Grants are funds provided by federal and state sources. Grants do not have to be repaid. To determine eligibility for these grants, you must complete the FAFSA.
Federal Grants
Pell Grants are awarded by the federal government to those students who are determined to be eligible after completing the FAFSA. A Pell Grant is applied directly to your student account and does not have to be repaid. The amount is determined according to eligibility and the number of hours in which you enroll. Pell Grants are not available to students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree.
The Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant (SEOG) is a federal grant administered by the University. The SEOG Grant is applied directly to your student account and does not have to be repaid. To be eligible for the SEOG Grant, you must meet the same Pell Grant eligibility requirements and you must apply early since SEOG funds are limited. The amount is subject to change based on availability of funds.
State Grants
The TN State Grant is a state grant awarded to eligible students who are TN residents. It does not have to be repaid. Eligibility is determined by the FAFSA. Funds are usually limited and you must apply early.
Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program (TELS)
The TELS scholarship program is available to Tennessee residents who have graduated from a Tennessee high school. To qualify a student must:
•Enroll in one of Tennessee’s public or private colleges.
•Enroll within 16 months of high school graduation or completion of a home school or GED program.
•Home school students must have been enrolled in an accredited home school program for a minimum of two years prior to graduating.
Tennessee Hope Scholarship: $4000
Must meet the above criteria and also have an ACT of 21 OR unweighted minimum high school GPA of 3.0
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Aspire Award: $1500
This scholarship is a supplement to the Hope Scholarship for those students whose parent’s adjusted gross income is less than $36,000. Must meet the above Hope criteria.
General Assembly Merit Scholarship: $1000
This award is a supplement to the Hope Scholarship. A student must have a minimum of a 3.75 high school GPA AND at least a 29 on the ACT. Home school students must complete at least 12 college credit hours with a minimum 3.0 GPA
