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Tennessee · Tuition waivers

Tennessee state employee course fee waiver

An employment-based course waiver, distinct from the dependent tuition discount.

Free if eligibleSources checked Oct 16, 2026View sources ↓Compare related routes ↓
Public employees & school staff · Explicitly servedStudents & families · General optionAdult learners · General optionGraduate & professional students · General option

At a glance

Free if eligible
What it covers
THEC’s FAQ lists up to four undergraduate or graduate courses per year at Tennessee state-supported institutions, with space-available registration and excluded charges.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
Income / financial rules
No income maximum is modeled here; check the full programme conditions and other aid separately.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
Who to check first
Qualify as an executive, judicial or legislative branch employee: a full-time-classified position expected to work 1,950 hours/year, or at least 1,600 hours/year with full-time employment benefits. Public-school teachers are excluded from this employee waiver.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
Application timing
Institutional registration/form deadlines vary; ask the receiving Bursar or admissions office rather than assuming a statewide deadline.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
Read official guidanceYou’ll leave FreeCheapEdu. The program makes the eligibility decision.

Check your eligibility

Some items describe alternative routes rather than requirements for everyone. Use the route that applies to you as a preparation checklist; the program makes the eligibility decision.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗

How to apply

  1. 1
    Have the employee and supervisor/authorized agency verifier sign the fee-waiver form.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
  2. 2
    Ask the receiving Bursar/admissions office when space-available registration is permitted and when the form is due.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
  3. 3
    Submit the completed form to the enrolling institution; THEC does not approve or process it.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗

What to watch for

Books, application, off-campus facility, parking, lab and discipline-specific charges can remain. Special online fees have a stated TN eCampus exception.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
The page’s overview says one course, while its FAQ allows more than one in a semester within the four-course yearly maximum. Confirm scheduling and current approval with HR and the college.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗

Common questions

What is the main benefit?

THEC’s FAQ lists up to four undergraduate or graduate courses per year at Tennessee state-supported institutions, with space-available registration and excluded charges.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
Is there an income limit?

No income maximum is modeled here; check the full programme conditions and other aid separately.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗
When should I apply?

Institutional registration/form deadlines vary; ask the receiving Bursar or admissions office rather than assuming a statewide deadline.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Tennessee Higher Education Commission ↗

Sources & verification

Source summaries checked by automated research on the dates below. No human professional review is claimed.

Checked Oct 16, 2026
Read official guidance