ETSU joins Metro Nashville Public Schools, offering tuition and housing support to eligible Nashville graduates

Eligible Metro Nashville Public Schools graduates will have a new pathway to an East Tennessee State University education through a partnership offering scholarship funding and personalized support from enrollment through graduation.

ETSU is the 10th higher education institution to join University MNPS and the second partner outside Middle Tennessee. The district initiative connects students with college scholarships and campus resources to expand access and affordability.

What the scholarship covers

The ETSU EXCEL Scholarship will be available to graduates of MNPS’s 12 zoned high schools who qualify for Tennessee’s HOPE Scholarship with at least a 3.0 GPA or a 21 ACT score and qualify for the maximum federal Pell Grant.

For eligible recipients, the scholarship will cover remaining tuition and program service fees. Students will also receive a $1,500 annual housing scholarship for four years to help pay for on-campus housing and meal plans.

Beyond financial assistance, recipients will have access to ETSU’s Mary V. Jordan Center. The student success hub connects students with academic, financial, personal and campus resources, helping them address challenges and stay on track toward graduation.

A growing network of college partners

ETSU and MNPS officials joined Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to announce the partnership at an event in Nashville.

The agreement adds a Johnson City option to University MNPS, which Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle launched to develop and expand partnerships between the district and higher education institutions.

Other partners include Belmont University, Fisk University, Lipscomb University, Nashville State Community College, TCAT Nashville, Tennessee State University, Trevecca Nazarene University, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Vanderbilt University.

The initiative’s participating institutions offer scholarships and campus support to district graduates, with opportunities and eligibility requirements varying by school.

Connecting with future Buccs

During their Nashville visit, ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland and university admissions officials also stopped at John Overton High School. They toured its Academies of Nashville programs and heard from students about their academic experiences, work opportunities and future ambitions.

Noland encouraged students to follow their interests and keep their college options open. He also presented Overton senior Reagan Germain with ETSU’s Presidential Scholarship, the university’s top merit-based financial aid award, based on her GPA and ACT score.

Students and families can explore scholarship opportunities and participating institutions through their website.