Grants

Don’t miss your opportunity for free money to help pay for school.
Federal and state grants are available to students in qualifying circumstances.
General Grant Information
Here’s what you need to do to be eligible to receive these grants:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program
- Post-baccalaureate students are NOT eligible
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Awards are made based on full-time enrollment; however, awards will prorate based on actual enrollment.
Enrollment status for federal and state grants is determined on the last day to add classes for the semester.
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduates based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC)* and full-time enrollment.
Good to know:
- If the student enrolls less than full-time, the Pell Grant award is prorated based on the actual number of hours enrolled each semester.
- No other aid will be awarded until Pell Grant eligibility (the student's need) has been determined.
- Regulations and provisions of the Pell Grant Program are subject to change by federal legislative action.
- The Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid.
- Graduate and Provisional students are not eligible for the Pell Grants.
- A student may not receive the Federal Pell Grant for more than 12 full-time semesters, or the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters. This includes all prior semesters received.
- Students are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant during Summer only if they did not receive full-time Pell Grant funds during both the Fall and Spring semesters.
- There is no application for Summer aid. Once a student is enrolled, aid is awarded based on enrollment and eligibility.
Note: Students must meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards to qualify for federal aid.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This federal grant program is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
Good to know:
- Priority consideration is given to students with a zero (0) Expected Family Contribution (EFC)* whose financial aid application is complete by Early October for the upcoming academic year.
- Students who are Pell-eligible and have additional need can submit a Supplemental Request Form.
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAA) Grant
Tennessee's grant program awards funds to eligible Tennessee residents based on the rules set forth by the TN Student Assistance Corporation. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Good to know:
- This grant is available fall and spring semesters only.
- An award recipient may receive TSAA funds until their program of study is complete or for eight (8) semesters, whichever comes first.
- If you did not list UTC first on your FAFSA, you must make this change by creating an account on the TSAC Student Portal (this can take up to two weeks to process). The portal also shows you your financial aid summary for any grant or scholarship TSAC administers.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Annual Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program limits for qualifying students are:
- $4,000 per academic year for full-time enrollment
- $3,000 for three-quarter time enrollment
- $2,000 for half-time enrollment
- $1,000 for less-than-half-time enrollment
Cumulative maximum amount may not exceed $16,000 for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study.
Cumulative maximum amount may not exceed $8,000 for graduate students.
State Assistance—States other than Tennessee
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your application for most state grant, scholarship and loan programs, in addition to federal grants and loans. The U.S. Department of Education will forward your FAFSA information to the state student assistance agency for the state of residence you indicate on the FAFSA.
Each state has a different FAFSA submission deadline. If you miss the deadline, you will be ineligible to receive state aid for the entire academic year. To receive most state aid, you must attend a school in your state of residency.
*The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated from the information you report on your FAFSA and according to a formula established by law.
- The Office of Financial Aid determines whether you have financial need by using this simple formula:
Cost of Attendance (Budget)
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
= Financial Need