TN Grants and Scholarships

Leave it to the state lottery games to fund most of the state’s generous scholarships and grants. This is what the lottery was intended to do, so don’t miss out on your piece of the financial pie.

Most of the various state-funded scholarships and grants come under the general heading of Tennessee Lottery Scholarships. The various awards are designed to meet a diverse array of student needs and provide rewards based on a variety of metrics. Students with financial need, those with outstanding academic records, as well as non-traditional, early college enrollment, health sciences students, teacher education students and others are all accounted for in the financial awards.

General eligibility rules for Lottery Scholarships include: state residency, enrollment at a participating undergraduate college or university in Tennessee, complete and file the FAFSA, and high school diploma or GED from Tennessee.

Tennessee Scholarships Programs

  • The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship awards $2,000 and $4,000 scholarships, for two-year and four-year colleges, respectively. Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.0. Awards are renewable.
  • The Tennessee HOPE Access Grant is a need-based college award designed to provide critical financial assistance to students with family incomes of less than $36,000 annually as indicated on the FAFSA. Awards are between $1,750 and $2,750 depending upon type of school.
  • The TN Student Assistance Awards are a very popular need-based program. Eligible students must have a low EFC as indicated by the FAFSA. Grants vary from student to student and are meted out on a first come, first served basis. File early for a good chance at cash.
  • The TN HOPE Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students sets aside funds the help provide support to this overlooked population of college students. This is a need-based scholarship and based on income and family contribution data culled from the FAFSA. Household income cannot exceed $36,000 annually and you must maintain a 2.75 GPA.
  • The Dual Enrollment Grants go to qualified high school students able to complete their required college prep courses ahead of time AND enroll part-time at a college. Grants range from $100 to $300 per course hour.

Career-Specific Scholarships for TN Students

  • The TN Rural Health Loan Forgiveness Program functions like a scholarship for service program. Students pursuing a medical degree, dental degree, physician’s assistant degree or nurse practitioner degree are urged to apply. Up to $12,000 may be awarded annually. Students must be willing to work in a state designated under-served rural area upon graduation. Service obligation is: one year of scholarship assistance in return for one year of service.
  • TN Math and Science Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is similar to the above. Student teachers may receive up to $2,000 annually for studies leading to specializations in math or science. Recipients must be willing to fill critical need positions in a TN school in return for the funding assistance.

For details on any of these programs or others offered through the State of Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation website.