The Tennessee Higher Education Commission oversees college scholarships and grants for Tennessee students, as well as loan forgiveness programs. However, Tennessee does not have its own state school loans.
Most Tennessee colleges used the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) for federal student loans, but this program has been canceled and all loans are now distributed through the Direct loans program.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission refers students to The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) for information about federal loans.
(TSAC was Tennessee's designated federal guaranty agency for the FFELP.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission List of Scholarships
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
award is $4,000 per year for 4-year schools (and 2-year schools with on-campus housing); and $2,000 per year for 2-year schools
academic requirements are a minimum of a 21 ACT (980 SAT- reading and math only) or a 3.0 GPA
award may not exceed the cost of attendance
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS)
award is in addition to a HOPE scholarship- an extra $1,000
academic requirements are a 3.75 weighted GPA AND 29 ACT (1280 SAT- reading and math only)
The ASPIRE AWARD
award is a supplement to the HOPE scholarship- $1,500
requirements are an adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less
Tennessee Hope AccessGrant
award is $2,750 for 4-year schools (and 2-year schools with on-campus housing); $1,750 for 2-year schools
academic requirements are 2.75 GPA And 18 - 20 ACT (860 - 970 SAT- reading and math only)
financial requirements are an adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less
Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant
award is $2,000- cannot be more than the cost of attendence
for students enrolled in a certificate or diploma program at a Tennessee Technology Center
Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant
for students who have been in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for one year after the age of 14
award is equal to the average tuition and fees of a public 4 or 2-year college minus any gift aid
Tennessee Student Assistance Awards
award amounts vary according to need and availability
requirement is an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 2100 or less
(The application needed for these programs is the FAFSA so be sure to check your Tennessee FAFSA deadline.)
The Helping Heroes Grant
award is $1,000 per semester (awarded upon successful completion of 12 credit hours
for Tennessee citizens who are honorably discharged veterans and are enrolled in 4 or 2 year schools
Ned McWherter Scholars Program
award is $6,000 per academic year
requirement is a 3.5 GPA and 29 on the ACT or 1280 on the SAT (math and critical reading only)
Christa McAuliffe Scholarship Program
award is $500
requirement is that the student must be a college junior enrolled in a teacher education program, have a 3.5 GPA and have an ACT or SAT score that meets or exceeds the national norm
The Dependent Children Scholarship Program
award varies with funding and is distributed each term for a maximum of 4 years
requirement is for the student to be a dependent of a Tennessee law enforcement officer, fireman, or an emergency medical service technician who has been killed or totally and permanently disabled while on duty
Dual Enrollment Grant
award is $300 per semester and $600 per academic year
requirement is for student to be an 11th or 12th grader and enrolled in college courses
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission offers some award programs which are in reality student loan forgiveness programs:
Minority Teaching Fellows Program
award is $5,000 per year
requirement is for the student to be a member of a minority group and have a 2.75 GPA and either at least an 18 on the ACT or 860 SAT (math and critical reading only) or be in the top 25% of graduation class, or be a continuing college student who has achieved at least a 2.5 GPA
250 word essay required with application and two recommendation letters
must commit to teaching in Tennessee at the rate of 1 year for each award year or pay back the award
Tennessee Teaching Scholars Program
award varies according to funding
program is for juniors, seniors and graduate students admitted to a teacher education program who have a 2.75 cumulative GPA
must commit to teaching in Tennessee at the rate of 1 year for each award year or pay back the award
Graduate Nursing Loan-Forgiveness Program
award is $7,000 per year for full-time students; $3,500 for part-time students
for students who are registered nurses and enrolled in a master’s degree or a post master’s degree nursing educational program
4 year service obligation to have the loan forgiven
Tennessee Math & Science Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
award is $2,000 per academic year, not to exceed a lifetime maximum of $10,000
for Tennessee public school teachers getting an advanced degree in math or science, or a certification to teach a math or a science
service obligation is 2 years teaching for each year of loans
Tennessee Rural Health Loan Forgiveness Program
award is $12,000 per year maximum
for Tennessee students seeking an M.D., D.O., D.D.S. degree, or students seeking to become physician assistants or nurse practitioners
service obligation is to practice in Tennessee at the rate of 1 year for each year of loans
A separate application is needed for each of these programs. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission provides
free online grant applications
.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission oversees programs that will give some financial assistance to many Tennessee students, but the award amounts have not kept pace with tuition increases. And the lack of a state loan program means that students will have a tuition gap after they've applied for federal Direct federal student loans.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission oversees programs that will give some financial assistance to many Tennessee students, but the award amounts have not kept pace with tuition increases. And the lack of a state loan program means that students will have a tuition gap after they've applied for federal Direct federal student loans.
