What grants and scholarships does Tennessee offer for college students?

I'm a junior planning to apply to college in Tennessee and I'm trying to understand the available financial aid options. What are the main scholarships and grants offered specifically by the state, and which ones should I prioritize applying to?

Tennessee offers a few notable financial aid options for prospective students.

One is the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA), which helps students with financial need cover the costs of their education. It's a need-based program, and the state determines your eligibility based on the financial details you provide through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Another one is the Tennessee Hope Scholarship, which is a merit-based scholarship. To be eligible, you must be a Tennessee resident and meet academic criteria including a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum ACT score of 21.

The state also offers two categories of Tennessee Promise Scholarships. One is for Tennessee residents who are graduating from a Tennessee accredited high school, eligible home school, or have obtained a GED or HiSET diploma prior to their 19th birthday. The other category is for adult learners who are residents, age 19 to 24, and lack a high school or equivalent diploma. These programs provide free community or technical college education in Tennessee and they cover tuition and fees that are not met by the Pell Grant, the TSAA, or the Tennessee Hope Scholarship.

For those interested in teaching, the state offers the Tennessee Teaching Scholars Program. This is for students interested in a teaching career who agree to teach one year in a Tennessee public school for each year they receive the scholarship. The award is based on your college GPA and is also contingent on your passing a background check.

Finally, the state offers the Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship for students with a diagnosed intellectual disability who want to attend an eligible postsecondary institution.

Remember, deadlines for these scholarships and grants can vary, so it's important to stay on top of them! It is also crucial to check the specific criteria for each to ensure that you are eligible. Additionally, it's worth keeping in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, there might be other, smaller, local or industry-specific scholarships available.