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TN Strong Act Packet & Information

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

Click here for TN STRONG Act Packet

Step-by-step instructions for submitting your information to use your TN Strong Act benefit for each term.

  1. We no longer accept paper packets. Submit your signed digital TNSA packet to [email protected], referencing“TN Strong Act Packet (semester/year)“ in the subject line. Please pay attention to the term deadlines to use your TN Strong Act for reimbursement and to be placed on the Veterans Payment Plan (deferment) *More information about dates and deadlines are below.
  2. Request your FTA (if eligible). All Army Guard members must use FTA with the TN Strong Act. You are required to request TA no later than 7 days before the start of the term.
  3. Fill out the enrollment certification form (New Step for TNSA users for Fall 2026)
  • If you are using TN Strong with 1606, you will need to select 1606 on the form. Turn in both your enrollment form and your strong act packet.
  • If you are using TNSA only, select TNSA on the form. Turn in both your enrollment form and packet.

 

See the guidelines below for more information about deadlines and processing your Strong Act packet.

What is the deadline for submitting my packet to UT’s VBA office?

  • Effective July 1, 2025, packets must be received at the state office (Nashville) 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 at our office. We encourage you to email the packet once you have finalized your course registration for the semester/term. Packets submitted within one week of the 45-day deadline will be delayed by 1-2 weeks.

How do I submit my TN Strong Act packet?

  • We no longer accept paper packets. Currently, a CAC reader signature is the only acceptable form of a signature.  Do not send packets with a handwritten signature to the email box. Packets with handwritten signatures will be returned to you. Our office has CAC card readers that you can use. New and returning students using TNSA are required to complete the TNSA packet (August 2025 version) each semester. The packet must be emailed to the Veterans Success Center/Veterans Benefits Administration Office at [email protected].
  • When emailing the packet to [email protected], reference “TN Strong Act Packet (semester/year)” in the subject line; omitting the semester in the subject line will delay packet processing.

Do I have to use Tuition Assistance (TA)?

  • Students in the Army National Guard are also REQUIRED to apply for Tuition Assistance each term. Failure to request a TA for the term will result in a non-payment for the TA. Please contact your base education office regarding the deadline for requesting TA (the Army requires 7 days prior to the course start date).

Do I get placed on the Veterans Payment Plan (Veterans Deferment)?

  • TNSA packets must be submitted before the semester deadline to receive a veterans payment plan or a veterans deferment. Packets turned in after the deferment deadline will be processed, but the Bursar’s Office will enroll you in a regular deferment plan instead of a veterans’ deferment payment plan.

What does the strong act pay upfront?

  • 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 well after grades have been posted. The guidance for using TNSA is to pay out of pocket or use loans or scholarships to cover the first semester. Once you are reimbursed for the first semester, you may use that reimbursement fund to pay for the next semester.
  • TN Strong Act is last dollar. Any available TA (even if not requested by the student) will be deducted from the amount TN Strong will pay (reimburse). The HOPE Scholarship, TN Student Assistance Award, and Pell Grant will also apply first to tuition costs, with the TN Strong Act paying the last dollar.

Who gets reimbursed, me or UT?

  • TNSA will reimburse only the school, not the student. You should pay up front, out of pocket, for the term, and the school will reimburse any amounts owed after the TNSA payment arrives. (TN Strong Act does not reimburse an individual. They can only reimburse the institution.
  • 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 or Total Access Fee
  • Lab fines
  • Study abroad fees (lodging, airfare, excursions, etc)
  • Special Program fee reimbursements are capped. These may include fees for graduate programs in specialized disciplines (MBA, Nursing, Social Work). Please see the link above regarding special program fees

Does the TN Strong Act pay special program fees?

Reimbursements are capped at a maximum amount. These may include fees for graduate programs in specialized disciplines (MBA, Nursing, Social Work). See the link below