University MNPS

Empowering Our Students Through Scholarships and Opportunties

Metro Nashville Public Schools proudly offers the University MNPS program. The initiative, a collaborative effort between MNPS and Nashville and Tennessee's renowned educational institutions, offers an array of scholarship opportunities and on-campus supports for qualified high school seniors.

"The University MNPS initiative underlines our commitment to every MNPS student. Through these partnerships, we're ensuring that our scholars' dreams of higher education are not just aspirations but realities. These pathways lead to not just degrees, but meaningful contributions to our community. This is our pledge to make sure every student is known, cared for, valued, and on a path to success." - Dr. Adrienne Battle, Superintendent

Our University MNPS Partners

Bell Tower Scholars

Belmont University presents the Bell Tower Scholars program. Fifty of our scholars each year have the chance to receive a Belmont education, with full-tuition, room, and board scholarships. Before their first semester, all scholars participate in a six-week Summer Academy to ensure a smooth transition and early success.

Requirements

Minimum 3.0 weighted GPA

Flight to Fisk

Fisk University is offering 10 full-tuition scholarships to seniors who attend business-related academies or similar pathways within their high school academy.

Requirements

Minimum 3.3 weighted GPA
21 or higher ACT

Lift Off to Lipscomb

Lipscomb University's mission aligns with MNPS's vision in their Lift off to Lipscomb scholarship. Ten full-tuition scholarships are tailored for those who aspire to educate the future of Nashville. These promising educators will receive unparalleled academic and experiential training, ensuring they are classroom-ready.

Requirements

Minimum 2.75 unweighted GPA

21 or Higher ACT *Please note that some scholarships require a composite score of a 21 on the ACT. However, all students are encouraged to apply regardless of their ACT score.
Major in Education at Lipscomb

Nashville Grad

In collaboration with Nashville State Community College, the Nashville Grad and Nashville Flex programs seamlessly pair the Tennessee Promise scholarships with supplemental resources.

Resources include monthly stipends, dedicated advisor support, career development services, and financial support for textbooks.

Requirements

Resident of Davidson County

Tennessee College of Applied Technology

Metro Nashville Public Schools graduates have a tuition-free pathway to earn technical diplomas and industry certifications in high-demand fields through the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)

The program expands access to high-wage career training in areas such as:

industrial trades
construction
information technology
advanced manufacturing

Learn more about the program on our district's Career and Technical Education page.

TSU Trailblazer

The MNPS Trailblazer Scholarship was created to recognize and reward outstanding graduates who are ready to lead the way at Tennessee State University. This award covers full tuition and mandatory fees.

Requirements

GPA of 3.0 or higher or ACT score of 21 or higher (SAT 1060 or higher)
Recipients must be Tennessee HOPE Scholarship–eligible

The scholarship is renewable for up to four consecutive academic years (eight semesters), provided students maintain HOPE eligibility, enroll in 15 credit hours per semester, and complete the FAFSA by the annual deadline.

Trevecca Scholars

Trevecca Nazarene University will offer 25 full-tuition scholarships per year to ensure there is no cost to attend for a student living off campus after university, state, and federal financial aid are applied. For more information, visit the Trevecca website.

Requirements

3.0 unweighted high school GPA or a 21 composite score on the ACT
Completion of the FAFSA

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

New for 2027

Eligible Metro Schools graduates will receive a scholarship covering full tuition and mandatory fees through the Flagship Scholarship program.

Beyond financial support, the partnership brings UT’s broader Flagship model to Nashville students, including targeted advising, college readiness programming, and ongoing student supports designed to promote persistence and success through graduation.

Vanderbilt University

A scholarship program for Metro Schools seniors who qualify launched at Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2025.

The program pledges to:

Cover the direct costs at Vanderbilt, including tuition, fees, housing and meals, for any MNPS students who are admitted to Vanderbilt through Early Decision I or II and who qualify for a Federal Pell Grant or whose parent income is $100,000 or less.
Provide a one-time summer stipend of $6,000 after the second or third year at Vanderbilt to offset costs associated with summer internships.
Increase the number of MNPS graduates in Nashville who are admitted to and enroll at Vanderbilt.
Collaborate with MNPS college counselors, teachers and administrators to prepare more MNPS graduates to be successful in the admissions process at selective colleges and universities.