Best Scholarships in Tennessee to Apply for in 2025

Tennessee students and student debt

Each year thousands of Tennessee residents will seek out a college education; however, the high cost of tuition can deter many students from pursuing an education. For many Tennessee students, financial aid often does not cover the total cost of university attendance. Some students may turn to loans to help offset college expenses. While loans offer easy access to higher education, they leave borrowers with the heavy financial burdens of debt. In the United States, outstanding student loan debt equals a whopping $1.67 trillion.

Students in Tennessee can reduce their debt by finding scholarships. In 2020, 56.9% of Tennessee public high school graduates enrolled in a postsecondary institution. As more students make the choice to attend college, the need for scholarships has become more prevalent. Scholarship programs provide a key form of financial assistance to Tennessee college students.

Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee is home to 172 colleges and universities with a diverse set of enrolled students. A significant portion of students enroll in university part-time, ranging from 18% at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to 43% at the University of Memphis.

In total there are 338,382 undergraduate and graduate students studying in Tennessee. Of these students 58,386 are Black, 18,784 are Hispanic and 9,610 are Asian. Scholarships are an important way to further increase this diversity among Tennessee students.

Costs of higher education in Tennessee

Despite having a high school graduation rate of 87.5%, only 27.3% of Tennessee residents over 25 hold a bachelor's degree. In Tennessee, it costs the average college student $20,360. a year to enroll in school. From the 2018-19 to 2019-20 school years tuition increased 3.83%. Even when students try to save money by attending local community colleges, they pay 108.43% more in Tennessee than the national average. The rising cost of higher education acts as a barrier and prevents residents from attaining valuable degrees.

Student loans in Tennessee

Tennessee students with financial need can feel forced to resort to student loans. The average student loan debt per borrower is $28,821 in Tennessee, and 75% of Tennessee graduates had student loan debt in 2019. Student loans offer much-needed support for students as they begin their career journey, but there are other ways to make a college education affordable. There's no need to worry about being unable to afford access to higher education as many scholarship opportunities exist to provide financial aid for students.

The best Tennessee scholarships to apply for now

Bold.org features hundreds of scholarship funds for anyone from high school freshmen to recently graduated college students looking to pay off student debt. There are even exclusive Tennessee scholarships reserved specifically for Tennessee residents. Continue reading below to find exclusive scholarships for students in Tennessee.

Stephen LeCornu Routh Memorial Scholarship

The scholarship seeks to provide funding to a high school senior or undergraduate student in Tennessee who is studying to become an engineer. Students who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, leadership qualities, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to service are encouraged to apply.

Dynamic Edge Women in STEM Scholarship

As a leading IT services provider in Ann Arbor and Nashville, Dynamic Edge is also keen to support its local communities in new and innovative ways. This scholarship will support high school or undergraduate students in Tennessee and Michigan who plan to pursue STEM degrees or certifications.

Gary "G" Goldstein Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to one men's and one woman's wrestler who plans to pursue a bachelor's degree. You must be a Tennessee resident and a current high school student to apply.

Additional scholarships that students in Tennessee should consider

Students in Tennessee should also apply for other general scholarships that will award eligible students with funds to cover their college expenses. By looking at the list below and searching through Bold.org's catalog of scholarships, students can find many niche scholarships to pay for their education.

• Law Family Single Parent Scholarship
• Latinas in STEM Scholarship
• Noah Jon Markstrom Foundation Scholarship
• @ESPDaniella Debt Grant
• Larry Darnell Green Scholarship
• Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship
• Expand Your Horizons Scholarship
• Moriah Janae Dance Grant
• REVIVAL Scholarship
• Saroya Byrd Legacy Scholarship
• HSINTELLIGENCE Minority / Indigenous Nurse Leader Scholarship
• Pablo M. Ortiz Scholarship Fund
• Benoit Migambi Chronic and Neurological Diseases Scholarship
• William M. DeSantis Sr. Scholarship
• Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship
• Toluna Influencers No-Essay Scholarship
• Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship
• Suzie's Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
• Abby's First-Generation College Student Scholarship
• Grandmaster Nam K Hyong Scholarship

Scholarships for high school students in Tennessee

High school students should begin applying to scholarships early so that they can save themselves from future financial stress. Students can begin looking for scholarships even before starting the college admissions process. Listed below are 4 scholarships that are perfect for current high school students.

1. Expand Your Horizons Scholarship
2. Moriah Janae Dance Grant
3. Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship
4. Suzie's Mental Health Awareness Scholarship

Scholarships for high school seniors in Tennessee

Scholarships allow high school seniors to overcome obstacles that would have stood in the way of their education by giving them the ability to plan for their future success. As high school seniors prepare their career plans, they should apply to these scholarship programs below.

1. Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship
2. Abby's First-Generation College Student Scholarship

Scholarships for college students in Tennessee

Students currently enrolled in university coursework can find many scholarships geared towards them on bold.org. Many scholarship programs are available to specific classifications of students, like college juniors. while others are open to students of any year. Scholarships like the ones listed below can be especially helpful for financially needy undergraduate students.

1. Noah Jon Markstrom Foundation Scholarship
2. William M. DeSantis Sr. Scholarship
3. Pablo M. Ortiz Scholarship Fund
4. Toluna Influencers No-Essay Scholarship

Scholarships for graduate students in Tennessee

Students who hope to attend graduate school or are currently in graduate school can still find scholarships they are eligible for. University students can still secure scholarship awards to help pay off current and future expenses. Instead of being burdened by finances, students can set their focus on school by qualifying for scholarship awards.

1. @ESPDaniella Debt Grant
2. Benoit Migambi Chronic and Neurological Diseases Scholarship

Hispanic scholarships in Tennessee

There are many scholarships that have been established to support and uplift Hispanic and Latino students in Tennessee. It is important that traditionally underrepresented groups get the support they need to afford an education and promote diversity in higher education. Scholarships are a great way to encourage talented minority Tennesseans to not be limited by financial constraints.

1. Latinas in STEM Scholarship
2. HSINTELLIGENCE Minority / Indigenous Nurse Leader Scholarship
3. Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship
4. Grandmaster Nam K Hyong Scholarship

Scholarships for single moms in Tennessee

Being a single parent is already difficult to manage, so single moms can view attaining a college degree as unachievable. Thankfully, there are many scholarship opportunities available to single mothers that will allow them to complete their education.

1. Law Family Single Parent Scholarship
2. Larry Darnell Green Scholarship
3. REVIVAL Scholarship
4. Saroya Byrd Legacy Scholarship

Frequently asked questions about Tennessee scholarships

How can I apply for scholarships in Tennessee?

To apply for scholarships in Tennessee students need only to make a free bold.org account. After creating an account, students will search through the abundance of available scholarships or click on any of the linked scholarships above to begin the application process. Simply follow the instructions on each individual scholarship, click "Apply to scholarship," and complete the application.

Each scholarship has its own unique set of requirements. Eligible applicants should thoroughly read through a scholarship's information section before applying. The application materials themselves can also vary. Some scholarships require only a complete profile on bold.org to apply while others require multiple essays.

With the broad range of scholarships available on bold.org, students don't have to rely on federal student aid or worry about how they will pay for schooling. Scholarships offer many Tennessee students the opportunity to meet their financial needs and pursue their educational goals.

When should I start applying for scholarships in Tennessee?

There is no certain timeframe when applying for scholarships. Scholarship applications are open year-round, and there are many scholarships out there that award students of any education level. Most scholarships require that you be at least in high school, but generally, it's never too early nor too late to find scholarships you're eligible for.

Securing scholarships while still a high school student can be a great way to give your future self the time to focus on other things, but it is not necessary to your success. There are many options out there for anyone from high school seniors to college graduates.

The most important factor in determining when to apply for a scholarship program is the deadline. Students should give themselves time to create the best application they can to maximize their chances of being awarded a scholarship.

How do I know if I'm eligible for scholarships?

The eligibility requirements for a scholarship will always be clearly displayed in its description. Some scholarships are open to all students, but others have more stringent requirements. A scholarship might require an applicant to be interested in a certain career like the teaching field or to be a resident of a certain area, as is the case with Tennessee scholarships.

Before you begin a scholarship application you should always carefully read the information section to find out if you are an eligible applicant. You can improve your chances of being given a scholarship award by applying to scholarships with narrow requirements. The stricter the qualifications are, the less competition there will be.

What do I have to do to apply?

Applying to scholarships is made easy with bold.org. Students can search and apply for scholarships all within the Bold platform.

Some scholarships require essays or other submission materials to go alongside your application, but there are many no-essay scholarships that only require an applicant to select "Apply." The description of a scholarship will tell you what is needed to apply.

No-essay scholarships are the easiest to apply for but can be extremely competitive. If you have the time, it's better to apply to scholarships that require additional materials as there is a lower volume of applicants trying to win them.