Maskay guide

Tennessee Promise 2027: deadline, service hours, and covered costs

TN Promise is a state last-dollar award for high-school graduates entering postsecondary study after finishing school. It does not provide one fixed check: it pays eligible tuition and mandatory fees left after other grants and scholarships

TN Promise is a state last-dollar award for high-school graduates entering postsecondary study after finishing school. It does not provide one fixed check: it pays eligible tuition and mandatory fees left after other grants and scholarships. It can be used at Tennessee community colleges, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, and participating institutions with approved associate-degree programs. It should not be read as a promise of free housing, food, books, or transportation.

For the Class of 2027, the application is open and the state commission lists November 2, 2026 as the deadline. Students apply through the TSAC portal; creating an account is not enough, because applicants must sign back in and submit the program application. They must then complete the 2027–28 FAFSA by April 1, 2027, attend the required assigned meeting, and report 16 community-service hours by August 1, 2027.

Students must still apply to an institution and enroll full time in an eligible program for the fall after graduation. The grant is applied to eligible remaining tuition and fees; the package changes if Pell, HOPE, or another scholarship already covers part of the bill. Before accepting, compare the college’s award letter with the full bill and ask what happens if you change schools, reduce credits, or miss the service requirement.

Before accepting aid, confirm in writing who decides eligibility, which costs are covered, how renewal works, and which deadline applies to your cohort. Compare the award with the net cost at your school.

Read the aid-program profile and the FAFSA guide; your institution’s aid office can verify your individual case.

TN Promise: checklist para la promoción de 2027 — Tennessee Higher Education Commission / College for TN.

La solicitud TN Promise abre para la promoción de 2027 — Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

TN Promise: alcance del beneficio — Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Information checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Dates and funding can change by cycle; confirm current terms with the agency and your school’s financial-aid office before enrolling.

Bottom line

Confirm the active cycle, aid already applied, and final balance before committing to tuition or housing.

Verification

Sources & references

Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.

  1. Official website ↗ Primary source Tennessee Higher Education Commission / College for TN · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  2. Official website ↗ Primary source Tennessee Higher Education Commission · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  3. Official website ↗ Primary source Tennessee Higher Education Commission · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  4. Official application and program information ↗ Primary source Tennessee Higher Education Commission / College for TN · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  5. Official website of Tennessee Promise ↗ Primary source Tennessee Higher Education Commission · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  6. Official website of Tennessee Promise ↗ Primary source Tennessee Higher Education Commission · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  7. Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗ Primary source Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  8. Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗ Primary source Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.