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How Does a Free College Education Sound?

Published August 14, 2015

Beginning August 17, students in Tennessee may apply for the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which will provide two years of tuition-free education at a community college or technical school in Tennessee.

Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover costs of tuition and mandatory fees not met from Pell, HOPE or TSAA. As part of the program, students will be provided with a mentor who will support them during the college application process. TN Achieves has been chosen as the partnering organization for students in Williamson County.

High school seniors can apply here between August 17 and November 2. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must meet the following deadlines and requirements:

  • Apply to the program by November 2, 2015.
  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15, 2016, at www.fafsa.gov. For families who have not yet filed taxes for the prior year, estimates can be used on the FAFSA and updated once taxes have been filed.
  • Attend mandatory meetings, held at local high schools, with partnering organization by the required dates.
  • Complete FAFSA verification, if required by the student’s institution, by August 1, 2016.
  • Complete eight hours of community service for each semester they receive Tennessee Promise funding before the start of each term. This means the first eight hours must be completed the summer before enrolling in a community college or TCAT. Partnering organizations will assist students in finding community service opportunities.
  • Apply to and enroll in an eligible institution. Some partnering organizations may ask students to apply to an eligible college program by February 15, 2016. Though this deadline is not an official requirement, it is highly encouraged. Once in the program, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (the equivalent of a 2.0 GPA at a community college), complete eight hours of community service before the start of each term enrolled and file the FAFSA by February 15 every year.

Scholarship funds will be given directly to the school once the student’s enrollment is confirmed. If a student does not complete all of the Tennessee Promise program requirements and meet all the deadlines, he or she will not be eligible for Tennessee Promise funding.

For additional information or assistance please visit www.tnpromise.gov and contact your student’s high school counselor.