Tennessee Kicks Off College Application & Exploration Month
Students encouraged to apply for TN Promise and take advantage of free resources, application fee waivers, & more.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) is encouraging high school seniors to take a key step in September by applying for the Tennessee Promise scholarship during TN College Application & Exploration Month.
All month long, Tennessee schools will be celebrating TN College Application & Exploration Month, a statewide initiative that builds excitement and knowledge around the college-going process. Getting started early gives students a critical boost toward their college and career goals.
Apply Now for Tennessee Promise
The deadline to apply for Tennessee Promise is November 3, 2025—but students should not wait. Applying in September ensures students secure early access to tuition-free opportunities at colleges and technical institutions across the state.
Students may use the Tennessee Promise scholarship at any of Tennessee’s 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, and other eligible four-year public and private institutions offering associate degree programs. Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, covering tuition and mandatory fees not already paid by the Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship, or Tennessee Student Assistance Award.
Applying for Tennessee Promise is simple. Students and families just need to create a TSAC Student Portal account at CollegeforTN.org to get started.
To learn more about Tennessee Promise, visit CollegeforTN.org/tnpromise.
Explore, Apply, Succeed with CollegeforTN Resources
During TN College Application & Exploration Month, students and families are encouraged to use the TN College Application Fee Waiver Video Toolkit, which provides step-by-step guidance and helps Tennessee high school seniors take advantage of free in-state college applications.
The new TN College Application Fee Waiver Toolkit brings together application links and fee waiver information for 40 participating universities and colleges this year in one easy-to-use document.
Families, students, and school staff can access that toolkit here: Fee Waiver Toolkit PDF.
All Grades & Community Encouraged to Participate
TN College Application & Exploration Month isn’t just for high school seniors. Students at every grade level can begin building excitement for their future.
The full suite of Next Guides available on CollegeForTN.org offers age-appropriate resources for every grade level, making college and career exploration both accessible and exciting for students.
Elementary guides use fun activities to spark curiosity while introducing career paths and clusters. The middle school guides help students discover their strengths and begin preparing for high school. High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors each have a guide tailored for exploring majors, comparing college options, or mapping out a course plan that keeps them on track for their future goals.
Information about Tennessee’s College Application & Exploration Month will be provided to all public high schools and made available through school counselors.
Additional resources, including webinars, videos, flyers, posters, and more are accessible on CollegeForTN.org to support schools, students and families.
THEC Media Contact
Jessie Greene
Director of Communications
Jessie.Greene@tn.gov
615-519-7730
About CollegeforTN
CollegeforTN is Tennessee’s statewide college access and financial aid platform, working to simplify the path to higher education for students and families. They offer free tools and guidance tailored to TN Promise, the FAFSA, admissions, and career planning. Have questions about College Application and Exploration Month? Email collegefor.TN@tn.govAbout the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
About the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly. The Commission develops, implements, evaluates postsecondary education policies and programs in Tennessee while coordinating the state’s systems of higher education, and is relentlessly focused on increasing the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential.
