Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within sixteen (16) months after graduating from a TN eligible high school.

Four-Year Institutions and two-year institutions with on-campus housing:

Up to $1,750 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshmen and sophomore; then up to $2,250 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior

Two-Year Institutions:

Up to $1,500 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshman and sophomore

  • Award amounts are available for summer enrollment

  • Class status is determined by the postsecondary institution

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • A student's program of study, leading to an Associate or Baccalaureate degree program, can be awarded under the HOPE Scholarship program

  • Award amounts are available for summer enrollment

  • Class status is determined by the postsecondary institution


Entering freshmen must meet the following criteria

  • Be a Tennessee resident as classified by the Tennessee Board of Regents; pursuant to TCA 49-8-104,

  • Graduate from a TN eligible high school

    • Exceptions may be granted to TN residents who graduate from high schools located in states other than Tennessee. They include:

      • High schools located in bordering out-of-state counties

      • High schools in which dependents of active duty military members or civilian workers of the US Department of Defense, Tennessee National Guard on active duty may attend

        • Members of the Armed Forces or TN National Guard must have Tennessee as the Home of Record at the time of entry into military service; or be classified as an in-state student under the Tennessee Board of Regents promulgated rules by the FAFSA application date.

      • High schools in which dependents of full-time religious workers in foreign nations may attend

      • Out-of-state boarding schools that are regionally accredited or accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

  • Enroll in one of the Tennessee public colleges, universities, or private colleges. Click Here for listing.

  • Entering freshmen must achieve a minimum of a 21 ACT or a minimum of 1060 SAT, exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests (concordant equivalent score) OR

  • Overall minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA*)

  • Home School graduates – Click the link to learn more about the HOPE Scholarship for home school students.

  • GED ® recipients – minimum 21 ACT exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests and qualifying GED ® score. Minimum average Revised GED ® score is 170.

  • HiSet recipients – minimum 21 ACT exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests and qualifying HiSet score. Minimum average HiSet score is 15.

  • ACT/SAT exams must be taken on a national test date or state test date and prior to the first day of college enrollment. The ACT Residual test and the ACT Superscore are not accepted.

  • Must enroll within 16 months following high school graduation at any postsecondary institution.

*Grade point average means a grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional internal quality points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses according to the Uniform Grading Policy adopted by the State Board of Education.


Visit the website at www.tn.gov/collegepays/money-for-college/tn-education-lottery-programs/tennessee-hope-scholarship.html or speak with Mrs. Spears for more information.