TELS Initial Eligibility

Information is correct on October 28, 2011. Rules and Regulations are subject to change without notice. Please contact a lottery scholarship staff member for more details about the information below.

HOPE Scholarship

Award amount is $4,000 per year for full-time enrollment, and is prorated for enrollment of 6 to 11 hours. Additional amounts are available for Merit and Aspire Supplement Awards, as indicated below.

Graduate of Eligible High School (according to TSAC requirements) must have at least a 21 ACT (980 SAT) OR cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Graduate of Home School or Ineligible Tennessee High School must have at least a 21 ACT (980 SAT).

GED graduate must have at least a 525 GED AND 21 ACT (980 SAT).

Student must enroll in eligible higher education institution no later than 16 months after high school graduation, home school completion, or GED test date.

Scores for ACT or SAT tests taken on a national test date during the 16-month sit-out period will be accepted; however, the ACT or SAT must be taken before the student is enrolled at a higher education institution.

General Assembly Merit Scholarship

Award amount is $1,000 in addition to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, for a total of $5,000 per year.

Graduate of Eligible High School must have at least a 3.75 weighted high school GPA AND a 29 ACT (1280 SAT).

Graduate of Home School or Ineligible Tennessee High School must have at least a 29 ACT (1280 SAT) AND 12 hours of dual-enrollment credit with a 3.0 GPA.

GED graduates are not eligible for a Merit Supplement.

Aspire Supplement

Award amount is $1,500 in addition to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, for a total of $5500 per year.

Graduates of Eligible High School, Home School, or Ineligible High School must meet Tennessee HOPE Scholarship requirements (listed above) and the following income requirements:

• Parent(s) of dependent student must have Adjusted Gross Income of $36,000 or less on FAFSA.

• Independent student must have Adjusted Gross Income (including income of spouse, if applicable) of $36,000 or less on FAFSA.

GED graduates are not eligible for an Aspire Supplement.

HOPE Access Grant

Award amount is $2,750.
Graduate of Eligible High School must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Have at least an unweighted 2.75 GPA,

• AND Have an 18, 19, or 20 ACT (860-970 SAT),

• AND Have an Adjusted Gross Income of $36,000 or less. (See Aspire Supplement for details.)

Grant is only available for first 24 attempted hours. Student may become eligible for Tennessee HOPE Scholarship by meeting HOPE Scholarship renewal criteria after 24 attempted hours.

Home School graduates, Ineligible High School graduates, and GED applicants are not eligible for a Hope Access Grant.

Foster Care Grant

Award amount is difference between Cost of Attendance and total of all other grant and scholarship aid.

Graduates of Eligible High School, Home School, Ineligible High School, or GED must meet Tennessee HOPE Scholarship initial eligibility requirements (listed above) and the following requirements:

• A child who was in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services for at least one year since age 14. (The child may have been adopted after that time.)

• Students must submit proof of status from Department of Children's Services to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). TSAC will notify MTSU if the student is eligible for the grant.

Non-Traditional Grant

A non-traditional student may qualify for a Hope Scholarship by meeting eligibility criteria and academic requirements. The student must meet the following criteria:

• First-time freshman (with no prior college credit) for Fall 2005 or subsequent semester.

• At least 25 years old on September 1 of initial academic year of enrollment.

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $36,000 or less on the FAFSA.

• 2.75 TELS GPA after 12 TELS attempted hours.

• Meet eligibility requirements in regard to citizenship, residency, and enrollment status (all TELS requirements except those pertaining to ACT and high school GPA standards).

• Must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current year. The FAFSA must be processed every year by September 1.

A student who meets the above criteria may qualify for a Hope Scholarship of $4000 per year; award amounts are prorated for enrollment of 6 to 11 hours. According to TSAC's TELS policy, a non-traditional student is not eligible to receive a Merit Scholarship, Aspire Supplement, or Access Grant.

Questions?  Please contact us!

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