Tennessee Reconnect Grant
Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC)
Last-dollar grant for adults: covers tuition and mandatory fees not paid by other gift aid for a certificate or associate degree at TN community colleges, TCATs and eligible schools.
- How much
- Varies: the remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has been applied
- Who qualifies
- Tennessee resident (TBR policy); independent on the FAFSA OR at least 23 on or before January 1 of the academic year of initial enrollment; no associate or higher degree; enrolled in a Title IV-eligible certificate or associate degree program at an eligible institution, at least six credit hours; 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of each academic year; take part in a THEC college success program; continuous fall/spring enrollment.
- For adults going back to school, undergrads, students starting college, trade school students
- When to apply
- Apply any time Reconnect application by June 30 of the academic year; FAFSA by September 1 (fall), March 1 (winter/spring), May 1 (summer) each year.
- How to apply
- Submit the TN Reconnect Grant application at tnreconnect.gov by June 30 of the academic year it applies to, and file the FAFSA every year by the term deadline (Sep 1 fall, Mar 1 spring, May 1 summer)
- Reconnect Navigators can help
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (collegefortn.org), page 2 and page 3
The details
For students who are independent on the FAFSA or at least 23 by January 1 of the academic year, with no prior associate or higher degree. Last-dollar: covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other gift aid. Part-time is allowed (at least six credit hours). Requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of each academic year, continuous fall/spring enrollment, and participation in a THEC college success program. Ends when the student earns an associate degree or eligible certificate, or five years after first enrolling as a Reconnect student; may continue to an associate degree or sequential certificate when the first certificate leads directly to it.
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.