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Graduation

UT Tri-Star Scholarship Program

UT is committed to providing Tennesseans with a high-quality affordable education at Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university. Our Tri-Star Scholarship program helps Tennessee residents access the Volunteer experience through three scholarships.

UT Promise Scholarship

The UT Promise Scholarship is offered to admitted first-year, transfer, and continuing students who qualify for the HOPE Scholarship and have an annual family income of less than $60,000. Starting in Fall 2024, UT Promise will increase the income threshold to $75,000 a year based on adjusted gross income (AGI). 

When combined with other federal, state, and institutional aid, this scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees.*

Criteria

  • Complete the UT Promise application.
  • Tennessee resident
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • First-time freshman student, transfer student, current UT student, or nontraditional student
  • Submission of the FAFSA by March 15, 2024 prior to enrollment.

  • Annual family household income of less than $60,000 (Family household income is defined as the accurate, verifiable total combined amount of parent and student adjusted gross income and untaxed income of less than $60,000, AND a total maximum asset amount of less than $75,000, as defined on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).)

  • Recipient of the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

  • Completion of eight (8) volunteer service hours and participation in mentoring each semester

Starting Fall 2024

  • Annual adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $75,000. Family adjusted gross income is defined as the accurate, verifiable total combined of parent and student adjusted gross income AND a total maximum asset amount of less than $75,000, as defined on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Visit the UT Promise website for information about application deadlines, specific criteria by student type, and retention requirements.

How does this combine with other scholarships?

The UT Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar award to help a student with tuition and mandatory fees, and the amount is calculated once a recipient’s eligibility for other grants and scholarships is confirmed.  A recipient can qualify for other UT-funded Scholarships such as the Volunteer, Orange & White, Flagship, and the UT Provost Scholarship. The UT Promise award amount will be applied after confirming eligibility for all grants and other scholarships.

Tennessee Pledge Scholarship

The Tennessee Pledge Scholarship is offered to admitted freshmen with an annual family income of $40,000 or less. Starting in Fall 2024, Pledge Scholarship eligibility will be based on annual adjusted gross income (AGI) of $40,000 or less.

Students majoring in architecture, business, engineering, and nursing are responsible for college specific course fees, which are not covered by the Pledge Scholarship. A fifth year of scholarship eligibility is available for students who initially enroll and maintain enrollment in the architecture degree program.

To be eligible for the Tennessee Pledge Scholarship, you must submit all application materials by December 15. Late applicants will not be considered. No separate application is required for this award. It is granted automatically to students who meet all criteria.

Criteria

  • Tennessee resident
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • First-time freshman student who enters UT in the fall semester immediately following graduation from a Tennessee high school.
  • Submission of the FAFSA by March 15, 2024 prior to enrollment.

  • Annual family household income of $40,000 or less (Family household income is defined as the accurate, verifiable total combined amount of parent adjusted gross income and untaxed income of less than $40,000, AND a total maximum asset amount of less than $40,000, as defined on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).)
  • Submission of admission application by the December 15 deadline (Transfer students must submit their application by each term’s specific admission deadline.)

Starting Fall 2024

  • Annual adjusted gross income (AGI) of $40,000 or less. Family adjusted gross income is defined as  the accurate, verifiable total combined of parent and student adjusted gross income AND a total maximum asset amount of less than $40,000, as defined on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Retention Requirements

  • Submit the FAFSA annually by March 15
  • Maintain an annual family household income of $60,000 or less (Family income combines the parent adjusted gross income with untaxed income such as alimony, child support, Social Security income, and other forms of untaxed income reported on the FAFSA. Additional family resources, including assets, will also be considered when determining eligibility for the Pledge Scholarship.)
  • Maintain 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and federal Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Maintain required minimum eligibility for all awarded institutional, federal, and state funds
  • Maintain continuous full-time enrollment

Transfer students are also eligible for the Pledge Scholarship. Visit the transfer student scholarship page for more information.

How does this combine with other scholarships?

The Pledge Scholarship is a last-dollar award, and the amount is calculated once a recipient’s eligibility for other grants and scholarships is confirmed. A recipient can qualify for other UT-funded Scholarships such as the Volunteer, Orange & White, Flagship, and the UT Provost Scholarship. The Pledge amount will be applied after confirming eligibility for all grants and other scholarships.

Flagship Scholarship

The Flagship Scholarship is offered to admitted freshmen who graduate from one of 38 designated Flagship high schools.

When combined with the HOPE Scholarship, this scholarship covers a student’s tuition and mandatory fees* for up to eight (8) semesters.

No separate application is required for this award. It is granted automatically to students who meet all criteria.

Learn more about how to apply to UT, here

Criteria

  • Tennessee resident
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • First-time freshman student who enters UT in the fall semester immediately following graduation from a designated Tennessee Flagship high school (listed below)
  • Submission of the FAFSA by March 15, 2024 prior to enrollment.

  • Submission of admission application by the December 15 deadline

Retention Requirements

  • Submit the FAFSA annually by March 15
  • Maintain 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and federal Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Maintain continuous full-time enrollment

Transfer students are also eligible for the Flagship Scholarship. Visit the transfer student scholarship page for more information.

How does this combine with other scholarships?

Flagship Scholars may qualify for other UT Scholarships, such as the UT Volunteer, Orange & White, Pledge, Provost, or TN Connect. When two or more scholarships are combined, your award amounts may be adjusted if your combination exceeds UT’s allowable award maximums.


School City
Antioch High School Antioch
Austin-East High / Magnet Knoxville
Booker T Washington High School Memphis
Brainerd High School Chattanooga
Carver High School Memphis
Cane Ridge High School Antioch
Central High School Knoxville
Central High School Memphis
East High School Memphis
East Ridge High School Chattanooga
Fairley High School Memphis
Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School Somerville
Fulton High School Knoxville
Glencliff Comp High School Nashville
Hamilton High School Memphis
Howard School Of Academics Technology Chattanooga
Kenwood High School Clarksville
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
Northeast High School Clarksville
Oakhaven Middle/ High School Memphis
Overton High School Memphis
Pearl Cohn Magnet High School Nashville
Raleigh Egypt High School Memphis
Sheffield High School Memphis
Southwind High School Memphis
Stratford STEM Magnet High School Nashville
Trezevant High School Memphis
Tyner Academy Chattanooga
West Creek High School Clarksville
Westwood Middle/ High School Memphis
Whitehaven High School Memphis
Whites Creek Comp High School Whites Creek
Wooddale High School Memphis

 * Mandatory fees include a facilities fee, maintenance fee, library fee, student services fee, technology fee, transportation fee, etc. Mandatory fees do not include program of study fees, housing and food, room and board, book costs or other post-secondary expenses. For more on fees, visit our tuition and fees page or call us at 865-974-1111.