HOPE, Promise, & Pledge
HOPE Scholarship (aka TELS, aka "The Lottery Scholarship")
The HOPE Scholarship is funded by the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) Program. To receive TELS funding, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Priority consideration is given to early applicants (after January 1, but before February 15). The deadline for fall semester awards is September 1 of each academic year.
The HOPE scholarship may now be used to help pay for summer school provided that eligible students register for a minimum of 6 hours. Find out more by visiting our Summer Aid webpage .
TELS Program Guidelines at The University of Tennessee
This document contains important information for current recipients of the HOPE Lottery Scholarship. Please read these guidelines.
Note to Transfer Students: Transfer students must have an official academic transcript sent to UT Admissions from all prior institutions, including the most recent semester attended. Generally this delays payment of TELS awards during the first semester at UT, especially for mid-year transfer students.
Also, high school students should click here to learn more about the TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant Program.
TELS Forms
You may access TELS forms in our Forms & Resources section, including:
- Request for Change from Full-Time to Part-Time Enrollment
- Request for Leave of Absence
- Eligibility Appeal
- Notification of Repeated Class Grade Replacement
- Request for Review of HOPE GPA
Tennessee Promise Scholarship
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship program is the only one of its kind in the state. Any new student who is admitted and enrolls at the University of Tennessee from one of the eligible high schools listed below will receive a scholarship valued at up to $7,382 per year plus a $1,200 award for other educational expenses. The Promise Scholarship, combined with the HOPE and other university scholarships, will provide funds to assist with tuition and fees for up to four years (eight semesters) on the Knoxville campus.
Although no scholarship application is required for this guaranteed award, the following must be satisfied to qualify:
- Apply for admissions as a first-time, first-year entering freshman by December 1
- Be a Tennessee resident
- Graduate from a Tennessee Promise high school (listed below)
- Submit FAFSA prior to February 15
- Enroll as a full-time student
Eligible Tennessee High Schools
| School | City |
| Antioch High School | Antioch |
| Austin East High / Magnet | Knoxville |
| B T Washington High School | Memphis |
| Brainerd High School | Chattanooga |
| Carver High School | Memphis |
| Central High School | Memphis |
| East High School | Memphis |
| East Ridge High School | Chattanooga |
| Fairley High School | Memphis |
| Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School | Somerville |
| Frayser Middle/ High School | Memphis |
| Fulton High School | Knoxville |
| Glencliff Comp High School | Nashville |
| Hamilton High School | Memphis |
| Howard School Of Academics Technology | Chattanooga |
| Kingsbury Middle/ High School | Memphis |
| Kirby High School | Memphis |
| Manassas High School | Memphis |
| Maplewood Comp High School | Nashville |
| Melrose High School | Memphis |
| Mitchell Middle/ High School | Memphis |
| Northside High School | Memphis |
| Oakhaven Middle/ High School | Memphis |
| Pearl Cohn Magnet High School | Nashville |
| Raleigh Egypt High School | Memphis |
| Sheffield High School | Memphis |
| Stratford Comp High School | Nashville |
| Trezevant High School | Memphis |
| Tyner Academy | Chattanooga |
| Westwood Middle/ High School | Memphis |
| Whites Creek Comp High School | Whites Creek |
| Wooddale High School | Memphis |
Tennessee Pledge Scholarship
Accessibility to an education at Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university should be available to all citizens of the state. To achieve this accessibility for qualified students from low-income families,the University of Tennessee offers need-based scholarships to members of the fall entering freshman class who are Tennessee residents.
These need-based scholarships are offered to admitted students with a family adjusted gross income of up to $40,000, which equates to approximately 200% of the federal poverty level. Please note - Additional family resources, including assets and untaxed income, will also be considered when determining eligibility for the Pledge Scholarshp.
The scholarship, when combined with other federal, state, and institutional aid, will cover a student’s mandatory costs—tuition, fees, room and board, and a book allowance as determined by UT—without the use of student loans.
Criteria
- Application deadline: Admission application must be postmarked by the December 1 deadline
- Family adjusted gross income (AGI) of $40,000 or less
- Tennessee resident
- Matriculate for fall semester immediately following graduation from a Tennessee high school
- Submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15 prior to enrollment (no scholarship application required)
- Award is based on all offered gift aid, including the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship
Award Length
Four-year award (fifth year available for students who initially enroll and maintain enrollment in the Architectural degree program)
Retention Requirements
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually by February 15
- Annual family adjusted gross income (AGI) of $40,000 or less
- Maintain 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded institutional, federal and state funds
Additional Information
In the event a recipient does not maintain eligibility for other federal, state, or institutional aid, UT will not award additional TN Pledge funds to cover lost awards.
Mandatory fees are defined as full-time, in-state maintenance and student fee rates assessed to all students. Room and board averages are based upon current year, on-campus housing rates.
Deadlines
DEC 1 - Regular Application Deadline
To be eligible for the Pledge & Promise scholarships, applicants must submit all application materials by the regular application deadline.
February 15 - Complete & Submit the FAFSA
Required for Promise & Pledge applicants
Contact Us
115 Student Services Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-0210
Telephone: (865) 974-3131
FAX: (865) 974-2175
finaid@utk.edu
HOURS:
8:00am-5:00pm (M-F)