Supporting your student.
Strengthening their future.

Parent Handbook
Common Hiccups
Financial Aid/FAFSA
Parent Video Resources

College is for EVERYONE! There are many opportunities, resources and aid available to help students enroll. tnAchieves believes that there is a place in college in Tennessee for your student!

College is a great opportunity for students to pursue after high school graduation. Whether your student is planning to learn a skill by enrolling in a certificate program or move to a university to begin a bachelor’s degree, your student has made a great decision!

What is college?

    • Students attend TCATs to gain mastery of a skill and enter the workforce quickly.

    • Most programs will be completed in 12-18 months

    • Students attend community colleges to earn associate degrees or certificate degrees.

    • Many students transfer to a public or private four-year college after the completion of their associate degree.

    • Students attend four-year colleges or universities to pursue associate or bachelor’s degrees.

    • Students can also continue their education in a graduate degree program at most four-year colleges and universities.

Degrees & Financial Aid Available At Different College Types
TN Promise Eligible Institutions
Admissions Checklist

TN Promise

Deadlines

  • Parents, your student must complete the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at StudentAid.gov. This is a required step and one of the most important actions in the Tennessee Promise process.

    Missing this requirement means your student will permanently lose Tennessee Promise eligibility. Once it is lost, it cannot be regained, so filing the FAFSA on time is critical.

  • Parents, your student must complete and submit at least 16 hours of community service for the 2026–2027 academic year. This requirement is an essential part of the Tennessee Promise scholarship and must be completed and submitted on time.

    Failure to complete the required community service hours will result in permanent loss of Tennessee Promise eligibility. Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained.

    • If your student is attending a community college or a four-year institution, they must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of each academic year to remain eligible for Tennessee Promise. An academic year is defined as the fall term, spring term, and summer term, in that order.

    • If your student is attending a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), they must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which is reviewed at the end of each trimester.

Financial Aid & FAFSA

Financial aid helps students and families pay for college. There are many scholarships and grants available to students to help cover the cost of post-secondary education, and it all begins with completion of the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)!

  • The FAFSA is required to receive both federal and state financial aid. The 2026–2027 FAFSA is available now at StudentAid.gov, and it must be filed by April 1, 2026 to remain eligible for TN Promise.

    Filing the FAFSA is always free, and families should never pay to submit the form. Completing the FAFSA early increases the likelihood that students receive the maximum amount of available aid, as some programs award funds on a first-come, first-served basis.

    What You Need to File the FAFSA

    The FAFSA uses 2024 student and parent tax information. Before beginning, both the student and one parent must create separate StudentAid.gov accounts to access and sign the application. The same email address cannot be used for both accounts. Store your usernames and passwords in a safe place, as they are required each year your student is in college. Families should gather the following documents before filing:

    • 2024 Federal Tax Return and W-2 forms for student and parent(s)

    • Social Security numbers for student and parent(s)

    • Records of untaxed income, such as child support received

    • Current account balances (checking, savings, investments, business and farm assets)

    After completing the FAFSA, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided. Keep this email for your records. tnAchieves recommends maintaining a folder for all important financial aid documents and confirmations.

  • Federal Pell Grant

    A federal, need-based grant awarded using FAFSA information.

    • Amount is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI)

    • Calculated using parent and student income data

    • Does not need to be repaid

    Learn more:
    View the Parent Handbook

    TN Promise

    A last-dollar scholarship that covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other grants and scholarships are applied.

    • Available to current-year high school seniors

    • No ACT or GPA requirement for initial eligibility

    • Requires full-time enrollment, a 2.0 GPA (or good standing at a TCAT), and completion of community service

    • Students must follow all tnAchieves policies to remain eligible

    Learn more:
    View the Parent Handbook

    Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS)

    State-funded scholarships supported by the Tennessee Lottery.

    • Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

      • Up to $2,250 per semester at eligible four-year institutions

      • Up to $1,600 per semester at eligible two-year institutions

      • Requires a 21 ACT or 3.0 final high school GPA (or approved equivalent)

    • Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant

      • Up to $2,000 per academic year

      • Available to students enrolled in certificate or diploma programs at a TCAT

    • Basic eligibility requirements

      • Tennessee residency

      • FAFSA completion

      • Enrollment at an eligible institution within required timeframes

    Learn more:
    View the Parent Handbook

    Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)

    A need-based, state-funded grant awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

    • FAFSA required

    • Tennessee residency required

    • Demonstrated financial need required

    • Must be enrolled at least half-time

    • Early FAFSA completion is strongly encouraged

    Learn more:
    View the Parent Handbook

    Important Reminder

    The financial aid listed above includes grants and scholarships, not loans. These funds do not need to be repaid.

    For full details, policies, and eligibility requirements, refer to the 2026 tnAchieves Parent Handbook.

  • Some students are selected for financial aid verification after FAFSA completion.

    Verification is a process initiated by the Department of Education and requires additional financial documentation be submitted to the college financial aid office. If your student is selected for financial aid verification, the college will notify your student. At that time, your student should begin working closely with the college’s financial aid office until all requested documentation is submitted. A student must have a complete financial aid file in order to receive any scholarships or grants.

    Students should NEVER drop a course without talking to the financial aid office about how it may impact scholarship and grant eligibility!

Filing early increases the likelihood of receiving additional grants and scholarships that are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parent Video Resources

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Parent Video Resources •

A TN Promise Conversation for Parents

In this informative session, the tnAchieves team answers the top questions parents have about the Tennessee Promise scholarship and how to support their students through the college-going process. The discussion covers eligibility and requirements, the importance of deadlines and completing the FAFSA, choosing the right college or program, and the role of community service and mentors.

Parents will leave with a clearer understanding of their role, practical guidance, and knowledge of the resources available to help their students stay on track from high school graduation to the first day of college.

FAFSA Basics Every Tennessee Parent Should Know

Understanding the FAFSA is a critical step in supporting your student’s college journey. In this video, tnAchieves staff walk parents through what the FAFSA is, why it is required for Tennessee Promise, and how it helps make college more affordable. Families will also learn key deadlines, common misconceptions, and where to find help throughout the process.

A group of people sits around a circular table during a discussion or meeting, with some standing and others sitting, in a room with a stage and black curtain in the background.

Mentors & Support

Students have the opportunity to work with a tnAchieves mentor who helps with milestone completion, career preparing and networking. Since 2008, more than 50,000 volunteers have helped students navigate the complexities of the college journey and reach their full potential.

Learn more about mentors

Community Resource Guides

Each guide contains the contact information for several services supporting people in your area with issues of homelessness, transportation, food insecurity, mental/physical health, childcare, Hispanic/Latino services, legal aid and more. Please find the link for your county in the regional dropdown menus.

Below is a list of general resources that may be helpful:

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.

Contact US

General Questions
tnAchieves@tnAchieves.org