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Tennessee scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$36,710per year · 2025-2026 · ResidentNon-resident $56,170
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Tennessee is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 10 published awards, and 8 are based on those numbers.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
9 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier$18,000/year ($72,000 over four years)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier

    $18,000/year ($72,000 over four years)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    4.0+ UT Weighted Core GPA
    SAT
    1490-1600
    ACT
    34-36
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier

    How to keep it

    Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal Satisfactory Academic Progress, and full-time enrollment throughout each semester.

    Worth knowing

    The headline OOS automatic award. Apply by December 15; submit test scores by April 1 (only scores through December of senior year are considered for the 2025-26 award). Cannot be combined with the Orange & White Scholarship. Stackable with the Provost Scholarship for National Merit Finalists.

  2. Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Middle Tier$9,000/year ($36,000 over four years)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Middle Tier

    $9,000/year ($36,000 over four years)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    4.0+ UT Weighted Core GPA
    SAT
    1360-1480
    ACT
    30-33
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Middle Tier

    How to keep it

    3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal SAP, full-time enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Brings OOS direct cost to ~$24,300/year ($33,336 OOS tuition+fees minus $9,000), competitive with in-state pricing at many state flagships once room/board is added.

  3. Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier$3,000/year ($12,000 over four years)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier

    $3,000/year ($12,000 over four years)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.8+ UT Weighted Core GPA
    SAT
    1300+
    ACT
    28+
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier

    How to keep it

    3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal SAP, full-time enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Entry threshold is 28 ACT and 3.8 weighted GPA. Below that, OOS students do not qualify for the automatic Volunteer Scholarship and need to compete for institutional or departmental awards.

  4. In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier$9,000/year ($36,000 over four years; $56,400 four-year total when stacked with HOPE)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier

    $9,000/year ($36,000 over four years; $56,400 four-year total when stacked with HOPE)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.8+ UT Weighted Core GPA
    SAT
    1490-1600
    ACT
    34-36
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier

    How to keep it

    3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal SAP, full-time enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Tennessee residents at the top tier stack Volunteer + HOPE. Cannot be combined with the Orange & White Scholarship.

  5. In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Middle Tier$5,000/year ($20,000 over four years; $40,400 four-year total with HOPE)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Middle Tier

    $5,000/year ($20,000 over four years; $40,400 four-year total with HOPE)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.8+ UT Weighted Core GPA
    SAT
    1360-1480
    ACT
    30-33
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Middle Tier

    How to keep it

    3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal SAP, full-time enrollment.

  6. In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier$3,000/year ($12,000 over four years; $32,400 four-year total with HOPE)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier

    $3,000/year ($12,000 over four years; $32,400 four-year total with HOPE)

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.8+ UT Weighted Core GPA
    SAT
    1300-1350
    ACT
    28-29
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for In-State Volunteer Scholarship — Entry Tier

    How to keep it

    3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal SAP, full-time enrollment.

  7. UT Promise Scholarship (Tennessee residents)Tuition and mandatory fees for up to 8 semesters (last-dollar award after HOPE and federal Pell)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    UT Promise Scholarship (Tennessee residents)

    Tuition and mandatory fees for up to 8 semesters (last-dollar award after HOPE and federal Pell)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for UT Promise Scholarship (Tennessee residents)

    Who qualifies

    First-year, transfer, current, or non-traditional Tennessee resident receiving the HOPE Scholarship. Family adjusted gross income at or below $75,000 (per UT's published Promise Program threshold). FAFSA required by UT Priority Filing Date.

    How to keep it

    Maintain federal Satisfactory Academic Progress and submit FAFSA annually by the UT Priority Filing Date. Available for first-year, transfer, current, and non-traditional students receiving the HOPE Scholarship.

    Worth knowing

    Last-dollar award: pays the gap between HOPE/Pell and full tuition+fees. Stacks with the Volunteer Scholarship and other aid up to the COA cap. Combined with HOPE, UT Promise effectively zeros out tuition and fees for qualifying Tennessee residents.

  8. Tennessee Pledge ScholarshipTuition, mandatory fees, average on-campus housing and food for up to 8 semestersNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Tennessee Pledge Scholarship

    Tuition, mandatory fees, average on-campus housing and food for up to 8 semesters

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Tennessee Pledge Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    First-time, first-year, current, or transfer Tennessee resident. Demonstrated low income (typically Pell-eligible or below). Apply for admission by December 15.

    How to keep it

    Federal SAP, full-time enrollment, FAFSA by UT Priority Filing Date annually.

    Worth knowing

    The richest in-state package at UT: covers full direct billable costs (tuition + fees + housing + food). Targets the lowest-income Tennessee residents. Pledge + Volunteer + HOPE can stack subject to COA cap.

  9. Flagship ScholarshipTuition and mandatory fees for up to 8 semesters when combined with HOPEAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Flagship Scholarship

    Tuition and mandatory fees for up to 8 semesters when combined with HOPE

    Variable or qualified amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Flagship Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Tennessee resident graduating from one of 52 designated Flagship high schools across Tennessee. First-time, first-year student. Apply by December 15. No separate application required; granted automatically to students who meet all criteria.

    How to keep it

    FAFSA by UT Priority Filing Date, federal SAP.

    Worth knowing

    Geography-targeted access program. The 52 designated Flagship high schools were selected using criteria prioritizing Economically Disadvantaged regions and rural counties. Cannot combine with the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship.

  10. Provost Scholarship (National Merit and National Achievement Finalists)$2,000/year in combination with the National Merit ScholarshipAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Provost Scholarship (National Merit and National Achievement Finalists)

    $2,000/year in combination with the National Merit Scholarship

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Provost Scholarship (National Merit and National Achievement Finalists)

    Who qualifies

    National Merit Finalist or National Achievement Finalist. List UT as your first college choice with the National Merit Corporation. Apply by December 15. Available to first-year in-state and out-of-state students.

    How to keep it

    Maintain academic progress and full-time enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Volunteer Scholarship and any in-state Tri-Star awards. Modest dollar amount; UT's NMF package is not as aggressive as Alabama's or Florida State's, but it's stackable.

Lights up against Tennessee's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office.

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The fine print

Cutoff cliffOne ACT point can move the award by +$6,000/yr ($9,000 Middle − $3,000 Entry)

Tennessee publishes a tier ladder where crossing OOS · 28 → 30 ACT (and 3.8 → 4.0+ weighted core GPA) changes the marginal value by +$6,000/yr ($9,000 Middle − $3,000 Entry). Requires both the score jump and the move to a 4.0+ weighted core GPA; the 30 ACT alone does not clear it.

Renewal ruleOut-of-State Volunteer Scholarship — Top Tier: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA at UT, federal Satisfactory Academic Progress, and full-time enrollment throughout each semester. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Aid capHard $56,170 cost-of-attendance ceiling

Institutional aid at Tennessee cannot push the package past $56,170. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

What makes Tennessee different

Tennessee's flagship publishes one of the cleanest automatic merit tables in the SEC: the Volunteer Scholarship pays $3,000-$18,000/year for OOS students at published GPA/test bands, layered on top of a Tri-Star program (UT Promise, Pledge, Flagship) that drives net cost to zero for many qualifying Tennessee residents.

Read our full reasoning

Worth optimizing for if your student is high-stat out-of-state. For lower-income Tennessee residents, the gap-filling Tri-Star programs matter more than test prep.

Tennessee's published merit is built for out-of-state applicants. The automatic out-of-state Volunteer Scholarship runs $3,000 (28 ACT, 3.8 weighted core GPA), to $9,000 (30-33 ACT, 4.0+ weighted core GPA), to $18,000 (34 ACT, 4.0+ weighted core GPA). Note the GPA jump: the $3,000 entry tier accepts a 3.8, but both the $9,000 and $18,000 OOS tiers require a 4.0+ weighted core GPA, so a 30 ACT alone does not unlock $9,000. The biggest single dollar move is at the top, where the OOS award jumps from $9,000 to $18,000 — a +$9,000/year step for going 33 to 34 ACT, the largest step in the OOS ladder. The entry floor is hard: below 28 ACT and 3.8 GPA, OOS students get no automatic Volunteer award. Watch two deadlines: apply by December 15 and submit scores by April 1. Stacking is COA-capped to the $56,170 OOS cost of attendance; UT does not publish the order in which outside scholarships reduce other aid, so confirm treatment with One Stop. Volunteer cannot combine with Orange & White.

Merit tiers108 based on grades or scores
First-year students with school awards44%First-year students, CDS 2024-2025
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Tennessee's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

What families often miss

  1. UT's automatic Volunteer Scholarship requires admission by December 15 AND test scores received by UT by April 1 (only scores through December of senior year for the 2025-26 award). Late admission applicants are not retroactively reviewed for the Volunteer Scholarship, regardless of academic profile. Late test score submissions result in placement at the score band UT had on file by April 1; a December retake won't bump you up a tier if it arrives in May.

  2. UT's Volunteer Scholarship explicitly cannot combine with the Orange & White Scholarship. Students who think they're stacking both will see the smaller award absorbed. Confirm with One Stop after admission which award you're receiving.

  3. UT Promise, Tennessee Pledge, and Flagship Scholarship all require FAFSA submission by the UT Priority Filing Date, typically March 15 for the upcoming academic year. Residents who only complete the admissions application miss out on the Tri-Star program even when academically qualified. HOPE Scholarship is administered through the state and requires the FAFSA or the Tennessee Application for Educational Assistance.

  4. The Volunteer Scholarship, UT Promise, Tennessee Pledge, and Flagship Scholarship are UT-Knoxville-specific. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC), Martin (UTM), and Health Science Center each administer separate aid programs. Apply to the right campus with the right scholarship application; the awards do not transfer.

  5. UT does not publish an OOS merit award below the entry tier (3.8 GPA, 28 ACT). OOS applicants below those thresholds rely on the competitive Provost Scholarship (NMF only) or departmental awards available after enrollment. For OOS families needing automatic merit at lower stat bands, Alabama (25 ACT entry) and Mississippi State are more accessible options.

See award cutoffs and special programs

What your stats actually buy at Tennessee

Out-of-state and in-state Volunteer Scholarships are fully automatic on GPA and test score — no separate application. Every figure below is a named tier's own published dollar value. Note the OOS GPA floor: the $9,000 and $18,000 OOS tiers both require a 4.0+ weighted core GPA; only the $3,000 entry tier accepts a 3.8.

Student profileLikely outcome
OOS · 3.8 GPA · 28 ACT (1300 SAT)OOS Volunteer Entry — $3,000/yrThe OOS floor. Below 28 ACT / 3.8 GPA, there is no automatic Volunteer award.
In-state · 3.8 GPA · 28-29 ACTIn-State Volunteer Entry — $3,000/yrStacks with HOPE for a $32,400 four-year total per UT's figures.
In-state · 3.8 GPA · 30-33 ACTIn-State Volunteer Middle — $5,000/yr$40,400 four-year total with HOPE.
OOS · 4.0+ weighted core GPA · 30-33 ACT (1360-1480 SAT)OOS Volunteer Middle — $9,000/yrRequires a 4.0+ weighted core GPA, not just the score. Brings OOS direct cost to ~$24,300/yr, near in-state pricing at many flagships.
In-state · 3.8 GPA · 34-36 ACTIn-State Volunteer Top — $9,000/yr$56,400 four-year total when stacked with HOPE.
OOS · 4.0+ weighted core GPA · 34-36 ACT (1490-1600 SAT)OOS Volunteer Top — $18,000/yrThe largest of the stat-based automatic awards. Stackable with the $2,000 Provost award for National Merit Finalists; cannot combine with Orange & White. Need-based Tri-Star awards (Pledge, Promise) can be larger in total but are not stat-automatic.

The dollar cliffs worth a retake

Each marginal value is the arithmetic difference between two named Volunteer tiers. Tiers are automatic, so a score that clears a band is locked dollars for four years — but the OOS Middle and Top tiers also require a 4.0+ weighted core GPA, not just the score.

ThresholdMarginal value
OOS · 28 → 30 ACT (and 3.8 → 4.0+ weighted core GPA)+$6,000/yr ($9,000 Middle − $3,000 Entry)Requires both the score jump and the move to a 4.0+ weighted core GPA; the 30 ACT alone does not clear it.
OOS · 33 → 34 ACT (at a 4.0+ weighted core GPA)+$9,000/yr ($18,000 Top − $9,000 Middle)Highest-value test-prep target at Tennessee; largest single step in the OOS ladder. Both tiers require a 4.0+ weighted core GPA.
In-state · 29 → 30 ACT+$2,000/yr ($5,000 Middle − $3,000 Entry)Small step; in-state value is modest before HOPE stacking.
In-state · 33 → 34 ACT+$4,000/yr ($9,000 Top − $5,000 Middle)Largest in-state Volunteer step.
See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Two clean profiles: (1) Tennessee residents with a 3.0+ HOPE GPA, where UT Promise covers tuition+fees beyond HOPE for families under $75K AGI, and Tennessee Pledge covers tuition+fees+housing+food for low-income Tennessee residents. (2) Out-of-state students with a 3.8+ Weighted Core GPA and 28+ ACT, where the OOS Volunteer Scholarship is automatic on stats and pays up to $72,000 over four years for top tier. Hard pass for OOS families needing automatic merit but below the 28 ACT / 3.8 GPA bar.

Cost of attendance$36,710–$56,170 for 2025-2026Each bar is the full published cost for that scenario, sized against the highest figure so totals compare at a glance.
Out-of-state, on-campus$56,170
In-state, on-campus$36,710
  • Tuition & fees
  • Housing & food
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Personal
  • Loan fees

Out-of-state on-campus cost of attendance for 2025-2026 ($30,704 tuition + $2,632 fees + $9,572 housing + $5,166 food + $1,598 books + $3,364 transportation + $3,042 personal + $92 loan fees = $56,170). In-state on-campus total is $36,710 with the same housing/food but $11,560 in-state tuition + $2,316 fees.

Tennessee cost-of-attendance source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Tennessee, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Tennessee, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$10,029
$30,001–$48,000$12,162
$48,001–$75,000$18,206
$75,001–$110,000$23,627
$110,001+$25,688
All income levels (average)$18,976

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$13,812
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$33,256
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$18,976

That works out to roughly a 44% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $33,678 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Tennessee is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
74%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
92%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$20,500 (~$217/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$60,249
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
16%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
28%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

UT Knoxville stacks state HOPE + Tri-Star (UT Promise, Pledge, Flagship) + institutional Volunteer/Provost + outside scholarships up to the cost of attendance and UT-specified award maximums. Volunteer + Orange & White cannot combine; most other awards can stack subject to the COA cap.

Per UT's Volunteer Scholarship page: 'If your combination exceeds UT's allowable award maximums, your award amounts may be adjusted.' Outside scholarships are reported through the One Stop Student Services office. Tennessee's HOPE (state lottery scholarship) is administered separately and pays at a state-set per-credit-hour rate; UT applies institutional awards on top of HOPE up to the COA cap. UT Promise is explicitly last-dollar: it fills the gap between HOPE/Pell and tuition+fees. The Flagship Scholarship is also designed to fill gaps when combined with HOPE. Outside scholarships first reduce loans/Work-Study; institutional merit is generally protected.

Source

More school data

From the Tennessee Common Data Set 2024-2025:

Merit penetrationHow likely is merit aid here?From Tennessee’s Common Data Set: the share of first-year students who receive institutional merit and the average dollar amount when they do.
44%of admitsget merit
Average award$5,871Covers ~10% of $56,170 cost of attendance

At Tennessee, roughly 1 in 2 first-year admits receive institutional merit aid. The average award is $5,871 — about 10% of total cost.

As filed in Tennessee's CDS Section H2A: of 6,778 first-time, full-time degree-seeking freshmen, 2,979 had no financial need and received institutional merit (non-need) scholarship or grant aid, averaging $5,871. Across all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates: 9,812 of 29,400, averaging $6,419. Athletic awards are excluded per the CDS definition.

Test-score figures below come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

Where you standACT composite landscapeThe mid-50% admit band shows where most admitted students score. The merit zone shows the score range that qualifies for at least one automatic merit tier.

Merit starts at ACT 28+, inside the 26–32 admit band. A typical admit already qualifies for at least entry-tier merit.

SAT mid-50%1230–138025th / 75th percentile, Common Data Set 2024-2025
ACT mid-50%26–3225th / 75th percentile, Common Data Set 2024-2025
Receive institutional merit44%First-year students, Common Data Set 2024-2025
Average merit award$5,871Across recipients, Common Data Set 2024-2025

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025 (verified 2026-07-23)

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025 (test scores)

Other Tennessee scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountTuition and mandatory fees, renewable for four yearsEligibilityOne in-state student per Tennessee county selected each year. Cannot combine with the Flagship Scholarship.

Niche but rich for one student per county per year. The county-specific selection means students from less competitive counties have a meaningful path to a tuition-and-fees package without competing with the entire state.

Source

AmountVariable — combines UT Promise + Tennessee Pledge + Flagship Scholarship under one in-state programEligibilityTennessee residents. Specific eligibility varies by sub-program.

The Tri-Star umbrella is UT's branding for its three combined in-state scholarships. Most Tennessee residents will receive at most one of the three; the program is designed so that the most needy/qualifying student in any given band gets the right tier.

Source

AmountVariable institutional aid; targets first-time-in-college Tennessee residentsEligibilityTennessee residents with demonstrated need or specific academic profile. Selection through the standard FAFSA + admissions application process.

Source

AmountVariable; supports international experiences during enrollmentEligibilityContinuing UT students participating in study abroad or international exchange programs.

Continuing-student award. Applicants compete each year through the Center for Global Engagement.

Source

AmountVariable; multiple awards per year per collegeEligibilityDeclared business or engineering majors. Most awards become available after the first year.

UT's two largest professional colleges have substantial donor scholarship pipelines. Apply through Vol Connect and the college's specific scholarship application after declaring a major.

Source

Tennessee merit aid FAQ

  • Are UT Knoxville Volunteer Scholarships truly automatic on stats?

    Yes. The Volunteer Scholarship (in-state and OOS) is automatic for admitted students who meet the published GPA + test score table by the December 15 admissions deadline and the April 1 test score deadline. There is no separate scholarship application. Recipients are notified with their initial financial aid offer.

  • What is the OOS Volunteer Scholarship worth at the top tier?

    $18,000/year ($72,000 over four years) for OOS first-year students with a 4.0+ UT Weighted Core GPA and a 34-36 ACT or 1490-1600 SAT. With a $33,336 OOS tuition+fees ceiling, the top-tier Volunteer brings net direct cost to ~$15,300/year before housing and food, competitive with many in-state SEC peer prices.

  • Can Florida or Georgia residents stack their state lottery scholarship with the Volunteer Scholarship at UT?

    No. Bright Futures (Florida) and HOPE (Georgia) are usable only at in-state public institutions. Out-of-state Florida residents and Georgia residents enrolling at UT receive the OOS Volunteer Scholarship but lose state lottery aid, which would have applied at FSU or UGA respectively. Run the math both ways before deciding.

  • What is Tennessee Promise vs. UT Promise?

    Tennessee Promise is a state-funded last-dollar scholarship for two-year community and technical colleges in Tennessee. UT Promise is a UT Knoxville institutional scholarship for HOPE-eligible Tennessee residents at the four-year flagship. The names are similar by design (both targeting Tennessee residents) but the programs cover different schools and have different eligibility.

  • Does UT honor National Merit Finalists?

    Yes, but modestly. The Provost Scholarship pays $2,000/year for NMFs who name UT as first choice with the National Merit Corporation. UT's NMF package is not as aggressive as Alabama's, Florida State's, or Oklahoma's. NMFs at UT typically also receive the top-tier Volunteer Scholarship, so the combined OOS package can reach $20,000/year before need-based aid.

See sources and other schools

How Tennessee compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    Tennessee is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Tennessee is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

  • 63 of 749 verified schools publish a marginal-value cliff table we can quantify.

    Tennessee is one of them. Most schools won't tell families what one ACT point is actually worth. At the schools that do, a strategic retake is sometimes mathematically more valuable than test-optional positioning.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Tennessee’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

How Tennessee compares

Families looking at Tennessee typically also evaluate four overlapping options:

  • Alabama's automatic OOS merit ladder. Alabama's OOS merit table starts at a 25 ACT and 3.5 GPA; UT Knoxville's bar is higher (28 ACT, 3.8 GPA minimum). Alabama is the better play for OOS students in the 25-27 ACT band; Tennessee wins for the 30-36 ACT band where its $9,000-$18,000/yr Volunteer awards are competitive.
  • Kentucky's Singletary and Presidential tiers. Kentucky's structure is essay-and-stats hybrid; Tennessee's is purely automatic for the Volunteer Scholarship. Kentucky pays more for strong writers; Tennessee is more predictable for stat-driven OOS applicants.
  • Auburn merit aid. Auburn's OOS ladder ($7,000-$17,000/yr) is roughly comparable to Tennessee's at the top tier. Auburn is the SEC peer for an OOS student choosing between similar football schools; the deciding factor is usually fit, not aid economics.
  • Ole Miss 1848 Award. Ole Miss eliminates non-resident fees at a 32 ACT / 3.75 GPA, a higher bar but a more aggressive OOS price than Tennessee's $9,000-$18,000/yr awards. Ole Miss wins for high-stat OOS applicants who want lowest possible OOS net cost; Tennessee wins on academic reputation and SEC East scheduling.
  • Georgia merit aid. UGA's HOPE/Zell Miller framework is a separate state lottery program for Georgia residents. Tennessee's HOPE is similar in structure but smaller dollar amounts. For Georgia residents specifically, UGA's Foundation Fellows and the much larger Zell Miller pool beats Tennessee's OOS Volunteer Scholarship.
Want a side-by-side comparison? Get my playbook and we’ll compare likely costs across Tennessee and any peers you want to evaluate.

Keep exploring Tennessee merit aid

The next chapter

Where does Tennessee fit in your plan?

You have the school’s rules. Now put them in the context of your student and the rest of your list.

  1. Check your student’s numbers, free
  2. Explore another school
  3. See how the research becomes a plan

Ready to work through your whole list? Get my playbook

Inside the sample

Jordan’s playbook

Same student.
Four schools.
Four very different bills.

An illustrative student profile, with a school order, scholarship research and a to-do list. Open the sample to see how it works.

Open the sample playbook