FAFSA 2027-28 · Tennessee
Tennessee FAFSA deadlineApr 1, 2027
April 1, 2027 is Tennessee's key FAFSA date for Tennessee Promise and for prior-year state grant renewals. Other awards can be first-come, first-served. State lottery (HOPE) programs also set later term-based FAFSA dates — September 1, 2027 for fall.
Tennessee: what to do, step by step
- 1
Create StudentAid.gov accounts — student and parent
The student and one parent each need their own account to sign the FAFSA. Identity verification can take a few days, so do this first.
- 2
File the FAFSA by April 1, 2027
April 1 protects Tennessee Promise eligibility and prior-year state-grant renewal paths. File earlier when a college on your list sets an earlier priority date.
- 3
Finish Promise / lottery extras if they apply
Promise needs its own application and service hours — the FAFSA alone is not enough. Lottery / HOPE paths use later term FAFSA dates after April 1.
tnAchieves — FAFSA (April 1, 2027) →CollegeForTN — Tennessee Promise →
- 4
Check college dates, then set a filing reminder
Your real deadline is the earliest of: April 1 (Promise / state-grant renewal), a later lottery term date if that is your path, or any earlier college date. Set a reminder for that date now.
.ics includes state + federal deadlines with 30 / 14 / 7-day reminders.
- 5
When a reminder arrives: finish filing
That email or calendar alert means the deadline is close. Finish the FAFSA and any Promise steps, then confirm each college on your list. Then you're done until aid offers arrive.
Key dates
| October 1, 2026Thursday | FAFSA opened | You can file now — earlier is better for limited funds. |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2027Thursday | Tennessee Promise / state grant FAFSA deadline | The date this page exists for. State money is limited. |
| September 1, 2027Wednesday | Tennessee lottery / HOPE — fall term FAFSA | Additional state date — confirm it applies to your path. |
| June 30, 2028Friday | Federal FAFSA deadline | Federal aid only. Waiting for this date usually means missing state aid. |
| Date varies by school | College deadlines | Can be earlier than the state date. Check every college on your list. |
What Tennessee applicants need to know
- Tennessee Promise: file the 2027–28 FAFSA by April 1, 2027, and meet separate Promise application, meeting, and community-service requirements on tnAchieves / CollegeForTN timelines.
- If you received a state grant in 2026–27, FSA lists April 1, 2027 for renewal FAFSA filing; other state-grant awards may be first-come, first-served.
- Lottery / HOPE: fall FAFSA by September 1, 2027; spring March 1, 2028; summer May 1, 2028 (midnight Central on the federal list).
Watch out
Promise families who only calendar September 1 (lottery) can lose Promise. Match the date to your program — April 1 is the Promise / renewal anchor.
Sources — checked 2026-10-25
- tnAchieves — FAFSA deadline April 1, 2027 (Tennessee Promise)
- Federal Student Aid — FAFSA deadlines (state list)
Deadlines can change (some states have extended dates in past years). If an official source disagrees with this page, the official source wins — and please tell us via our data page. Cite this page: Source: The Aid Window, aidwindow.com/tennessee (checked 2026-10-25).
Applying in another state too? See all verified deadlines by state or the FAFSA 101 guide.