Financial Help

Below you will find resources for scholarships and money management. Review the following information before registering with any outside organizations or submitting private information to websites.

Please exercise caution when applying for third-party scholarships. Do not pay or provide sensitive personal information to any online financial aid service.
Speak with your employer and parents’ employers about any scholarships that their businesses might provide (ex. Walmart, Amazon, BlueCross BlueShield)
Check with your church, civic organization, or high school guidance office for more information about local scholarships.
When writing your application essays, include your current circumstances, your future educational and career goals, and mention how a scholarship can help you achieve those goals. Follow minimum/maximum word guidelines and proofread the essay before submitting it.

Financial Resource Guide

Types of Scholarships

General Scholarship Advice and Tips

Federal Student Aid Scholarship Scams – Review this federal aid resource first to avoid scams and fraudulent scholarship websites
Scholarship Essay Tips - US News & World Report tips on writing scholarship essays

Local Scholarships:

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
East Tennessee Foundation – East Tennessee Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga – Local scholarships
Ronald McDonald House of Chattanooga – Scholarships awarded by the local Ronald McDonald House
MaryEllen Locher Foundation – Scholarships for children of mothers diagnosed with breast cancer
Scarlett Family Foundation – Scholarships for students from Middle Tennessee counties
Executive Women International of Chattanooga – Scholarships for EWI members in Chattanooga

National Scholarship Search Engines:

Fastweb Scholarships – Extensive scholarship resource database
College Board Scholarship Search – The College Board scholarship database
US Department of Labor Scholarships – US Department of Labor scholarships database
SmartStudent Guide – Scholarship and resource search engine and information database

Scholarships for Special Populations:

United Negro College Fund Scholarships – Scholarships and internships for African American students
BlackStudents.com Scholarships – Scholarships for African American students
National Forum for Black Public Administrators – Applications for African American student scholarships
Hispanic Scholarship Fund – Scholarships for Hispanic students
Gates Millennium Scholars Program – Gates Foundation scholarships for minority students
American Indian Graduate Center – Scholarships for Native Americans
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – Scholarships for students of Asian and Pacific descent
US News & World Report Scholarship Coach – Scholarships for Non-Traditional students
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation – Scholarships for low-income students
Cancer for College – Scholarships for current and former cancer patients
Jackie Robinson Foundation – Scholarships for minority students
Ron Brown Scholar Program – Scholarships for minority students
US Army ROTC Scholarship Program – Scholarships for students who enroll in ROTC
Best Colleges – Scholarships for Hispanic, Latino, and Undocumented students
Benjamin A. Gilman Study Abroad Program – Scholarships for study abroad students
NAEHCY Scholarship Fund – Scholarships for students experiencing homelessness
SchoolHouse Connection – Scholarships for students experiencing homelessness
Horatio Alger Scholarships – Scholarships for technical programs and other majors
Family Fellowship Scholarships – Scholarships for students in foster care
Winners For Life – Scholarships for at-risk and underprivileged students

Corporate Scholarships:

Walmart Foundation Scholarships and Grants – Scholarships for Walmart employees and other funds
Coca Cola Scholars Foundation – Scholarships awarded by Coca Cola Bottling Company
AXA Foundation – One student awarded for each state
BlueCross BlueShield Scholarship – Diversity scholarships for underserved populations
Nordson BUILDS Scholarship – STEM, Business, and Manufacturing scholarships

Transfer Scholarships:

University of Tennessee Chattanooga – Scholarships for students transferring to UTC
Tennessee Tech University – Scholarship page for prospective Tennessee Tech students
University of Tennessee – Two-year transfer scholarships for prospective UTK students
University of Memphis – Information about applying for scholarships at Memphis
Middle Tennessee State – Transfer scholarships for MTSU
Tennessee State University – Transfer scholarships for Tennessee State
East Tennessee State University – Scholarship information for prospective ETSU students

TN Hope and Lottery Resources

TN Hope Requirements - Requirements and policies
TN Promise – Requirements and deadlines for TN Promise
TN Reconnect – Application and requirements for TN Reconnect
TN Hope Frequently Asked Eligibility Questions - Frequently Asked Questions about qualifying for Hope
College for TN – Financial aid, Lottery, TN Promise, and graduation planning for TN students

Financial Literacy Resources

College Money Management – 40 Money management tips every college student should know
United Way Free Income Tax Filing – Free tax filing service based on income
Free Credit Report – Free credit reporting useful for jobs and loans
Common Cents Financial Literacy – Primary contact for Chattanooga’s local financial literacy agency
Wally – Free money management app
Mint – Free money management app
Credit Karma – Free money management and credit score resource
CashCourse – Free financial literacy resource provided by Chattanooga State Community College

Miscellaneous Resources

Childcare Access Grant (CCAMPIS) – Discounted campus childcare for ChattState students
Chattanooga Rescue Mission – Emergency shelter for Chattanooga residents
YMCA Financial Aid Membership Application – Discounted membership to the YMCA
MOMentum Network – Support network for single moms in college