Ned McWherter Scholars Program: Odds & Deadline

The Ned McWherter Scholars Program is Tennessee's most selective state scholarship, for academically superior seniors who stay in Tennessee for college. It pays $6,000 a year, half from the state and half matched by the college, which may count an existing campus award without a work obligation. It renews three times, for four years, with a 3.0 college GPA and full-time enrollment. Applicants must be Tennessee residents and US citizens, permanent residents or eligible noncitizens, with at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA and a 32 ACT or 1430 SAT; ACT superscores do not count. Extra credit is given for honors and AP courses and for extracurricular leadership. Students apply in the TSAC Student Portal only during their senior year, sending an official transcript through the first semester of senior year and an official test score. The deadline is March 1, and awards are very competitive because funding is limited and renewals come first.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Ned McWherter Scholars Program to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.

Odds: not published by the provider
Paperwork: ~2 hrs to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Tennessee residents
Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3.75 GPA
Fewer rivalsRequires a minimum test score

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Ned McWherter Scholars Program?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Tennessee
Must attend a college in Tennessee (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors
GPA of 3.75 or higher (unweighted)
SAT score of 1430 or higher
ACT score of 32 or higher
Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)

Confirm these before applying

3.75 unweighted GPA and 32 ACT or 1430 SAT; superscores not accepted
Must attend an eligible Tennessee college full time within 16 months of graduation

Good to know

Limited funding; renewals are funded first

What the application takes

Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is March 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open Senior year, in the TSAC Student Portal. Ask the high school for an official transcript showing the first semester of senior year in January, so it reaches THEC by March 1.

Application and attachments due in the TSAC Student Portal: March 1, 2027
Must enroll full time at an eligible Tennessee college: Within 16 months of graduation

Remind me before March 1 Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Ned McWherter Scholars Program

How much is the Ned McWherter Scholars Program worth?

The Ned McWherter Scholars Program awards $6,000 per year ($3,000 state plus $3,000 college match), renewable for four years and is renewable in later years.

When is the Ned McWherter Scholars Program deadline?

The current deadline is March 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open Senior year, in the TSAC Student Portal. Ask the high school for an official transcript showing the first semester of senior year in January, so it reaches THEC by March 1.

When do Ned McWherter Scholars Program applications open?

Applications open Senior year, in the TSAC Student Portal, and close March 1, 2027. Ask the high school for an official transcript showing the first semester of senior year in January, so it reaches THEC by March 1.

Who is eligible for the Ned McWherter Scholars Program?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Tennessee; Must attend a college in Tennessee (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors; GPA of 3.75 or higher (unweighted). 3 more criteria are listed on this page.

Does the Ned McWherter Scholars Program require an essay?

No essay is required. The application does ask for a transcript. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Ned McWherter Scholars Program?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to Tennessee residents and an official transcript is required. Plan on about 2 hrs of work.

Is the Ned McWherter Scholars Program free to apply?

Yes. The Ned McWherter Scholars Program is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

Ned McWherter Scholars Program