{"id":124,"date":"2024-04-26T13:16:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T13:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/?page_id=124"},"modified":"2026-08-13T11:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T16:24:06","slug":"non-traditional","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/non-traditional\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholarship Opportunities for Non-Traditional and Military Students (and families)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-block accordion expandable-group expandable-group-lightblock\" id=\"newExpandable\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingfirst-year-and-nontraditional-student-engagement\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablefirst-year-and-nontraditional-student-engagement\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablefirst-year-and-nontraditional-student-engagement\">First-Year and Nontraditional Student Engagement<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablefirst-year-and-nontraditional-student-engagement\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfirst-year-and-nontraditional-student-engagement\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First-Year and Nontraditional Student Engagement is home to several scholarships each year.&nbsp; Please see our website for the most updated information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-style-default is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-mtsublue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/fynse.mtsu.edu\/scholarships\/\" style=\"border-radius:5px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View First-Year and Nontraditional Student Engagement Scholarships<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingtennessee-education-lottery-scholarships-for-non-traditional-students\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsetennessee-education-lottery-scholarships-for-non-traditional-students\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsetennessee-education-lottery-scholarships-for-non-traditional-students\">Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships for Non-Traditional Students<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsetennessee-education-lottery-scholarships-for-non-traditional-students\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingtennessee-education-lottery-scholarships-for-non-traditional-students\" data-bs-paren=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Effective for the fall 2022 semester, students who are considered independent for financial aid purposes, per the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), may qualify for a lottery scholarship of up to $2,850.00 per semester.&nbsp; A student must meet residency, financial need, and academic requirements to qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may qualify for a Tennessee Non-Traditional HOPE Scholarship if you are able to answer YES to the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>You have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current academic year<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You are a Tennessee resident<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), including spouse\u2019s if married, is equal or less than $36,000.00<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You do NOT have a Bachelor\u2019s degree<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You have attempted at least 12 credit hours, and you have minimally maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, on coursework attempted for the fall 2022 semester or after*<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>*Per TSAC guidance, coursework earned prior to the fall 2022 semester may not be considered to establish eligibility under the \u201cnew\u201d non-traditional lottery rules that take effect for the fall 2022 semester<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To request a review of your eligibility, please complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/forms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tennessee Lottery Non-Traditional Review Form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Non-traditional Continuing Eligibility requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A student who initially qualifies for a lottery scholarship under non-traditional rules will continue to be eligible for the award as long as he or she meets continuing eligibility requirements <em><strong>and<\/strong><\/em> has an Adjusted Gross Income of $36,000 or less on the FAFSA. If a student meets all renewal criteria other than the AGI requirement, the student will not be eligible to received an award at that time but may be able to qualify in the future.<br><br>Effective starting the Fall 2021 semester, an Eligible non-traditional student shall continue receiving the HOPE Scholarship until the FIRST of the following TERMINATING events:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>The student has earned a baccalaureate degree;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Five (5) years have passed since the student enrolled in an eligible post-secondary institution as a non-traditional student<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingtn-reconnect-grant-to-non-traditional-hope-scholarship-pathway\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsetn-reconnect-grant-to-non-traditional-hope-scholarship-pathway\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsetn-reconnect-grant-to-non-traditional-hope-scholarship-pathway\">TN Reconnect Grant to Non-Traditional HOPE Scholarship Pathway<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsetn-reconnect-grant-to-non-traditional-hope-scholarship-pathway\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingtn-reconnect-grant-to-non-traditional-hope-scholarship-pathway\" data-bs-paren=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">If you are transferring to 91大神, and either received or were eligible to receive the Tennessee Reconnect Grant at your prior school, you may qualify for a lottery Scholarship of up to $2,850.00 per semester.\u00a0 A student must meet residency and academic requirements to qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may qualify for a Tennessee Non-Traditional HOPE Scholarship through the TN-Reconnect Grant Pathway if you are able to answer YES to the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>You have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current academic year<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You are a Tennessee resident<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), including spouse\u2019s if married, is equal or less than $36,000.00<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You do NOT have a Bachelor\u2019s degree<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You graduated with an Associate\u2019s degree while maintaining eligibility for the Tennessee Reconnect Grant<\/li>\n\n\n<li>You immediately enrolled or are enrolling in a Bachelor\u2019s degree program at 91大神 within one required semester of graduation with your Associate\u2019s degree (summer is not a required semester)<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To request a review of your eligibility, please complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/forms\/\">Tennessee Lottery Non-Traditional Review Form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingscholarships-for-military-students-and-families\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablescholarships-for-military-students-and-families\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablescholarships-for-military-students-and-families\">Scholarships for Military Students (and families)\u00a0<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablescholarships-for-military-students-and-families\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingscholarships-for-military-students-and-families\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Military&nbsp;Dependents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The state allows certain exceptions for military personnel and their families in regard to the lottery scholarship enrollment and residency rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dependent must be under 21 years of age<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student must have at least one parent or stepparent who must be engaged in military services, on full-time national guard duty, or actively employed by the US Department of Defense<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student must be claimed by a parent or stepparent as a dependent for federal income tax purposes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a student is qualifying based on a parent\u2019s military service, the parent \/stepparent must have Tennessee listed as a home of record at the time of entry into the military service.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For students who graduated from a state high school other than Tennessee, the high school must be regionally accredited by the appropriate agency for the applicable state<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For students who graduated from a high school in another country, the high school must be regionally accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the applicable country<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Students may qualify by graduating from a homeschool or qualify through GED requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Students must be otherwise eligible for a lottery scholarship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Documentation will be required for each student<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Military Students<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A student may be eligible if he or she graduated from a Tennessee High School and was initially eligible for the lottery upon graduation, but joined the military immediately upon graduation.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who withdraws mid-semester or does not enroll for a required semester due to active military service may appeal cancellation of their scholarship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who attends an out-of-state college due to military mobilization must reenroll at an eligible institution within one year following mobilization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who entered active duty within two years after high school graduation may be eligible for TELS. The student must be otherwise eligible, apart from the specified exception, and must provide documentation of the military service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student may be eligible if he or she graduated from a Tennessee High School and was initially eligible for the lottery upon graduation, but joined the military immediately upon graduation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who withdraws mid-semester or does not enroll for a required semester due to active military service may appeal cancellation of their scholarship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who attends an out-of-state college due to military mobilization must reenroll at an eligible institution within one year following mobilization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who entered active duty within two years after high school graduation may be eligible for TELS. The student must be otherwise eligible, apart from the specified exception, and must provide documentation of the military service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helping Heroes Grant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small grant is awarded by the state of Tennessee to veterans who have been awarded an Iraq Campaign Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (on or after 9\/11\/01) and who meet certain other requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The award amount is $1,000 per semester for students enrolled in 12 or more hours. The award amount is $500 per semester for students enrolled in 6 &#8211; 11 hours. Students enrolled in less than 6 hours are not eligible to receive an award for the semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visit TSAC&#8217;s Helping Heroes&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegefortn.org\/helping-heroes-grant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">webpage<\/a>&nbsp;for more information and an application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">91大神 Charlie &amp; Hazel Daniels Veterans &amp; Military Family Center&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Daniels Center is the largest and most comprehensive veterans center on any Tennessee higher education campus. It enables the over 1000 military-connected student population on campus to have a one-stop shop to meet a variety of academic needs. It is a place for our military-connected students to study, to gather, and to get help from fellow veterans, who will serve as peer advisors and sponsors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Daniels Center can assist veterans (and their families) with a number of student needs, including financial aid and academic advising. To see what Financial Aid Resources that they can assist with, please visit the 91大神 Charlie &amp; Hazel Daniels Veterans &amp; Military Family Center <a href=\"https:\/\/w1.mtsu.edu\/military\/financial_support.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">webpage<\/a> for information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingstate-scholarships-grants-and-loan-forgiveness-programs\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsestate-scholarships-grants-and-loan-forgiveness-programs\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsestate-scholarships-grants-and-loan-forgiveness-programs\">State Scholarships, Grants, and Loan Forgiveness Programs<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsestate-scholarships-grants-and-loan-forgiveness-programs\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingstate-scholarships-grants-and-loan-forgiveness-programs\" data-bs-paren=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS), Tennessee residents may qualify for state-based aid programs&nbsp;which include a need-based grant, several scholarships based on merit or other factors, and loan forgiveness programs for students in certain majors. These programs are administered through the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegefortn.org\/tennessee-financial-aid\/\"> Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-124","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1699,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/124\/revisions\/1699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}