How to Apply for UT Promise
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you complete your UT 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 UT Promise scholarship entails, how to apply, and maintain eligibility, please email utpromise@tennessee.edu.
High School Senior Application
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 2024-25 UT Promise application is open from Aug. 1 – Dec. 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.
The steps listed below contain important dates, deadlines, and links for future UT Promise students. Click each item to review.
Nov. 1, 2024 – Complete the TN Promise Application (Required for UT Promise Scholarship)
Complete the Class of 2025 TN Promise application at TNPromise.gov by Nov. 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 UT System. UT Promise students are not eligible to receive TN Promise funds.
Dec. 15, 2024 – Apply for undergraduate admission to your UT campus of choice
UT campus undergraduate applications:
Dec. 16, 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.
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 UT 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 your campus freeze date 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.
Campus Freeze Dates:
UT Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Southern: Sept. 3, 2025
UT Martin: Sept. 9, 2025
UT Health Science Center: Sept. 13, 2025
Fall 2025 – Enroll as a full-time student at your UT campus of choice
Complete your enrollment as a full-time student at your selected UT campus.
After you enroll at a UT campus in Fall 2025, please be on the lookout for communication from the UT Promise team regarding mentorship. In addition, you must complete and submit eight (8) hours of community service through the tnAchieves program by July 1, 2025. To stay informed, check your email for updates from the tnAchieves program.
* 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 below for all other students.
All Other Students Application
Students wishing to apply for UT Promise at any UT 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 UT during or after Fall 2025
- Nontraditional students or adult learners enrolling at UT during or after Fall 2025
- First-time freshmen who took a gap year (graduated May 2024) and enrolling at UT during or after Fall 2025
- Current UT students who have never previously received UT 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 UT Promise student. Once UT 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 UT Promise scholarship in the Fall 2025 semester.
Dec. 1, 2025: Apply by this date to be eligible for the UT Promise scholarship in the Spring 2026 semester.
The steps listed below contain important dates, deadlines, and links for future UT Promise students. Click each item to review.
July 1, 2025 – Resolve outstanding financial aid requirements so your UT campus can determine your eligibility for UT Promise
Visit www.fafsa.gov to complete your FAFSA application. Be sure your UT 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 UT Promise, you must complete financial aid verification if you are selected.
July 1, 2025 – Priority deadline to apply for undergraduate admissions to your UT campus of choice
UT campus undergraduate applications:
July 1, 2025 – Complete the UT Promise Application
Complete the UT Promise application to receive aid for the Fall 2025 semester. This application is for students who are NOT currently high school seniors.
Fall 2025 – Enroll as a full-time student at your UT campus of choice
Complete your enrollment as a full-time student at your selected UT campus.
