Could you attend MTSU tuition-free?
Yes! If you are a first-time freshman paying in-state tuition and attending full-time,
you could attend tuition free if you are a recipient of the Tennessee Education Lottery (HOPE) Scholarship and
the maximum federal Pell Grant. That’s right, you could have no out-of-pocket costs
for tuition and fees, and no student loans required!
With the lowest tuition and greatest value of the state’s three major comprehensive
universities, tuition and fees at MTSU can be covered by federal aid and other scholarships
for students who fall within the income and academic criteria set by the state and
federal governments.
Getting the help you need
Our Enrollment Coordinators in the MT One Stop can work with you to make sure you
are connected with the appropriate aid and scholarship offerings based upon your eligibility.
Federal Pell Grants are based upon EFC, while the HOPE Scholarship is based upon academic
criteria. You can find out more about the specifics on eligibility for both of these
programs at the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) lower on this webpage.
Also, for incoming freshmen for the Fall 2022 semester, MTSU has three additional
options for guaranteed academic scholarships. These awards require a minimum high
school GPA of 3.5 for first-time freshmen and an ACT of 23 or higher and you must
apply by August 1, 2022, to be eligible. You can also learn more about these scholarships
in the FAQs below.
There are multiple potential ways to cover your costs at MTSU! If you have questions
about how MT Tuition Free might work for you, contact us at the MT One Stop. We’ll
work with you to determine which routes could be available to reduce your tuition
and fees bill to $0 – and maybe even leave you with some extra money to help cover
expenses like Housing, meal plans, and books.
See the charts below for options that could work for you!
Fall 2022 & Spring 2023: Pell Grant and HOPE Scholarship Only
First-time freshmen and transfer students |
MTSU Tuition and Fees (15 hours per semester) |
$9,592 |
Pell Grant (Full) |
- $6,895 |
HOPE Lottery Scholarship |
- $4,500 |
Balance in student account |
+$1,803* |
*Positive balance can be applied to other university services such as Housing and meal
plans. Amount listed would be split between fall and spring semesters.
Fall 2022 & Spring 2023: Pell Grant, Hope Scholarship, and MTSU Academic Scholarships
Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 first-time freshmen who did not apply before Dec. 1, 2021 High School GPA of 3.5 and ACT 23-24 Must apply by Aug. 1, 2022
|
Tuition and Fees (15 hours per semester) |
$9,592 |
Pell Grant (Full) |
- $6,895 |
HOPE Lottery Scholarship |
- $4,500 |
MTSU Future Alumni Scholarship |
- $1,000 |
Balance in student account |
+$2,803* |
Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 first-time freshmen who did not apply before Dec. 1, 2021 High School GPA of 3.5 and ACT 25-29 Must apply by Aug. 1, 2022
|
Tuition and Fees (15 hours per semester) |
$9,592 |
Pell Grant (Full) |
- $6,895 |
HOPE Lottery Scholarship |
- $4,500 |
MTSU Blue Raider Scholarship |
- $2,000 |
Balance in student account |
+$3,803* |
Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 first-time freshmen who did not apply before Dec. 1, 2021 High School GPA of 3.5 and ACT 30-36 Must apply by Aug. 1, 2022
|
Tuition and Fees (15 hours per semester) |
$9,592 |
Pell Grant (Full) |
- $6,895 |
HOPE Lottery Scholarship |
- $4,500 |
Lightning Scholarship |
- $3,000 |
Balance in student account |
+$4,803*
|
*Positive balance can be applied to other university services such as Housing and meal
plans. Amount listed would be split between fall and spring semesters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out if I’m eligible to be tuition-free at MTSU?
To be eligible to attend MTSU without paying out-of-pocket for tuition and fees, students
must complete the FAFSA, must receive the full Federal Pell Grant, and must qualify
for the Tennessee HOPE scholarship (or Tennessee HOPE scholarship-nontraditional).
How is the Pell Grant awarded?
A Federal Pell Grant is funded by the government and does not have to be repaid. The
Federal Pell Grant may only be awarded to undergraduate, degree-seeking students who
have not already obtained a bachelor's degree. A student may not receive Federal Pell
Grant funds from more than one school at a time. Award amounts vary based on a student’s
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) resulting from the FAFSA and the student’s enrollment
status. Awards will be adjusted if the student is not enrolled full-time (12 or more
credit hours). The Federal Pell Grant may be available in the summer semester. Eligible
students may receive the Federal Pell Grant until the completion of the bachelor’s
degree OR until the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters of the grant.
How is the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship awarded?
Funded by the proceeds of the Tennessee Lottery, the HOPE Scholarship is available
to incoming freshmen who graduate from an eligible state high school. They must also
meet the following criteria:
- Enroll within 16 months of high school graduation
- And meet one of the following:
- Minimum 21 ACT; or minimum 1060 SAT; or Overall minimum 3.0 GPA
- Homeschool graduates- minimum 21 ACT
- GED recipients- minimum 21 ACT; minimum average Revised GED score is 170
- HiSet recipients- minimum 21 ACT; minimum average HiSet score is 15
In-state students who qualify for the nontraditional HOPE scholarship must have a
student and spouse’s adjusted gross income under $36,000 but a total family household
income under $50,000. Nontraditional students must meet the following criteria to
be eligible for nontraditional HOPE:
- Be at least 25 years of age and enroll at a baccalaureate program as entering freshmen
or with at least two years after last attending any postsecondary institution; OR
Must enroll in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible 4-year institution while
maintaining continuous enrollment following the completion of an Associate Degree
as a TN Reconnect recipient.
- Must have a student and spouse’s adjusted gross income of less than $36,000 on IRS
tax form
- Have a minimum 2.75 GPA after 12 attempted semester hours
In-state transfer students can use their existing HOPE Scholarships at MTSU. To be
considered, they must:
- Send all prior college final transcripts to MTSU to be reviewed prior to HOPE Scholarship
payment to student.
- Confirm that MTSU is listed as their institution of preference on the TSAC student portal for the academic year they are transferring to MTSU.
Am I eligible for other scholarships if I am part of this program?
Yes. Qualifying students are also eligible to receive other scholarship awards, including
MTSU’s guaranteed academic scholarships. These awards require a minimum GPA of 3.5 for
freshmen and a 3.0 with 60 credit hours earned for a new transfer student. Scholarship amounts for
freshmen vary by ACT performance. The application deadline for our freshmen guaranteed
scholarships is December 1, prior to the fall in which you will be attending. Transfer
students must apply by February 15 prior to the fall in which you will be attending. This year, there is an additional
group of these scholarships still available for incoming freshmen for the Fall 2022
class! Click here for more information.
Still have questions? The MT OneStop is here to help.
Contact MT One Stop
Ready to take the next step towards becoming a Blue Raider?
Apply Now!