Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant
Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation (THEC/TSAC)
$2,000 a year for any Tennessee resident in a certificate or diploma program at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT).
- How much
- $2,000 per academic year (up to $667 per trimester)
- Who qualifies
- Tennessee resident (TBR policy); enrolled in a certificate or diploma program at a TCAT with satisfactory academic progress and continuous enrollment; not a prior Wilder-Naifeh recipient.
- For trade school students, students starting college, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time FAFSA-driven; trimester deadlines June 30 (summer), November 1 (fall), March 1 (winter/spring).
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA by the trimester deadline, listing your TCAT
- No separate application
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (collegefortn.org) and page 2
The details
Lottery-funded grant for students in a certificate or diploma program at a TCAT. Annual award: $2,000 per academic year (THEC's brochure: up to $667 per trimester). No academic or income requirement beyond TCAT admission. Students cannot have received Wilder-Naifeh before; prior HOPE recipients may qualify. Ends when the student earns a certificate or diploma. Recipients who complete a TCAT diploma of at least 900 clock hours may later qualify for HOPE at a two- or four-year college if they enroll within three years.
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.