Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Tennessee's official program pages.
The short answer: Tennessee HOPE takes a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT, or a 3.0 weighted GPA, and either one qualifies. It pays up to $2,250 a semester for freshmen and sophomores at a four-year school and up to $2,850 for juniors and seniors. The General Assembly Merit Scholarship adds up to $500 a semester and needs both a 29 ACT or 1330 SAT and a 3.75 GPA.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee HOPE Scholarship | 1060 | 21 | 3.0 weighted (score or GPA, either one) | Four-year schools: up to $2,250 a semester in years 1 to 2, $2,850 in years 3 to 4. Two-year schools: up to $1,600 a semester |
| General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS) | 1330 | 29 | 3.75 weighted (score and GPA both required) | Up to $500 a semester on top of HOPE |
Beyond the score:
- Tennessee HOPE Scholarship: Meet the score or the GPA, and enroll at an eligible school within 16 months of high school graduation.
- General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS): Your teen must graduate from a Tennessee public school or a Category 1, 2, or 3 private school and stay HOPE eligible.
How the test score counts
Scores must come from a single national or state test date taken before the first day of college. Tennessee does not accept the ACT superscore or the ACT Residual test for HOPE or the Merit Scholarship. The essay does not count toward the score.
How the GPA is calculated
The GPA is weighted on a 4.0 scale under the state's Uniform Grading Policy, with added quality points for AP and honors courses. Homeschool GPAs are not considered. Homeschooled students qualify with a 21 ACT, or by completing two dual enrollment classes (6 or more semester hours) with a 3.0 in each and overall.
Which class year these rules cover
Tennessee's current published rules set 21 ACT, 1060 SAT, or a 3.0 GPA for HOPE, and 29 ACT or 1330 SAT plus a 3.75 GPA for the Merit Scholarship.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| FAFSA for fall semester (it serves as the HOPE and Merit Scholarship application) | September 1 |
| FAFSA for spring semester | March 1 |
| FAFSA for summer semester | May 1 |
| Enroll at an eligible school to use HOPE as an entering freshman | Within 16 months of high school graduation |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Tennessee SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
HOPE needs a 2.75 cumulative college GPA at 24 and 48 attempted hours, then a 3.0 at 72 hours and every 24 hours after that. A student between 2.75 and 2.99 can keep it semester by semester with a 3.0 semester GPA. Every attempted hour counts, including remedial courses, and a lost award can be regained one time. The Merit Scholarship continues as long as your teen stays HOPE eligible.
Where it pays
Eligible Tennessee public colleges and universities and eligible private colleges in Tennessee. Your teen must be a Tennessee resident.
The misconception: a superscore counts in Tennessee
Tennessee does not accept the ACT superscore for HOPE or the Merit Scholarship. The 21 or the 29 has to come from one test date. HOPE also needs no score at all if your teen has a 3.0 weighted GPA, so the test matters most for students below that GPA and for the Merit Scholarship.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Tennessee colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does my teen need a high SAT score to get Tennessee HOPE?
No. A 1060 SAT, a 21 ACT, or a 3.0 weighted GPA qualifies, and your teen needs only one of these.
What does it take to get the Merit Scholarship on top of HOPE?
Both a 29 ACT or 1330 SAT and a 3.75 GPA. It adds up to $500 a semester to the HOPE award.
Can my teen combine the best section scores from different ACT dates?
No. Tennessee does not accept the ACT superscore, so the composite must come from a single test date.
How much does Tennessee HOPE pay?
Up to $2,250 a semester as a freshman or sophomore and up to $2,850 as a junior or senior at a four-year school. Two-year schools pay up to $1,600 a semester. HOPE also pays for summer terms.
Does a homeschooled student need a GPA for HOPE?
No, homeschool GPAs are not considered. Homeschooled students qualify with a 21 ACT, or through two dual enrollment classes (6 or more semester hours) with a 3.0 in each and overall.
Can my teen get the Merit Scholarship without HOPE?
No. The Merit Scholarship is a supplement to HOPE, so your teen must be HOPE eligible to receive or keep it.
Sources
- College for TN: Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
- College for TN: Tennessee HOPE Scholarship FAQs
- College for TN: General Assembly Merit Scholarship
- University of Tennessee Knoxville: HOPE (Lottery) Scholarship
- UT Chattanooga: Eligibility and Maintaining TN HOPE
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the Tennessee HOPE line and the ranges at their Tennessee colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Tennessee families: Tennessee SAT prep and SAT Scores for Tennessee Colleges.