Dependent Children Scholarship
Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC)
Up to full cost of attendance (need-based) for children of Tennessee law enforcement officers, firefighters or EMTs killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
- How much
- Up to the cost of attendance, based on financial need and available funds
- Who qualifies
- Dependent child of a Tennessee law enforcement officer, firefighter or EMT killed or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty
- Tennessee resident; full-time at an eligible TN college or university; FAFSA with a valid SAI by September 1.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; application, documentation and FAFSA due September 1.
- How to apply
- Submit the application in the THEC Student Portal, email documentation of the parent's death or disability to THEC.AidInfo@tn.gov, and complete the FAFSA, all by September 1
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (collegefortn.org)
The details
For Tennessee residents who are dependent children of a Tennessee law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical service technician killed or totally and permanently disabled while performing duties (TCA 49-4-704). The parent must have been a TN resident and on duty at the time. Award is based on financial need and available funds, up to the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, living expenses, books). Paid in equal installments each term for four years or the length of the program, whichever is less; a fifth year can be requested for longer programs. Requires full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress.
More money from Tennessee
- Tennessee HOPE ScholarshipUp to $2,250 per full-time semester (freshman/sophomore) and up to $2,850 per full-time semester (junior/senior) at four-year colleges; up to $1,600 per full-time semester at two-year colleges; summer included (annual maximum up to $8,550)
- Tennessee Nontraditional HOPE ScholarshipUp to $2,250 per full-time semester (freshman/sophomore) and up to $2,850 per full-time semester (junior/senior), including summers
- Ned McWherter Scholars Program$6,000 per academic year ($3,000 state + $3,000 institutional match)
- Middle College Scholarship$2,000 per semester ($4,000 per year)
- Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)Up to $4,000 per year at private four-year/two-year colleges; up to $2,000 per year at public colleges, private career schools and TCATs
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.