Navigating UTC Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide to Funding Your Education

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) offers a multitude of scholarship opportunities to help students finance their education. These scholarships, which don't have to be repaid, are competitive, and meeting the eligibility requirements doesn't guarantee an award. To maximize your chances, it's crucial to apply early and submit all required materials promptly.

The UTC Online Scholarship Application

All accepted students seeking UTC scholarship funds must complete the UTC Online Scholarship Application. It serves as the primary application for various scholarships, including Institutional Renewable Merit Scholarships and UTC Transfer Scholarships. The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships also utilizes this application to award some of UTC's endowed scholarships.

The 2026-27 UTC Online Application is now available. This single application is the gateway for incoming Fall'26 first-time college students to be considered for Institutional Renewable Merit Scholarships such as the UTC Chancellor's, Provost's, Mocs, & Academic Service Scholarships. It also serves transfer students seeking the UTC Transfer Scholarship.

Key Steps to Applying

Complete the UTC Online Scholarship Application: This is the central application for many UTC scholarships.
Review Program/Department/College Web Pages: Check for any specific applications offered by your program, department, or college.
Contact Departments: Inquire with your department of study for any scholarships they may offer.
Submit the FAFSA: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal and state financial aid. The FAFSA typically opens every October 1 for the next academic year. UTC's FAFSA code is 003529.

Types of Scholarships at UTC

UTC offers a diverse range of scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. These scholarships can be broadly categorized as follows:

Institutional Renewable Merit Scholarships

These undergraduate awards are funded by UTC and other sources and are renewable under certain conditions. Primary awards include:

Read also: Comprehensive Scholarship Guide

Chancellor's Scholarship
Provost's Scholarship
Mocs Scholarship
Academic Service Scholarship
Transfer Scholarship

UTC also presents the Provost's Scholars Program for first-time freshmen applicants. Eligible students must have a 3.4 GPA, as well as either a 25 ACT or a 1200 SAT. This award is renewable and can be applied to eight semesters, provided that the student is enrolled full-time (12 credits); and the student's academic performance is reviewed at the end of each spring semester (30 overall passed hours at the end of their first year; 60 overall passed at the end of their second and so on.

Endowed Scholarships

These awards are made possible through private donations to UTC. Eligibility criteria vary and may include financial need, major, grade point average, community or campus-based activities, and student classification. A list and brief description of these endowed scholarships are available through the Search UTC Scholarships link.

Departmental Scholarships

Various departments on campus offer scholarships throughout the year. Information, including contact details, can be found through the Search UTC Scholarships link.

Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

Funded by the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program, the TN HOPE Scholarship amounts may vary depending on eligibility and grade level. Filing the FAFSA each year is required to receive TN HOPE Scholarship funding.

General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS)

High school seniors receiving the Traditional TN HOPE Scholarship may qualify for GAMS by meeting specific criteria. Entering freshmen who have graduated from a Tennessee public school or category 1,2,3 private school must have a minimum 3.75 weighted GPA AND a 29 ACT score (1330 SAT). Home school graduates have additional requirements, including specific scores on the ACT or SAT, dual enrollment courses, participation in a Governor’s School program, or AP/CLEP exam scores. More detailed information about the GAM Award is found online with the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. Students must be eligible directly after high school to receive this award. This award cannot be combined with the TN HOPE Aspire Supplemental Award. If a student is eligible for both the TN HOPE Aspire Award and GAMS, they will be paid TN HOPE Aspire as it is the higher amount.

Read also: Maximize Your Scholarship Chances

Non-Traditional TN HOPE Scholarship

The Non-Traditional TN HOPE Scholarship is available to students who meet specific criteria, including being an independent student as determined on the FAFSA application and enrolling in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution; OR enrolling in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution on or after August 1, 2018 while maintaining continuous enrollment following the completion of an associate degree as a TN Reconnect recipient. Additional requirements include continuous enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, TN residency, adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 12 attempted semester hours. A non-traditional student is not eligible for the TN HOPE's Aspire Award or the General Assembly Merit Award.

Graduate School Scholarships

The Graduate School offers a limited number of scholarships to eligible students with a minimum 3.0 institutional cumulative GPA. The application deadline is February 15. Examples include:

Elwell Family Scholarship in Graduate Studies: For students with substantial leadership experience and successful academic performance.
Geraghty Scholarship: For students in the M.B.A. program, with preference given to applicants without an undergraduate degree in business.
The Graduate School Scholarship: Recognizes a student in any discipline who has need and demonstrates merit.
John Dyer Scholarship: for MPA students with academic merit and financial need (must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA).
Welter Scholarship: for students are single parents with academic merit

UTC Financial Aid Scholarships

The UTC Financial Aid Office also offers a limited number of scholarships with varying application deadlines. Examples include:

Charles Foundation Scholarships: Available to select full-time students in engineering or education.
Fincannon Scholarships: Awarded to previously married and widowed persons.
Finley Scholarships: Awarded to eligible students that are single parents.
Lebovitz Scholarships: Awarded to eligible students of the Jewish faith.

Other UTC Scholarship Opportunities

Various UTC colleges and academic programs offer additional scholarship opportunities. Examples include:

Music performance grants: Available for the bands, singing groups, and orchestra.
The Radin Scholarship: Awarded to students in the liberal arts.
Department of Housing and Urban Development fellowships: To students with economic need majoring in Public Administration. *These fellowships are available only when UTC receives funding.
Criminal Justice Department Scholarship, The Graduate Doc Schettler Scholarship: provides a maximum of $3,000 annually to a fully admitted student to the Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice degree program.

Specific Scholarship Examples

To illustrate the diversity of scholarship opportunities at UTC, here are some examples of specific scholarships and their eligibility requirements:

Read also: Comprehensive SMART Guide

Accounting Scholarship: Available to students based on need and merit, majoring in Accounting, and residing in the Chattanooga area. Requires a separate application.
College of Engineering Scholarship: Awarded to a Tennessee high school student pursuing a major in the College of Engineering with a minimum GPA of 2.5-3.5 and demonstrated financial need. Requires a separate application.
Service Scholarship: Awarded to students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a record of service to their school and/or community. Requires 125 hours of work per semester at the University, a letter of interest, information regarding service commitments, and three recommendations.
Communication Scholarship: Awarded to students majoring in Communication. Requires a separate application.
Art Scholarship: Awarded to junior and senior Art majors in need of scholarship assistance. Requires a separate application.
Liberal Arts Scholarship: Awarded to a full or part-time graduate student pursuing a Master's degree in Liberal Arts. Requires a separate application.
Alpha Scholarship: Awarded to a student from the most recent class of Alpha inductees. Requires a separate application.
GEAR UP Scholarship: Awarded to an outstanding and deserving student with demonstrated financial need, with preference given to students majoring in Engineering and who have completed the GEAR UP program.
Physical Therapy Scholarships: Awarded to students majoring in Physical Therapy with a satisfactory academic record and demonstrated need. Requires a separate application.
Leadership Scholarship: Awarded to an incoming first-time freshman student with a minimum GPA of 3.50, based on academic merit and leadership qualities.
English Scholarship: Awarded to students with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and 3.0 in their major and demonstrated financial need, with preference given to juniors, seniors, or graduate students majoring in English.
Piano Scholarship: Available to advanced piano students who have demonstrated successful academic performance and/or financial need. Interested applicants should contact the Music Department. Requires a separate application.
African Methodist Episcopal Scholarship: Awarded to a full-time student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who demonstrates financial need, with preference given to a member of any African Methodist Episcopal denomination church or individuals pursuing careers in teaching.
Creative Arts Scholarship: Awarded to outstanding and deserving undergraduate students majoring in Creative Writing, English, Music, Art, or Theatre who have demonstrated financial need. Requires a separate application.
Need-Based Scholarship: Awarded to a full time student who has a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who demonstrates financial need.
Ben P. Shields Sr. Scholarship: Awarded to a student who resides in either Catoosa or Walker County, Georgia.
Interior Design Scholarship: Awarded to the student with the highest Interior Design Department entrance exam score. Requires a separate application.
Accounting Degree Scholarship: Awarded to a currently enrolled or admitted student in good standing who is pursuing an accounting degree, demonstrates successful academic performance with at least a 2.500 GPA, and may have financial need considered. Preference is given to non-traditional students. Requires a separate application.
Music Passion Scholarship: Open to students who possess a passion for both performing and creating music, with a preference given to those interested in traditional American country and folk music if possible. Requires a separate application.
Cheerleading Scholarship: Awarded to a member of the UTC Cheerleading squad, with preference given to an entering freshman who was a Cheerleader or Team Manager in high school. Requires a separate application.
Math Scholarship: Awarded to a student with a declared major in Math and with a satisfactory academic history and demonstrated financial need. Requires a separate application.
Circle K or Key Club Scholarship: Awarded to full-time students of UTC, with preference given to members of Circle K or Key Club at UTC, Tyner High School, or Hickory Valley High School.
Engineering or Business Scholarship: Awarded to a full-time student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who has declared a major in either the College of Engineering or the School of Business.
Physical Therapy Doctorate Scholarship: Awarded to a student who is pursuing a doctorate in Physical Therapy, with preference given to those entering their first semester and those who are first-generation college graduates. Requires a separate application.
Financial Need Scholarship: Awarded to a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and who demonstrates financial need.
Nurse Practitioner or Nursing Informatics Concentration Scholarship: Awarded to graduate students enrolled at UTC in a nurse practitioner or nursing informatics concentration. Requires a separate application.
Business Scholarship (Nashville/Chattanooga): Awarded to a student majoring in business who has a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who demonstrates financial need. First preference is given to students from the Nashville, Tennessee area. Second preference will be given to students from the Chattanooga area, preferably those students who are graduates from the McCallie School.
Military Service Scholarship: Awarded to an outstanding student with an interest in military service who has demonstrated initiative and leadership capacities through his or her participation and achievements in campus and civic activities, completed their freshman year, but not yet started their sophomore year. Requires a separate application.
Arts Education Scholarship: Available to Southeast school districts with difficulties finding the financial means for sending participants, or interns, to the Institute of the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts at UTC. Requires a separate application.
General Scholarship: Awarded to a full-time student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and/or who demonstrates financial need. Requires a separate application.
Special Education Scholarship: Available to students in the Master's of Special Education program who have demonstrated successful academic performance and/or financial need. Requires a separate application.
University & Community Activities Scholarship: Awarded to a student who is engaged in University & community activities and has demonstrated exceptional volunteer service & leadership skills. The selected student must be a member of the Chancellor's Ambassadors, the Student Foundation, the Student Government Association, or the Student Alumni Council while maintaining at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Sevier County Scholarship: The scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student who has a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and demonstrates financial need. First preference will be given to students who graduated from a Sevier County, Tennessee high school.
Human Resource Management/Industrial Organizational Psychology Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a male and female incoming freshman who reside in Hamilton County (resident for at least 2 yrs) and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. One half of this scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in Human Resource Management in the School of Business and the other half to a student majoring Industrial Organizational Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. This scholarship also requires a separate application.
Cheerleader Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a full time student who is a cheerleader. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Physics or Astronomy Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a rising senior in physics or astronomy who has demonstrated excellent academic achievement. This scholarship requires a separate application.
College of Education Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student from a southern state who is pursuing one of the majors within the College of Education. The candidate must be in good standing and have a satisfactory academic record. This scholarship requires a separate application.
David A. Scholarship: The scholarship will be awarded to a full time student who has a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and demonstrates financial need in the broadest sense. First consideration for this award will go to students majoring in Business Administration and/or History.
Sigma Chi Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a student who is an active member of Sigma Chi and has been enrolled at UTC for at least one full year.
College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to students who have a satisfactory academic record and demonstrated financial need. Preference will go to students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Honors College Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded only to students who have been admitted to the Honors College and have demonstrated financial need. A separate application for admission to the Honors College is required.
HEIL Company Employees Children Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student who majors in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or Environmental Sciences. Eligible candidates need a minimum GPA of 2.5 and should show evidence of student leadership.
Political Science Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to students majoring in Political Science. The student must have a satisfactory academic record and demonstrated need. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Pre-Medical Student Scholarships (Biology/Chemistry): These scholarships will be awarded to Pre-Medical students of junior status who are majoring in Biology or Chemistry on the basis of academic merit and financial need. These scholarships require a separate application.
Student Alumni Council Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to one (1) full time student who maintains a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, is an active member of the UTC Student Alumni Council, and has met the first recognition level of SAC participation points (100).
Astronomy, Physics, and Mathematics Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to outstanding students majoring in Astronomy, Physics, and Mathematics. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Low Income Family Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a student with an outstanding academic history and demonstrated financial need. Preference for the award will be to students from low income families, with first consideration given to students from the Memphis area. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Mathematics Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student majoring in Mathematics. This scholarship requires a separate application.
First-Generation College Student Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a currently enrolled or admitted student in good standing who is pursuing an undergraduate degree. The recipient must be considered a first-generation college student and demonstrate successful academic performance. Financial need may be considered.
Biological Science Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to incoming freshmen students who have been accepted for admission or are enrolled at UTC and have demonstrated successful academic achievement majoring in Biological Science. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Humanities Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a student with an outstanding academic history and demonstrated financial need who is majoring in Humanities, with preference given to students concentrating in History. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Teacher Preparation Academy Scholarship: This scholarship will be available to students enrolled in the Teacher Preparation Academy. This scholarship requires a separate application.
Sophomore or Higher Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to a student who has completed at least one year of successful coursework at UTC, is classified as a sophomore or higher and is degree-seeking in good standing with at least a 3.00 overall GPA.
Music or Music Education Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to students who are Music or Music Education majors.

The Westbrook Scholarship is a merit scholarship awarded to incoming freshman Biology, Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Physics majors based on a competitive application process. Financial need will also be considered. The Westbrook scholarship is renewable for 3 additional years provided the student meets the academic benchmarks described below. The value of the award increases each year as follows:Freshman $2500, Sophomore $3500, Junior $4000, Senior $4000. The deadline for this scholarship application is February 15, 2026.

Requirements to automatically renew Westbrook scholarship: Remain a full-time student majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, or Physics at UTC. Maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or above both in the program and institution (UTC). Make no lower than a “B” in all major courses. Making a “C” or below leads to loss of automatic renewal. Take courses each semester that will lead toward a timely (4 year) completion of your major. Participate for 2 semesters minimum in departmental service activities (must begin no later than junior year). Meet with your Scholarship advisor once per semester to evaluate your progress.

TN Hope Expansion

Students who are eligible for the TN HOPE Scholarship in Fall'23 and thereafter, can receive the scholarship until the first of the following terminating events happen: You have earned an advanced degree; OR Five (5) years have passed from the date of initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution. NOTE: To Continue Eligibility while pursuing an advanced degree, continuous enrollment each fall & spring is required.

Outside Scholarships

Students are encouraged to explore and apply for outside scholarships offered by towns, civic organizations, and companies. The application and eligibility process for these scholarships are determined by the respective organization/donor. Funds are generally sent directly to UTC, and unless otherwise noted by the donor, the university reserves the right to distribute funds in the student's best interest.

Important Considerations

Financial Aid Application: Financial aid must be applied for every academic year. The first step is to submit a FAFSA.
Scholarship Displacement: All scholarships (state, institutional/departmental, and private outside) are considered in your total financial aid package and may result in a reduction of other financial aid awarded.
Submitting Outside Scholarship Checks: If you receive an outside scholarship check, forward it to the designated address along with all award correspondence from the donor.
Military Friendly School: UTC is recognized as a Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly School.

Alumni Support

Alumni supporting current UTC students, that’s what we love to see! The Public Service Award and the Jimmy Jackson Alumni Scholarship are two of the many scholarships supported by UTC alumni.

The Public Service Award was established to honor two students who have displayed extraordinary service to the university and community. University service can include totally voluntary positions (campus committees, student orientation groups, Greek memberships, etc.) or positions that are accompanied by a stipend (student government association positions, admissions and recruiting work, publication staffs, etc.). Community public service can include activities such as volunteer work in hospitals, counseling, tutoring, environmental services, or Red Cross work, as well as any unpaid service that does not receive academic credit.

The Jimmy Jackson Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a current Junior or Senior-level student at UTC. The student must be enrolled on a full-time basis, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have completed at least sixty (60) credit hours at the time the application is submitted. Preference will be given to the dependent child of a UTC graduate. Special consideration will be given to students who have demonstrated commitment to both community and university service.

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