Scholarships and Education Grants for Single Mothers in Tennessee

Where to start

Current Tennessee aid deadlines

As of October 19, 2026, the September 1 fall HOPE and Tennessee Reconnect FAFSA deadlines and the April 1 TSAA priority date have passed. TCAT fall aid and Tennessee Promise still have deadlines ahead. Check the college calendar as well as the state dates.

Federal Student Aid lists the full FAFSA deadline rules. The federal cutoff is not a promise that state or school funds remain. Ask the school which term, program, and form you need.

What each type of aid means

Federal student aid to check first

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The FAFSA is the free form for federal grants, work-study, loans, and many Tennessee and school programs. File for each year you attend. For fall 2027, use 2027–28; for fall 2026 or spring 2027, use 2026–27. Read the FAFSA instructions if you are unsure whether a parent or spouse must fill out a separate section.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is need-based aid for eligible undergraduates. Some approved short-term workforce programs may also qualify under separate rules; not every training class is eligible. The maximum for 2026–27 is $7,395. The maximum for 2027–28 has not yet been announced. Your own amount depends on federal eligibility, school costs, how much you attend, and other rules.

A Pell award shown in a portal is not always the amount left for living costs. The school first applies aid under its payment rules. Ask when funds will post and whether dropping a class could create a bill.

Work-study and federal loans

Work-study is a job, not a grant payment. Ask whether jobs are available during hours when you have child care. Federal loans must be repaid. You can accept less than the amount offered, so compare your remaining cost before borrowing.

Tennessee grants and scholarships

The Tennessee aid directory shows which aid programs require only FAFSA and which need a separate application. Use the THEC Student Portal for Reconnect, Promise and certain other awards, or to check your state aid status and college. Creating a portal account does not submit an application.

Tennessee Student Assistance Award

The TSAA grant is for financially needy Tennessee undergraduates. Applicants need a valid Student Aid Index of 5000 or less, at least half-time enrollment, an eligible Tennessee school listed first on the FAFSA, and satisfactory academic progress.

The April 1, 2026 TSAA priority deadline has passed for 2026–27. Some qualified applicants may still be considered if funds remain, but an award is not guaranteed. For 2027–28, aim to file FAFSA by April 1, 2027 and check the current state guidance.

HOPE Scholarship

The regular HOPE Scholarship mainly serves eligible recent Tennessee high school graduates. Common entry paths include a 21 ACT or a 3.0 high school GPA, with special rules for home-school and equivalency graduates.

At four-year schools and certain two-year schools with campus housing, HOPE can pay up to $2,250 per full-time semester in the first two years and $2,850 in later years. At other two-year schools, the lower-level award can be up to $1,600. The fall 2026 FAFSA deadline passed September 1; spring 2027 uses March 1. Ask the aid office about GPA benchmarks, required credits, and eligibility exceptions.

Aspire Award for eligible HOPE students

The Aspire Award may add up to $750 per semester at four-year schools or $250 at two-year schools for students who qualify for HOPE and meet the $36,000 adjusted gross income test. It is not a separate grant for all single parents. Ask the school to check it when you file the FAFSA.

Aid for adult and returning students

Nontraditional HOPE

The Nontraditional HOPE program is for FAFSA-independent Tennessee students enrolled in eligible bachelor’s programs. The official rules list adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less and a minimum 2.75 college GPA after 12 attempted semester hours.

The award can be up to $2,250 per full-time semester at the lower level and $2,850 at the upper level. The fall 2026 FAFSA deadline passed September 1; the spring 2027 deadline is March 1, and the summer deadline is May 1. The 2.75 GPA rule applies at the stated attempted-hour checkpoint and later renewal rules differ.

Tennessee Reconnect

The Tennessee Reconnect Grant is a last-dollar program for people who are FAFSA-independent or at least age 23 by January 1 of the first academic year. Applicants cannot already have an associate degree or higher.

Students generally need at least six credit hours in an eligible certificate or associate program, a 2.0 yearly GPA, a college-success program, and fall/spring enrollment. The separate Reconnect application may be submitted by June 30 of the academic year, but that does not extend the FAFSA term deadline. Fall 2026 FAFSA was due September 1; spring 2027 is March 1; summer is May 1. Ask the college if your late fall application can be considered for a later term.

TCAT Reconnect

The TCAT Reconnect Grant is for FAFSA-independent Tennessee residents in full-time certificate or diploma programs at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology. It pays remaining eligible tuition and mandatory fees after other gift aid.

The FAFSA deadlines are November 1, 2026 for fall; March 1, 2027 for winter/spring; and June 30 for summer. The grant ends after the student earns a certificate or diploma. Ask your TCAT what qualifies as full-time attendance.

Wilder-Naifeh Grant

provides $2,000 per academic year for eligible TCAT certificate or diploma students. Tennessee residency, progress, and continuous enrollment rules apply. For fall 2026, the FAFSA deadline is November 1; winter/spring is March 1 and summer is June 30.

Help for young mothers finishing high school

The Tennessee Promise program is a last-dollar scholarship, mentoring, and community-service program for eligible high school students. For the class of 2027, the application is open now and closes November 2, 2026. The FAFSA deadline is April 1, 2027.

Students must also meet meeting, community-service, enrollment, and progress rules. Promise covers eligible tuition and mandatory fees after gift aid. It does not promise help with rent, food, gas, books, or child care.

Tennessee also has a Direct Admissions initiative for eligible class-of-2027 Tennessee Promise applicants. A letter showing schools and estimated aid is not the same as a final financial aid offer. Follow the college’s enrollment, FAFSA, and verification steps.

Workforce training help

American Job Center scholarships

The WIOA scholarship page explains that training support depends on eligibility, suitability, available funds, and whether the career is on a targeted occupation list. A career advisor reviews the plan before approval.

Do not attend class, sign a loan, or pay a school while expecting WIOA to reimburse you. Tennessee says the training plan must be signed and approved first, and payment is made by voucher rather than direct reimbursement. Use the job center locator to find a local office.

Ask about Workforce Pell rules if you want a short training program. This new Pell path covers only certain federally approved programs. It is separate from WIOA, and it is not available for every short course. Ask the school’s aid office to confirm that your exact program is eligible before you count on it.

SNAP Employment and Training

The SNAP E&T program may help people age 16 or older who receive SNAP, do not receive Families First cash assistance, and are willing and able to work after training. Services can include tuition, books, uniforms, tools, transportation, child care, job-search training, and job-retention help.

Training help is not automatic. Ask whether your county has a provider, whether your course fits the program, and what must be approved before you enroll. The Tennessee community guide can help with other local barriers.

Child care while you study

Tennessee’s child care assistance has several paths. Smart Steps may help eligible parents who work, study, or do both, with children from six weeks through kindergarten. Teen Parent Child Care and referral-based programs have different rules, so ask about those if Smart Steps does not fit.

For Smart Steps, parents generally need an average of at least 30 hours a week of work and/or undergraduate school. Graduate study may count for up to six of those hours. Income is generally capped at 85% of Tennessee state median income. A parent copay usually applies. These rules alone do not mean a child care slot is available.

Use the One DHS portal and submit proof of income, Tennessee residency, work or school, identity, and child details. The state cannot review a complete application until required records arrive. Use the Tennessee child care guide for more steps. If you are already on the waitlist, check your email closely for official messages.

Help from your school and local programs

Do not stop after the FAFSA. Ask the school about foundation scholarships, emergency grants, book vouchers, laptop loans, campus food pantries, payment plans, tutoring, and support for student parents. These programs may be small, limited, or offered only once.

If you need a high school equivalency credential or basic skills first, Tennessee’s Adult Education program offers free help with reading, math, English, digital skills, GED, and HiSET preparation.

If you plan to begin at a community college and transfer, check the Tennessee Transfer Pathway before choosing classes. A lower-cost start only works when the credits fit your future degree.

For transportation barriers, use the Tennessee transportation guide. Ask your school, local library, or phone provider about affordable phone or internet options while you study.

Documents and information to gather

Keep a folder for school aid, child care, benefits, and workforce applications. Save notices, deadlines, screenshots, and confirmation numbers, plus copies of the papers listed below.