Eligibility and Maintaining TN HOPE

TN HOPE Scholarship Eligibility

To receive TN HOPE funding, students must file the FAFSA form each year. The deadline for fall semester TN HOPE awards is September 1 each year. We Do Not Want students waiting this late to file the FAFSA each year, of course. UTC encourages all students to submit the FAFSA each October 1 when it opens for the next academic year. 

Students must meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from a Tennessee eligible high school. Exceptions may be granted. Learn more →
• Enroll in an eligible Tennessee public college, university or private college (or an out-of-state regionally accredited college, university, private college) within 16 months following high school graduation. Enrollment at an ineligible Tennessee institution (or non-regionally accredited out-of-state institution) any time after high school graduation will make the student permanently ineligible.
• Be a TN resident for one (1) full calendar year Prior To high school graduation.
• Traditional public/private high school seniors must have achieved one of the following:
  • a minimum 21 ACT Composite score (1060 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests OR
  • at least an overall cumulative 3.000 final high school GPA. *This means a GPA on a 4.000 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.
• Home-school seniors must:
  • achieve at least a 21 ACT Composite score (1060 SAT) OR
  • have completed at least two (2) dual enrollment classes, totaling at least six (6) credit hours, at an eligible institution, earning at minimum a 3.000 cumulative GPA in all dual enrollment courses attempted.
• GED Applicants – must have a minimum 21 ACT Composite score (1060 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests, AND a qualifying GED ® score of 170.
• HiSet recipients – must have a minimum 21 ACT Composite score exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests, AND have an average HiSet score of at least a 15.
• ACT/SAT exams must be taken prior to the first day of college enrollment.
• Neither an ACT/SAT Super Score nor a Residual Test Score are not accepted.
• The TN HOPE Scholarship program does not have reciprocity agreements with Any Other state's lottery program, such as GA.

*Important note for students from Knoxville area schools, Nashville area schools and Memphis area schools: we strongly suggest you review your official transcripts (not your high school's student portal), as your cumulative final high school GPA could be different than your Tennessee Lottery Scholarship GPA. For TN HOPE purposes, your eligibility depends on the Tennessee Lottery/TN HOPE Scholarship GPA listed on your final transcript.

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Transfer Students (Undergraduate AND Graduate)

Transfer students are largely self-identifying, meaning that transfer students must notify our office that they are a TN HOPE scholar and need their award status reviewed.

First, you should make certain your final transcripts (college and high school) are sent to UTC. Then, confirm that your school of choice for the TN HOPE Scholarship is UTC in your TSAC Student Portal.

Finally, you should identify yourself with the UTC Financial Aid and Scholarships Office as a Transfer Student and TN HOPE Scholarship recipient.  

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TN HOPE Scholarship GPA Continuation Requirements

For TN HOPE Scholarship purposes, your TN HOPE GPA is calculated differently than your institutional GPA. Your TN HOPE GPA includes all credits received after high school graduation including developmental and repeated courses. We do not include any credits received prior to high school graduation. For example, we do not count dual enrollment courses in your TN HOPE GPA.

To find your TN HOPE GPA, you must go through your MyMocsNet account. Your TN HOPE GPA is not listed on your academic transcript. Check out our Where Do I Find My TN HOPE GPA/Hours - Tutorial for assistance.

24, 48 attempted TN HOPE hours checkpoint:

• 2.75 TN HOPE cumulative GPA

72, 96, 120 (& beyond) attempted TN HOPE hours checkpoint:

• 3.0 TN HOPE cumulative GPA or
• *2.75-2.99 TN HOPE cumulative GPA AND 3.0 TN HOPE semester GPA in your last Full-Time semester

*There are options to receive TN HOPE on the provisional method with this GPA range. Students who are eligible to continue under this provision Must Be Enrolled in Full-Time credits counting towards their degree to qualify for funds. The scholarship program does not allow for a prorated award under this provision. Students are notified through their UTC email account when/if they are eligible to continue under this method. 

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TN HOPE Scholarship Enrollment Continuation Requirements

For TN HOPE Scholarship purposes, there are enrollment statuses a student must maintain to continue receiving the scholarship. If you change your enrollment status in one of the following ways, you are in jeopardy of forfeiting your TN HOPE Scholarship. Forfeiting means you are no longer eligible for the TN HOPE Scholarship in any future term.

You will forfeit your TN HOPE Scholarship if one of the following occurs. You may appeal your enrollment change if it was the result of an extreme circumstance.

• You completely withdraw after the 14th day of classes (officially or unofficially);
• You drop below full-time enrollment (or from part-time to fewer than six credit hours) after the 14th day of classes by officially dropping classes online through your MocsNet or unofficially by not attending/not participating in classes;
• You have taken off a Fall or Spring semester (attending one credit hour will maintain your HOPE eligibility).

If one of the following occurs, you will forfeit your TN HOPE Scholarship and there is no appeal even if it was the result of an extreme circumstance:

• You attend an ineligible TN institution (or non-regionally accredited out-of-state institution) any time after high school graduation;
• After high school, you attend an in-state college or university, then transfer to an out-of-state institution.

Note: After the 15th day of the fall or spring term, students who change from 3/4 to 1/2 time (OR from 1/2 time to less than 1/2 time), may owe part of their TN HOPE Scholarship funds back to the program. Summer students should review our Summer TN HOPE information for more information. Contact UTC's TN HOPE Scholarship coordinator beforehand to determine if this will affect your award.

¹ It is a common misconception that you must be a full-time student to receive the TN HOPE Scholarship. The only full-time enrollment status requirement is for provisional method TN Hope Scholarship recipients (summer excluded). For all other TN HOPE Scholarship awards, you must be enrolled in at least six hours to receive any portion of TN HOPE funds. For fewer than 12 hours, you will receive a prorated amount of TN HOPE funds.

Our TN HOPE Scholarship Appeal form can be found on our general forms page. Please visit the official Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation's website for information on TN HOPE scholarship programs, application procedures, deadlines and award amounts.

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TN HOPE Scholarship Reinstatement (for GPA only)

If you are unsure how many TN HOPE hours you have or what your HOPE GPA is, complete the — Where Do I Find My TN HOPE GPA - Tutorial.

• Academic Achievement option—If you lost the TN HOPE Scholarship at a previous checkpoint (24, 48, 72, etc), then you can request to regain the scholarship, if at the next 24-hour checkpoint (48, 72, 96, etc) you have the minimum required GPA. Click here to review minimum GPA requirements.
• Repeat Option—If you receive a notice that you have lost the TN HOPE Scholarship due to not meeting minimum GPA requirements AND you have repeated a class in any prior term, you can request to have your TN HOPE Scholarship reinstated. The Second Attempt Must Have Produced a Higher Grade from the First for consideration under the Repeat Option. One time, and for one class only, we will replace your initial class grade for TN HOPE Scholarship purposes if it helps you regain the scholarship. The repeat option can ONLY be used at a checkpoint.

Note: If you think you may be eligible to regain the TN HOPE Scholarship using one of the options above, complete and submit the TN HOPE Scholarship Reinstatement Request Form.

*Allow 45 days for your TN HOPE Scholarship reinstatement form to be reviewed.

*If you have recently received a grade change (not by repeating a class) and wish to have your TN HOPE Scholarship eligibility re-evaluated, notify us by emailing [email protected] within 30 days of this change.

If you have met either of the following events, your TN HOPE is not eligible for Reinstatement:

• You have earned an advanced degree; OR
• Five (5) years have passed from the date of initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution.

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TN HOPE Scholarship Appeal (for enrollment status only)

There is no appeal for any of the following even if your situation was the result of an extenuating circumstance:

• If you lost your TN HOPE Scholarship due to GPA;
• If you enroll(ed) in an ineligible TN institution (or non-regionally accredited out-of-state institution) any time after high school graduation;
• After high school, you attend an in-state college/university, then transfer to an out-of-state institution.

 A TN HOPE appeal can be submitted for the following enrollment changes:

• You have completely withdrawn (officially or unofficially);
• You have dropped below full-time (or from 6-11 hours to below 6) enrollment after the 14th day of classes (last day to drop before a W is received);
• You have taken a fall or spring semester off.

 If either of the following has happened, your TN HOPE is not eligible for reinstatement:

• You have earned an advanced degree; OR
• Five (5) years have passed from the date of initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution.

Note: To appeal for your TN HOPE Scholarship, you MUST submit a TN HOPE Scholarship Appeal, a letter of rationale explaining why you have changed your enrollment or require a leave of absence and official documentation supporting your claim.

 *Allow up to 45 days for your TN HOPE Scholarship appeal to be reviewed.

Visit the official Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation's website for information on TN HOPE scholarship programs, application procedures, deadlines and award amounts.

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How long can I receive the TN HOPE Scholarship?

Students who are eligible for the TN HOPE Scholarship in Fall'23 and thereafter can receive the scholarship until the first of the following terminating events happen:

• You have earned an advanced degree; OR
• Five (5) years have passed from the date of initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution. 

There is no appeal for either of these terminating events.

NOTE - -  To Continue Eligibility while pursuing an advanced degree, Continuous Enrollment Each Fall & Spring Is Required. For more information on this program, visit the official TN Student Assistance Corporation website. If you have questions about your TN HOPE eligibility towards your advanced degree, please email [email protected].

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