Tennessee Higher Education Commission

Tennessee Higher Education Commission

Tennessee does not have its own state school loans.

Most Tennessee colleges use the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) for federal student loans.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission refers students to The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) for information about federal loans.

TSAC is Tennessee's designated federal guaranty agency for this program.

TSAC will pay the 1% federal default fee on loans taken out through their lenders.

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

Tennessee 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 progam 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 .

[COMPENSATED AFFILIATE LINKS]

Many of Tennessee's scholarship programs require minimum scores on the SAT or ACT. Students can seek help to prepare For The ACT Test or to improve their SAT scores by using Peterson's Online Course for the SAT.




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.


return from Tennessee Higher Education Commission to state college loans

return from Tennessee Higher Education Commission to college loan consultant homepage