Families have more time to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and remain eligible for the Tennessee Promise scholarship program. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and theTennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) extended the FAFSA deadline to Thursday, August 1.
According to THEC, the decision to extend the deadline comes amid ongoing challenges faced by students and families navigating the college application process and experiencing difficulties due to the federal implementation of the newly formatted FAFSA. This deadline extension allows students ample time to apply for essential financial aid for college and solidify their college choice for the fall.
Dr. Steven Gentile, THEC/TSAC Executive Director, acknowledged the transition to the updated process has had some hiccups. "The release of the new FAFSA has inadvertently been an obstacle to certainty around many students’ fall college decisions," he said. "Our ongoing objective is to assist students and families in completing the FAFSA before fall enrollment. This final extension will allow us to effectively utilize these funds and provide support to as many students as possible."
This decision to push the deadline is in part due to THEC/TSAC being notified of a $1 million award from the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA Student Support Strategy initiative.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools, in partnership with several organizations and post-secondary institutions, hosted a series of FAFSA workshops this spring to support families in filing the application.
“It was important for us to provide hands-on help for our future graduates. One of the toughest conversations seniors have is about money and how to pay for college. The FAFSA can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ High School Counseling Manager, Dr. Constance Certion. “I’m excited that the state of Tennessee has allowed more time for families to complete the FAFSA. We expect it to continuously improve our college-going rate (and TN Promise-eligible students) for the Class of 2024 and persistence rates for previous graduating classes.”
The Tennessee Promise scholarship program, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, offers eligible high school seniors the opportunity to obtain a technical certificate or associate degree tuition-free, paying for tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other financial aid sources.
Since 2014, Tennessee Promise has empowered more than 150,000 Tennessee students to enroll in college and to pursue their educational aspirations to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Students who wish to remain eligible for the Tennessee Promise scholarship are encouraged to complete the FAFSA online at www.studentaid.gov before the August 1 deadline. For additional information, deadlines, and more, visit www.scsk12.org/fafsa.
If you need assistance filling out the FAFSA or have questions, you can easily find support here:
- Reach out to your high school counselor, graduation coach, or college advisor
- Call the THEC/TSAC FAFSA Hotline at 1-800-342-1663
- Email [email protected]