WGU Tennessee Launches Third Year of Tenn-K $10,000 Scholarship

NASHVILLE — For the third year in a row, WGU Tennessee, a state-endorsed nonprofit university, will award $10,000 in scholarship money to up to 10 Tennesseans as part of its “Tenn-K” scholarship.

Last year, nearly 400 Tennesseans applied for Tenn-K, WGU Tennessee’s largest annual scholarship. Recipients are awarded four installments of $2,500 per six-month term. With WGU Tennessee’s already-low tuition of $3,000 per term for most programs, the Tenn-K scholarship covers almost 80 percent of recipients’ tuition costs.

“The Tenn-K scholarship program is a great opportunity to minimize the cost barrier for well-deserving Tennesseans who want to pursue an undergraduate or master’s degree,” said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, WGU Tennessee chancellor. “Affordability is a priority at WGU Tennessee, and the Tenn-K scholarship helps us make significant strides toward our effort.”

In September, WGU Tennessee, in partnership with the Tennessee Board of Regents and UT Martin, hosted a panel on college affordability, addressing student debt, responsible borrowing, and access to scholarships and grants. With the cost of college steadily rising, WGU Tennessee aims to alleviate the financial burden of higher education for its students. Since launching in 2013, WGU Tennessee has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to Tennesseans.

Tenn-K scholarships will be awarded based on the applicants’ academic records, readiness for online study, and demonstrated financial need, as well as other considerations. The application deadline is March 15, 2018.

Launched by Gov. Bill Haslam in July 2013 as part of his “Drive to 55” initiative, WGU Tennessee is an online, accredited, nonprofit university established to meet the needs of working adults who wish to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree and advance their careers. WGU Tennessee was created through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University. More than 2,000 Tennesseans have graduated since the university’s inception, and 3,500-plus are currently enrolled.