Tennessee Higher Education Commission — TN Promise
State last-dollar scholarship: pays eligible tuition and mandatory fees after Pell, HOPE, TSAA, and other aid. The Class of 2027 must meet application, meeting, FAFSA, 32-hour service, and full-time enrollment deadlines; the usual limit is five semesters or eight TCAT trimesters.
About Tennessee Higher Education Commission — TN Promise
TN Promise is a state last-dollar scholarship paired with college guidance and mentoring. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission coordinates the statewide program, while tnAchieves supports students in many counties; other students may have a different local partner. The Class of 2027 application guide and a student’s school district or county determine which instructions and mentor support apply.
The scholarship does not give every student a flat amount. Pell, HOPE, TSAA, and other public aid are first credited to tuition and mandatory fees; TN Promise may pay the remaining balance. If earlier aid already covers those charges, the Promise award can be zero. At some participating four-year colleges, the award is based on a community-college tuition benchmark, so families should review net cost rather than read “tuition-free” as full-cost coverage.
The application portal is TNPromise.gov, and the current deadline for the Class of 2027 is November 2, 2026. Next come the assigned meeting by March 1, 2027, the 2027–28 FAFSA by April 1, and at least 16 service hours by August 1, 2027. tnAchieves lists another 16 hours for the following academic year, for 32 total. Its policy labels the FAFSA date tentative, so check whether federal filing opens or the state schedule changes.
Support can generally last five semesters at a community college or participating four-year institution, or eight trimesters at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Check the current campus and program list before enrolling. Students must begin after high school in fall, remain full-time, file FAFSA each year, meet academic-progress rules, and report service on time. Missing one meeting can end eligibility even if the other steps are complete.
For individual cases, use the state portal and contact your county partner. tnAchieves lists 833-435-7862 and tnAchieves@tnAchieves.org; THEC, at 312 Rosa Parks Ave in Nashville, lists 615-741-3605 as its general line. Have your college and program, tuition-and-fee balance, FAFSA status, and service-hour record ready so staff can identify the next step. This guide does not replace the college’s eligibility determination.
Who it serves and what it can cover: State last-dollar scholarship: pays eligible tuition and mandatory fees after Pell, HOPE, TSAA, and other aid. The Class of 2027 must meet application, meeting, FAFSA, 32-hour service, and full-time enrollment deadlines; the usual limit is five semesters or eight TCAT trimesters.
How to apply or get help: The Class of 2027 application is submitted at TNPromise.gov by November 2, 2026. For program support, tnAchieves lists tnAchieves@tnAchieves.org and 833-435-7862; THEC lists 615-741-3605 for general inquiries. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
State last-dollar college scholarship and mentoring program