The 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open for all Tennessee students. Students and their families can begin applying at www.fafsa.gov.
Completing the FAFSA is the required first step to access a wide range of financial aid programs, including the Pell Grant, the Tennessee Promise scholarship, and the HOPE Scholarship. Families should have financial documents such as tax returns and W-2 forms on hand when filling out the application.
To support students and families, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) leads TN FAFSA Frenzy, a Path to College event that provides students and families with step-by-step instructions, video guides, and other free FAFSA resources available at CollegeforTN.org/FAFSA.