Known for its rich musical history in Memphis and Nashville and the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Tennessee is a great state for everyone. The “Volunteer State” has a number of outstanding colleges and opportunities for Tennessee scholarships as well. Check out our list of the top Tennessee scholarships for college and graduate students!
How to win Tennessee scholarships
Tennessee is a perfect state for you to pursue your degree as it is home to lots of big cities, small towns, country music, beautiful mountains, and lots more. In order to win Tennessee scholarships and make your educational journey affordable, you will need to connect what makes Tennessee special to what makes you special.
For example, perhaps you grew up going to small country shows in Nashville watching suture music stars be discovered and now you want to be a PR agent. Or perhaps hiking the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains inspired your interest in becoming a park ranger. Whatever your personal interests, connect it back to your life as a Tennessean (or a hopeful future Tennessean!) This will help you stand out in the scholarship application pool and demonstrate how much the state of Tennessee means to you.
By embracing your individuality and connecting it to the awesome characteristics of Tennessee, you can make a compelling case for why you are deserving of Tennessee scholarships. Celebrate your commitment to the “Volunteer State” in order to increase your chances of winning Tennessee scholarships!
Writing resources for writing Tennessee scholarship essays
Tennessee scholarships may require you to write an essay about yourself which can range anywhere from a 250 word essay to a 500 word essay. These scholarships may prefer you to write a scholarship resume. Therefore, read over our Scholarships360 guide to finding and winning scholarships. Additionally, check out how to start and how to end a scholarship essay to ensure your scholarship essay will be flawless from head to toe!
Tennessee student debt snapshot
According to the Department of Education, in total, Tennessee residents owe $31.4 billion in federal student loan debt. Student borrowers owe an average of $36,418 each (those numbers do not include private loans). Around 51.8% of loan borrowers are under the age of 35. As you are starting your higher education journey, remember that scholarships allow students to take fewer loans. Make sure that you apply to as many scholarships as you qualify for!
Keep on reading to learn more about merit scholarships in Tennessee colleges, as well as some top scholarships in Tennessee!
Merit scholarship at Tennessee colleges and universities
University of Tennessee
- Eligibility: First year students who demonstrate high academic performance
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: December 15
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Eligibility: Incoming freshmen who meet a wide range of competitive criteria
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Admission to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Vanderbilt University
- Eligibility: First year students who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise, are typically in the top 1% of freshmen applicants
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: December 1
Rhodes College
- Eligibility: Freshmen who demonstrate academic talent, service and leadership achievements
- Amount: $28,000 up to $40,000
- Deadline: December 1
University of Memphis
- Eligibility: First year students based on a combination of cumulative high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: December 1
Belmont University
- Eligibility: Admitted first year students with strong academic credentials with a 27+ ACT, 1240+ SAT and a 3.7+ GPA
- Amount: $3,000 up to $12,000
- Deadline: Admission to Belmont University
Consider in-state tuition and tuition reciprocity
In-state tuition allows residents of a state to receive cheaper tuition for a college or university in their state. Additionally, many universities and colleges reserve scholarships and financial aid for in-state students, which helps reduce the cost of attending college for those who live there.
Here are a few well-known Tennessee universities and their in-state vs out-of-state tuition costs:
- In-state tuition: $13,244
- Out-of-state tuition: $31,664
- In-state tuition: $10,344
- Out-of-state tuition: $21,264
How do you get in-state tuition?
Being a Tennessee resident significantly reduces the price of tuition at Tennessee institutions. In order to become a Tennessee resident for tuition purposes, you will need to physically reside in the state of Tennessee for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the start of college. Additionally, you will need to demonstrate an intent to establish Tennessee as your primary domicile rather than residing in the state solely for education purposes. Some ways to establish intent is by obtaining a Tennessee driver’s license, registering to vote in Tennessee, and filing taxes in Tennessee. Some Tennessee institutions may consider additional factors when determining residency status, so double check with your intended institution on their residency requirements!
Does Tennessee offer tuition reciprocity?
Yes, Tennessee is a member state of the Academic Common Market which is a tuition reciprocity program among select Southern states. This means that favorable college tuition rates may be available in nearby states.
Tennessee scholarship spotlight
Southern Automotive Women’s Forum Scholarship
- Eligibility: Female high school seniors pursuing a STEM degree full-time at a Tennessee or other Southern institution
- Amount: $1,000 up to $5,000
- Deadline: Mid-March
The Community Foundation of Central Tennessee Scholarship Application
- Eligibility: Wide variety of scholarships available for Tennessee students, especially those in central Tennessee
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: February 1
College Pays Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows Program
- Eligibility: Minority Tennessee undergrad or graduate students who are college juniors and above and are pursuing teacher certification and agree to be a full time teacher for one year in Tennessee after being granted the award
- Amount: $5,000 per year
- Deadline: Varies
Bird Dog Foundation Annual College Scholarship Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Incoming Tennessee freshmen who are members of a bird dog club who submit an essay
- Amount: $1,000 up to $2,000
- Deadline: April 15
Stegall Charitable Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Tennessee residents applying to or attending a Tennessee school full-time with a minimum 2.8 high school GPA or 3.0 college GPA, and demonstrated financial need
- Amount: $1,000 per semester
- Deadline: July 1 for fall semester and December 1 for spring semester
Tennessee Dependent Children Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Tennessee residents who are dependent children of a Tennessee first responders who were killed or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: July 15
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
- Eligibility: Tennessee high school graduates enrolling at a Tennessee public university who hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and 21 ACT
- Amount: $1,600 up to $2,850 per semester
- Deadline: September 1 for fall semester, February 1 for spring semester
Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant
- Eligibility: Students who meet the eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship and are enrolled in high-need courses
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: February 1 for spring, May 15 for summer semesters and September 15 for fall semester
Tennessee Helping Heroes Grant
- Eligibility: US veterans who were honorably discharged or are current or former members of the Tennessee National Guard unit
- Amount: $1,000 per semester
- Deadline: September 1 for the fall semester and February 1 for the spring semester
Additional Tennessee resources
College Pays TN
This is a “one stop shopping” website for Tennessee students, including financial aid and FAFSA information. The website includes resources to assist not only high school, current college students, and adults returning to college, but also for families interested in college planning for their school age children. Bookmark this one!
FAFSA Guide
Remember, the FAFSA opens up in October and the sooner you complete it, the better. The FAFSA deadline in Tennessee is February 1st of each year. If you are looking for step-by-step guidance on the FAFSA, you can check out our FAFSA guide for assistance.
Frequently asked questions about Tennessee scholarships
What type of scholarships does Tennessee offer?
Do I need to be a Tennessee resident to receive Tennessee scholarships?
Can international students apply for Tennessee scholarships?
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