Ned McWherter Scholars Program
Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC)
$6,000 a year ($3,000 state + $3,000 college match) for top Tennessee high school graduates (3.75 GPA and 32 ACT / 1430 SAT) attending a Tennessee college; competitive.
- How much
- $6,000 per academic year ($3,000 state + $3,000 institutional match)
- Who qualifies
- Tennessee resident; 3.75 unweighted cumulative high school GPA; 32 ACT composite or 1430 SAT (ACT Superscore not accepted); attend an eligible TN college or university full-time within 16 months of high school graduation.
- For high school seniors, students starting college
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen
- When to apply
- Due March 1, 2027 Annual; application and attachments due March 1 of the senior year of high school.
- How to apply
- Apply in the student portal during your final year of high school
- Include an official transcript through the first semester of senior year and an official ACT/SAT score
- THEC must receive everything by March 1
- What you'll need
- state application + transcript + test scores
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (collegefortn.org)
The details
Encourages academically superior Tennessee high school graduates to attend college in Tennessee. $6,000 per academic year: $3,000 from the state and $3,000 from the college (the match can be a campus award already in the package if it has no work or service obligation). Paid in equal installments each term. Very competitive, with limited funding; renewal applicants get priority. Renewable three times (four years total) with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time attendance. Extra credit for honors/AP courses and extracurricular leadership. Usable for study abroad if certified by the eligible institution.
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
- 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
- Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant$2,000 per academic year (up to $667 per trimester)
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.