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Tuition Assistance and TN Strong Act

The links below provide information on using the TN STRONG Act and tuition assistance.

Please note that the TN STRONG Act is a reimbursement program, and the student is responsible for any payment or balance due for the term in which they are enrolled. The reimbursement process does not begin until well after grades have posted.

New and returning students using TNSA are required to complete the TNSA packet each semester. Please submit the packet to the Veterans Success Center/ Veterans Benefits Administration Office in person or by email to utktnstrongact@utk.edu. Effective July 1, 2025, packets must be received at the state office within 45 days of the end of the term. Please do not wait until after the term ends to submit your packet to the Veterans Benefits Administration Office. There is a 2-3 week processing time in our office.

Students in the Army National Guard are also REQUIRED to apply for tuition assistance each term. Please contact your unit for deadlines regarding tuition assistance. Failure to request a TA for the term will result in a non-payment for the TA. Please talk with your base education office regarding the deadline to request TA.

TNSA packets must be submitted before the deadline set for each semester to receive a veterans payment plan or veterans deferment. Packets turned in after the deferment deadline will still be processed, but the Bursar’s Office will enroll you in a regular deferment plan instead of a veterans’ deferment. Please turn your packet in early to ensure you can use the veterans deferment plan!

Students using TNSA will receive a contract payment in the estimated amount of reimbursement for their tuition and fee charges. This is not an early payment. The contract payment is a “placeholder payment, or credit” to help you understand what your non-covered costs are each semester.

TNSA will only reimburse the school and not the student. You can pay up front out of pocket for the term, and then the school will reimburse any monies owed after the TNSA payment arrives.

The school certifying official will submit your grades to the appropriate Nashville unit. Reimbursement can take 45-90 days after grades are received. 

What does the TN STRONG Act Cover?

  • In state Maintenance fee 
  • Technology Fee
  • Facility Fee
  • Library Fee
  • Transportation Fee
  • SPSF Part A/B
  • All Course Fees (As long as the courses count towards your major as reported on your DARS report) This includes fees for Business, Engineering, Foreign Language, Sciences etc.

What does the TN STRONG Act NOT Cover.

  • Parking Pass
  • Parking Citations
  • Late Fees
  • Meal Plans (this includes $300 flex plan)
  • Housing
  • Deferment plan costs
  • Ebooks
  • Lab fines
  • Study abroad fees (lodging, airfare, excursions, etc)
  • Special Program fees, such as fees for graduate programs in special disciplines (MBA, Nursing, Social Work).