High school seniors wishing to apply for UT Promise and begin classes at any UT campus must complete the following application steps. These deadlines apply only to high school students graduating in the 2024-2025 academic year and who plan to enroll at a UT institution in Fall 2025*.

The 2025 UT Promise Scholarship application will open August 1, 2024.

Applications must be completed by December 15, 2024.

If you are attending a high school in one of the following counties – Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Warren, Wayne – visit the Ayers Foundation Trust for your application steps.

Click each item below to learn more.

Nov. 1, 2024 – Complete the TN Promise Application

Complete the Class of 2025 TN Promise application at TNPromise.gov by November 1, 2024, to become eligible for the scholarship.

It is important to note that UT Promise functions separately from TN Promise and can only be used at universities falling under the University of Tennessee system. UT Promise students are not eligible to receive TN Promise funds.

Dec. 15, 2024 – Complete the UT Promise Application

Complete the UT Promise application for high school seniors planning to enroll at UT in Fall 2025.

Please note that completing the TN Promise application by Nov. 1 is a requirement for UT Promise eligibility.

Dec. 15, 2024 – Apply for undergraduate admission to your UT campus of choice

UT campus undergraduate applications:

April 15, 2025 – Attend your mandatory mentor meeting hosted by tnAchieves

You will receive a tnAchieves mentor until you arrive at UT. Check your email for communications from tnAchieves about this meeting. Failure to attend this meeting will result in the loss of your UT Promise eligibility.

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 15, 2025 – File your 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Visit www.fafsa.gov to complete your FAFSA application.

The University of Tennessee 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 UT Promise for the 2024-2025 academic year.

July 1, 2025 – Complete and submit 8 hours of community service

Submit by 11:59 PM CT at www.tnachieves.org/community-service/.

If you are a student at a high school within one of the following counties, submit your community service through the Ayers Foundation Trust website: Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, McNairy, Meigs, Perry, Scott, Unicoi, Union, Warren, Wayne.

July 1, 2025 – Ensure UT 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, 2025 – 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 UT Promise award accepted, and your agreement signed by Sept. 20, 2025 for you to be eligible. Failure to do this will result in not receiving UT 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.

Fall 2025 – Enroll as a full-time student at your UT campus of choice

After you enroll at a UT campus in Fall 2025, you will be paired with a UT Promise mentor. You must meet with your mentor three (3) times a semester to maintain your eligibility. You will receive communications about your mentor for Fall 2025. In addition, you must complete and submit eight (8) hours of community service every semester prior to each semester to maintain your UT Promise scholarship. To stay informed, check your email for updates from tnAchieves and UT.

* For students enrolling in Fall 2025 but graduating prior to the 2024-2025 academic year (i.e. took a gap year, etc.), you should follow the application process and deadlines for other students.