Spring Hill and Thompson's Station seniors have until Monday, Nov. 2, to apply for TN Promise. The state scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees at Tennessee community colleges and applied technology colleges.

Missing the deadline means losing eligibility for the scholarship and for automatic college admission offers through a connected state program, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

The application is free.

TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship. It pays tuition and mandatory fees left over after the Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship or Tennessee Student Assistance Award. Students can use it at the state's 13 community colleges, 22 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) and other eligible institutions offering associate degree programs.

The scholarship also opens the door to TN Direct Admissions, now in its second year. That program sends applicants automatic admission offers and estimated financial aid packages from participating Tennessee colleges and universities.

TN Direct Admissions has expanded statewide to include 63 institutions this year. It serves eligible public, private and homeschooled seniors.

"We've got 63 colleges in the program. So, filling out what is a very short application in the Tennessee Promise application. By doing that, we can send them a letter, and it says of these 63 colleges, you're admitted already, you're in," Brett Gipson, chief college access officer for THEC, told WATE.

Nearly 44,000 Class of 2027 students statewide have already received personalized letters from Gov. Bill Lee, according to THEC. The commission said approximately 26,000 additional letters are expected after the deadline. The number of students claiming admission offers has already surpassed the total from the program's first year, THEC said.

Williamson and Maury county students who are awarded TN Promise will work with tnAchieves, the partnering organization that coordinates scholarship requirements for their counties, according to CollegeforTN.org.

How to apply

Students apply through the THEC Student Portal at CollegeforTN.org. They need their name as it appears on their Social Security card, their Social Security number, date of birth and a personal email address. School email addresses are not accepted.

What comes after the application

The application is just the first step. Applicants must attend a mandatory meeting coordinated by their partnering organization in December 2026 or January 2027. They must file the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1, 2027. The first 16 hours of required community service are due by Aug. 1, 2027.

Students should still plan for expenses beyond tuition and fees, including housing, books and other personal costs, WATE reported.

Students who receive a TN Direct Admissions letter have until June 1, 2027, to claim their spots at participating institutions. Since 2014, TN Promise has provided $207 million in funding and supported enrollment for more than 150,000 students, according to CollegeforTN.org.