The Tennessee Promise application is now open for the Class of 2027.  Learn More

Record number of high school FAFSA Champions recognized for 2025-2026. Learn More

 

TENNESSEE FAFSA CHALLENGE

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) hosts the TN FAFSA Challenge in order to honor schools and personnel who are doing the work of FAFSA completion. We also hope to increase the FAFSA completion rate among students in Tennessee. Students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in higher education, persist in their college coursework, and obtain a degree. While many schools will have higher FAFSA completion rates by the time students graduate, additional state funding, institutional dollars, and private scholarships may be available if the FAFSA is completed earlier in their senior year of high school. High schools will be recognized at the end of FAFSA season as leaders in FAFSA completion–both overall and year to year. Schools are able to track their progress using the data visualizations on the TN FAFSA Frenzy page of CollegeForTN.

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FAFSA Champions

A record 239 high schools have earned the FAFSA Champion title for the 2025-2026 academic year! Thank you for all you do for Tennessee students. 

There are two ways a high school can earn FAFSA Champion status:

(1) Increase their Tennessee Promise applicant FAFSA completion rate by 5 percentage points or more compared to the previous academic year as of the Tennessee Promise FAFSA deadline

(2) Have 90% or more of their Tennessee Promise applicants complete the FAFSA as of the Tennessee Promise FAFSA deadline

Click Here to See the 2025-2026 FAFSA Champions

Highest Completion

Awarded to schools with the highest overall Tennessee Promise applicant FAFSA completion rate as of the Tennessee Promise FAFSA deadline:

Large School – More than 300 seniors
Warren County High School (97.2%)

Medium School:  126 – 300 seniors
Bolivar Central High School, Hardeman County (100%)
Camden Central High School, Benton County (100%)
Campbell County Comprehensive High School, Campbell County (100%)
Claiborne High School, Claiborne County (100%)
Cocke County High School, Cocke County (100%)
Hardin County High School, Hardin County (100%)
Johnson County High School, Johnson County (100%)
Scott High School, Scott County (100%)
Unicoi County High School, Unicoi County (100%)
Union County High School, Union County (100%)

Small School:  51 – 125 seniors
Adamsville Junior/Senior High School, McNairy County (100%)
Clay County High School, Clay County (100%)
Collinwood High School, Wayne County (100%)
Cosby High School, Cocke County (100%)
Jellico High School, Campbell County (100%)
Lake County High School, Lake County (100%) 
Middleton High School, Hardeman County (100%)
Perry County High School, Perry County (100%)
Scotts Hill High School, Henderson County (100%)
Smith County High School, Smith County (100%)
Soulsville Charter School, Shelby County (100%)
Van Buren County High School, Van Buren County (100%)

Very Small School:  1 – 50 seniors
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Hamilton County (100%)
Hancock High School, Hancock County (100%)
Lookout Valley Middle/High School, Hamilton County (100%)
Nashville Big Picture High School, Davidson County (100%)
Santa Fe Unit School, Maury County (100%)

Most Improved

Awarded to schools with the most improved Tennessee Promise applicant FAFSA completion rate compared to the previous year as of the Tennessee Promise FAFSA deadline:

Large School – More than 300 seniors
Antioch High School, Davidson County (+15.5%)

Medium School:  126 – 300 seniors
Bolivar Central High School, Hardeman County (+40.4%)

Small School:  51 – 125 seniors
Jackson County High School, Jackson County (+41.4%)

Very Small School:  1 – 50 seniors
Red Boiling Springs School, Macon County (+39.1%)

High School Recognition

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will recognize schools for outstanding achievement in the categories listed above. Recognition will come in a variety of ways:

Banners

Designated schools will receive wall clings to display proudly in school hallways.

media

Designated schools will be recognized on CollegeForTN, through press releases, on social media, and in College Access and Success Newsletters.

Trophies

Trophies will be sent to designated schools in the Most Improved and Highest  Completion categories.

FAFSA Resources

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has created and curated a number of resources for students and schools to support TN FAFSA Frenzy efforts. Student resources include step-by-step FAFSA-filing instructions and videos. School resources include resources and guides focused on helping high schools strengthen their TN FAFSA Frenzy efforts. 

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS