progress – that is the equivalent of a 2.0 GPA at a community college or satisfactory academic progress at a TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology) Complete the Tennessee Promise application for renewal by November 1 Complete 8 hours of community service per term enrolled (must be complete before term starts) Complete the FAFSA by February 15th every year of the program

What Tennessee Promise does not cover Fees charged for online programs Specific programs of study Books Supplies

Can I lose the Tennessee Promise? YES Even if you maintain a 2.0, you can lose your Tennessee Promise Scholarship IF: you do not attend college the summer or fall after graduation, take semester off once you have began, withdrawal your enrollment, or become incarcerated.

Community Service Community service is an important component of Tennessee Promise. A student participating in the program must perform a minimum of 8 hours per academic term, prior to the beginning of each term. Partnering organizations must provide students with community service guidelines in advance and are responsible for documenting and reporting that students meet the service requirement.

Community Service Any service performed by a student which benefits the community may be counted, except: Community service performed prior to high school graduation Work resulting in payment or remuneration of any kind Work directly benefiting family members

Keep in mind Doing nice things for your grandparents does not count as community service… But there are many options to choose from and it really can be fun.

Can I get 2 years free, then transfer? Yes! The Tennessee Transfer Pathways ensure that students may follow a prescribed curriculum that is universally transferable, marked by clarity, and available for students to review on the first day of enrollment. Currently, there are 49 approved transfer pathways, spanning 28 disciplines and accepted at all public institutions in Tennessee. Additionally, many private institutions accept these pathways as well.

Still not convinced you should apply?

$0.00 Average cost of community college = $3,800 per year Average cost of public university = $12,000 per year Average cost of private college = $42,000 per year Cost of college with Tennessee Promise = $0.00 (excluding cost for books and supplies)

Signing up is free, simple, and takes around 10 minutes Signing up is free, simple, and takes around 10 minutes. Minimum wage in Tennessee is $7.25 per HOUR. Imagine making thousands of dollars in 10 minutes. You can.

What do you have to lose?