As a Big Blue Tiger, your excellence isn’t just expected—it’s celebrated through our distinguished merit scholarships. Whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state first-time freshman, transfer, or international student, you’ll find financial support and recognition aligned with your ambitions.
Explore our merit-based scholarships, discover how you can stand out, and take full advantage of the opportunities for leadership, growth and success in the “Land of Golden Sunshine.” Your story starts here. Take the first step and apply today!
To be considered for a Tennessee State University Merit Scholarship, incoming first-time freshmen, transfer, and international students beginning their collegiate journey in Fall 2026 must complete the following steps:
Submit an Application for Admission
Submit an Official High School Transcript
Submit Official ACT or SAT Scores
Once all required documents have been received, weighted GPAs and composite test scores will be reviewed to determine eligibility for merit scholarships. Students who meet the scholarship criteria and complete their admission file by the deadline will be automatically considered for an award.
Beginning December 1 , eligible students will receive scholarship notifications via email and in their Future Tiger Portal. Some scholarships may require additional materials or a separate application; details for these opportunities can be found under the “Merit Scholarships – Fall 2026” tab.
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to welcoming you into the Big Blue academic family!