How to Apply for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you complete your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise application and stay on track with deadlines. Applicants fall into two groups, each with a separate application process.
Contact Us
For questions about what the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise scholarship entails, how to apply,Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýmaintain eligibility, please email utpromise@tennessee.edu.
High School Senior Application
High school seniors wishing to apply for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise and begin classes at any À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus must complete the following application steps. These deadlines apply only to high school students graduating in the 2025-2026 academic year and who plan to enroll at a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ institution in Fall 2026*.
The 2025–26 À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise application period is officially open from August 1 through December 15, 2025.
If you are attending a high school in one of the following counties – Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Decatur, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Johnson, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White – visit the for your application steps.
The steps listed below contain important dates, deadlines, and links for future À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise students. Click each item to review.
Nov. 3, 2025 – Complete the TN Promise Application (Required for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise Scholarship)
Complete the Class of 2026 TN Promise application at by Nov. 1, 2025, to become eligible for the scholarship.
It is important to note that À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise functions separately from TN Promise and can only be used at universities falling under the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise students are not eligible to receive TN Promise funds.
Dec. 15, 2025 – Apply for undergraduate admission to your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus of choice
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus undergraduate applications:
Dec. 15, 2025 – Complete the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise Application
Complete the planning to enroll at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ in Fall 2026.
Please note that completing the TN Promise application by Nov. 1 is a requirement for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise eligibility.
March 16, 2026 – Satisfy your Mandatory TN Promise Meeting Requirement
You will receive further details regarding this requirement from tnAchieves. Check your email frequently for more information!
Please note if you live in one of the following counties, you will meet with your assigned counselor through the Ayers Foundation Trust at your high school, not a tnAchieves mentor: Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Warren, Wayne.
April 1, 2026 – File your 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Visit to complete your FAFSA application.
The À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ deadline to complete the FAFSA varies by campus, but we encourage students to file their FAFSA as early as possible (i.e., as soon as the application opens in October 2025). Failure to complete this step will disqualify you from À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise for the 2026-2027 academic year.
July 1, 2026 – Ensure À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus of choice is listed on your TSAC Portal and FAFSA
TSAC only shares HOPE scholarship eligibility and FAFSA information with the financial aid office of the top campus of choice you selected in your TSAC Portal.
July 1, 2026 – Complete financial aid verification, if selected
Verification is completed through your selected campus’s financial aid office.
Your financial aid verification must be fully completed (not just submitted for review), your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise award accepted, and your agreement signed by your campus freeze date for you to be eligible. Failure to do this will result in not receiving À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise. Do not wait to do this as submitting your initial documents may lead to the financial aid office requesting other documents. If your financial aid file is not fully complete, you will not be eligible.
August 1, 2026 – Complete and submit 16 hours of community service
Submit by 11:59 PM CT at
If you are a student at a high school within one of the following counties, submit your community service through the : Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Warren, Wayne.
Fall 2026 – Enroll as a full-time student at your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus of choice
Complete your enrollment as a full-time student at your selected À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus.
After you enroll at a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus in Fall 2026, please be on the lookout for communication from the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise team regarding mentorship. In addition, you must complete and submit eight (16) hours of community service through the by August 1, 2026. To stay informed, check your email for updates from the tnAchieves program.
* For students enrolling in Fall 2026 but graduating prior to the 2025-2026 academic year (i.e. took a gap year, etc.), you should follow the application process and deadlines below for all other students.
All Other Students Application
Students wishing to apply for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise at any À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus must complete the following application steps. These deadlines apply to all students who are not currently high school seniors, including the following:
- Transfer students enrolling at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ during or after Fall 2025
- Nontraditional students or adult learners enrolling at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ during or after Fall 2025
- First-time freshmen who took a gap year (graduated May 2024) and enrolling at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ during or after Fall 2025
- Current À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ students who have never previously received À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise
Students who are not currently high school seniors are not required to complete community service and mentorship hours before the start of the semester in which they become a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise student. Once À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise dollars are received, non-high school seniors will need to complete the requirements moving forward to maintain their eligibility.
For students who are not currently high school seniors there are two key dates to be aware of:
July 1, 2025: Apply by this date to be eligible for the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise scholarship in the Fall 2025 semester.
Dec. 1, 2025: Apply by this date to be eligible for the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise scholarship in the Spring 2026 semester.
The steps listed below contain important dates, deadlines, and links for future À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise students. Click each item to review.
December 1, 2025 – Resolve outstanding financial aid requirements so your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus can determine your eligibility for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise
Visit to complete your FAFSA application. Be sure your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus of choice is listed on your FAFSA. TSAC only shares HOPE scholarship eligibility and FAFSA information with the financial aid office of the top campus of choice you selected in your TSAC Portal.
To receive your financial aid, including À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise, you must complete financial aid verification if you are selected.
December 1, 2025 – Priority deadline to apply for undergraduate admissions to your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus of choice
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus undergraduate applications:
December 1, 2025 – Complete the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Promise Application
Complete the to receive aid for the Fall 2025 semester. This application is for students who are NOT currently high school seniors.
Spring 2026 – Enroll as a full-time student at your À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus of choice
Complete your enrollment as a full-time student at your selected À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus.
