Tuition-Free College with TN Promise
tnAchieves provides college access through the TN Promise scholarship to students across Tennessee. Work with tnAchieves to complete TN Promise requirements and college access milestones!
Class of 2027 students must apply by Nov. 2, 2026.
TN Promise covers what other aid does not
TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship. It pays the tuition and mandatory fees left after federal and state aid is applied, including the Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship, Tennessee Student Assistance Award and Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant.
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5semesters
Up to five semesters at a community college or eligible four-year institution
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8trimesters
Up to eight trimesters at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)
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Tuition+ fees
Covers tuition and mandatory fees. Books, supplies and class-specific fees are not included.
What you could pay, by college type
These examples show how HOPE, Wilder-Naifeh and TN Promise work together to cover one year of tuition and mandatory fees.
TCAT
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
- Tuition & mandatory fees
- $4,600
- HOPE/Wilder-Naifeh
- −$2,000
- TN Promise
- −$2,600
- Your cost
- $0
Community College
Two-year public
- Tuition & mandatory fees
- $5,300
- HOPE/Wilder-Naifeh
- −$3,200
- TN Promise
- −$2,100
- Your cost
- $0
Four-Year Public
Before Pell and institutional aid
- Tuition & mandatory fees
- $10,000
- HOPE/Wilder-Naifeh
- −$4,500
- TN Promise
- −$800
- Your cost
- $4,700
Four-Year Private
Before Pell and institutional aid
- Tuition & mandatory fees
- $20,000
- HOPE/Wilder-Naifeh
- −$4,500
- TN Promise
- −$800
- Your cost
- $14,700
Planning to attend a four-year institution? TN Promise funding is based on the average community college cost, currently estimated at $5,300. At a four-year school, it may not cover all tuition and mandatory fees. Ask each college’s financial aid office what you would actually pay.
These figures are estimates for illustration only. Tuition and mandatory fees vary by institution and change each year. These examples assume a student who qualifies for the HOPE Scholarship. They do not include the Pell Grant, institutional scholarships or other aid, all of which lower your cost further, often by a large amount at four-year institutions. Private four-year tuition ranges widely, from roughly $12,000 to $33,000 per year.
College Access Next Steps and Milestones
TN Promise, in partnership with tnAchieves, provides a supported pathway for high school seniors to pursue college and ultimately a career. You can view this short video for an overview of the college selection process and more insight into the TN Promise scholarship requirements. Your next step is to apply to college!
Click the button below for a list of TN Promise-eligible institutions!
Class of 2027
TN Promise
Deadlines & Milestones
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Complete the TN Promise application at TNPromise.gov.
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Satisfy the Mandatory TN Promise Meeting requirement. Click here for more information!
Keep in mind, this is a mandatory scholarship requirement. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the loss of TN Promise scholarship eligibility. Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained at a later date.
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File the 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov. Please click here to learn more about this requirement!
Keep in mind, this is a mandatory scholarship requirement. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the loss of TN Promise scholarship eligibility. Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained at a later date.
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Connect with tnAchieves Access Mentor.
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Complete and submit at least 16 hours of community service for the 2027-2028 academic year. Please click here to learn more and submit your hours!
Keep in mind, this is a mandatory scholarship requirement. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the loss of TN Promise scholarship eligibility. Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained at a later date.
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Enroll as a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours or a full-time program) at a TN Promise eligible institution. Please click here to view eligible institutions!
Keep in mind, this is a mandatory scholarship requirement. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the loss of TN Promise scholarship eligibility. Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained at a later date.
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Have questions or need help? Connect with the tnAchieves team by clicking the link below. Our team is always here to help.
General Questions
tnAchieves@tnAchieves.org
Phone
(833) 435-7862