Tennessee Promise is a scholarship program that lets Tennessee high school, homeschool, and GED graduates attend a community college tuition-free for 5 semesters, not counting summers. It covers tuition and mandatory fees after other aid (Pell, HOPE, TSAA) is applied.
To be eligible for the award, applicants must complete the Tennessee Promise application in the Fall, complete the FAFSA in the Spring, attend a mandatory meeting, and complete 16 hours of community service each year.
Important: Tennessee Promise does not cover online course fees, book fees, or course/lab fees.
Eligibility
You may qualify if you are a Tennessee resident who:
- Graduates from an eligible Tennessee high school or homeschool, or
- Earns a GED or HiSET diploma before age 19
You must enroll full-time in the fall immediately following high school graduation.
Steps to Success at Vol State
- Apply for Tennessee Promise by the deadline
- Apply for admission to Vol State.
- Complete the FAFSA by the deadline
- Attend your tnAchieves team meeting.
- Complete community service.
- Enroll full-time and maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Important: Never drop a class without talking to Financial Aid—dropping may affect Tennessee Promise eligibility.
Tennessee Promise Deadlines
The TN Promise Application opens on April 1 each year. You can access the application through the THEC Student Portal. To see the current academic year's deadlines, please visit the TN Promise website.
Update Your TN Promise School Choice
Make sure Vol State is listed as your school of choice:
- Log in to the TSAC Student Portal
- Select Vol State as your Tennessee Promise college
