Tennessee Promise

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.

Who it serves and what it can cover: 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.

How to apply or get help: 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. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information