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 after graduating from a TN eligible high school. Students can apply by completing the FAFSA, available at www.fafsa.gov after October 1, 2025.
FAFSA due dates vary from school to school
Award Information
Four-Year Institutions and two-year institutions with on-campus housing:
Up to $2,250 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshmen and sophomore; then up to $2,850 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior
Two-Year Institutions:
Up to $1,600 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:
Only courses leading to a student’s eligible program of study (associate or baccalaureate degree program) can be awarded under the HOPE Scholarship program
Award amounts are available for summer enrollment
Determination of class status is made by the postsecondary institution
Eligibility
Entering freshmen must meet the following criteria
Be a Tennessee resident as classified by the Tennessee Board of Regents
Graduate from a TN eligible high school
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*)
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.