Outside Grants and Scholarships
Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and/or talent and generally do not require repayment unless an over-award has occurred or incorrect information has been provided. A scholarship is a form of financial aid given to students to help pay for their education. Scholarships are a form of gift aid and do not have to be repaid.
The Federal Pell Grant Program is the largest Federal student aid program. The purpose of the program is to ensure that all eligible undergraduate students have at least a portion of the necessary money to meet college expenses. The amount of each Federal Pell Grant depends on the student’s financial need, the cost of education, and the enrollment status of the student.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is an award to help undergraduates pay for their education. The amount that a student receives depends upon financial need, the amount of money the school has for the program, and the amount of aid the student receives from other programs. Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority in FSEOG awards.
Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) is a need-based grant provided by the State of Tennessee. Any Tennessee resident who is or will be enrolled as an undergraduate is eligible to apply by filing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The amount of the award depends upon financial need, the cost of education, and the actual amount of time the student will be enrolled during the year. Students are encouraged to apply early.
Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship or Hope Scholarship is awarded by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) to Tennessee residents who are recent high school graduates who meet minimum GPA and ACT/SAT score requirements. For eligibility requirements, the specific types of Lottery Scholarships, award amounts, GPA and ACT/SAT score requirements, please refer to the information available from TSAC at http://www.tn.gov/CollegePays.
The Tennessee Promise is a scholarship and a mentoring program, which provides the opportunity for Tennessee high school, home school, and GED graduates to attend a participating 4-year institution or a community college free of tuition and fees. Students will be required to complete eight hours of community service prior to each semester they enroll in order to maintain their eligibility, as well as maintaining satisfactory academic progress (2.0 GPA) while enrolled. For additional information on deadlines and mandatory requirements, please refer to the TN Promise website at http://tennesseepromise.gov/