Academic Performance Scholarships

The Academic Performance Scholarship Program for Tennessee residents awards academic scholarships to entering freshmen and transfer students for the fall semester each year. Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree and currently enrolled students are not eligible. Selection is competitive and awards are made to the students based on academic performance.

The APS award amount is $3000 annually ($1500 per semester). Recipients must maintain an overall and semester grade point average of 2.5, pass a minimum of 12 credits per semester, and fulfill a work requirement in order to renew the scholarship for subsequent terms.

Award recipients are required to work approximately 5 hours per week for a total of 75 hours per semester. Developmental courses do not count toward the minimum of 12 credits earned or in the semester or overall grade point average required for renewal. APS Scholarship receipient work positions available are located on the APS Jobs List.

Availability of awards is contingent on funding levels. Awards for new students are made on a rolling basis. Initial eligibility and renewal requirements may change in the future. New students accepting an APS must register for fall classes or register to attend an orientation program by July 1 or forfeit the scholarship award.

Freshmen

Guaranteed APS

Entering freshmen with an ACT score of 28 or SAT score of 1240 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher will be offered a Guaranteed APS.

To be eligible students must complete the admissions application process, including submission of the application for admission, application fee, high school transcript and ACT/SAT scores by December 15

Students who miss the December 15 deadline may be eligible for a competitive APS award, but must submit a scholarship application by February 15.

Competitive APS

To be considered, applicants generally rank 1 or 2 in their graduating class or score a minimum ACT Composite of 26 (or 1170 SAT) while earning a minimum high school grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The application deadline is February 15. Late applications will not be considered.

Transfer Students

Transfer students will be considered on a competitive basis and should present minimum qualifications including a 3.2 grade point average (4.0 scale) and 24 credits of transferable courses. The application deadline is May 15. Late applications will not be considered.

APS POLICY

MAKING AWARDS:

1. Awards will be made to new freshmen and new transfer students for the fall term. Graduate students, currently enrolled undergraduate students and students pursuing a second undergraduate degree are not eligible for new awards. Students who enter ETSU during the spring or summer terms will be considered “new” students for APS purposes for the following fall term.
2. For departmental awards (Music and Military Science), entering freshmen must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.9 (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum ACT composite score of 19 or higher. (Exceptions may be made for entering freshmen who have not attended high school or another postsecondary institution for at least four years.)
3. For departmental awards (Music and Military Science) entering transfer students must have minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.9 on at least 12 transferable credit hours. Students who have completed less than 12 transferable credit hours must meet the entering freshmen criteria (#2).
4. Awards will be made to Tennessee residents and to residents of border counties in Virginia and North Carolina. (Lee, Scott and Washington counties in Virginia and Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Ashe, Haywood, and Yancey counties in North Carolina.)
5. APS recipients are responsible for securing their own position on campus. APS positions are posted on the Office of Financial Aid web page.
6. APS awards may be made by the following offices: Scholarship Office, Department of Music, and Department of Military Science. If the Department of Music and the Department of Military Science have not awarded their allotted number of APS by August 1 of each year, they will notify the Scholarship Office so that these scholarships may be awarded to other eligible students.
7. The Department of Music may make 20 new APS awards each year. The Department of Military Science may make 2 new APS awards each year. The Math and Science Scholars Program may make 10 new APS awards each year

1. APS recipients must earn 12 hours of credit and a 2.5 GPA each term. They must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Developmental studies credit is not included in the number of hours earned or in the calculation of the students’ GPA. Students who fail to meet these criteria will lose their scholarship for all future terms. APS recipients must work 75 hours each semester they receive the scholarship. Recipients must work in the same department for an entire semester. Recipients who fail to work all 75 hours are required to repay the prorated, unearned amount of the award. Students who fail to meet these criteria will lose their scholarship for all future terms.
2. Freshmen who fail to earn 12 hours of credit and a 2.5 GPA for the first semester in which they receive an APS will be placed on probation for the following term.
3. APS recipients must stay continuously enrolled (fall and spring terms). No APS awards are available for summer terms.
4. APS recipients who will be off campus for a fall or spring term due to participation in co-op programs, internships, student teaching or legislative internships may file a written request to work the APS hours before the beginning of the term in which they will participate in the program. This request must be signed by the student and the student’s supervisor. The request should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid.

1. Recipients who fail to meet the credit hour or GPA requirement may file a written appeal to regain their APS award for future terms with the APS Appeal Committee in the Office of Financial Aid. Documentation of extenuating circumstances is required. APS recipients in the Department of Music may file a written appeal with the Chair of the Music Department.
2. Recipients who fail to meet the 75 hour work requirement may file a written appeal to regain their APS award for future terms with the APS Appeal Committee in the Office of Financial Aid. Documentation of extenuating circumstances is required. These appellants will still be required to repay the prorated, unearned amount of the award, regardless of the decision of the Appeal Committee. APS recipients in the Department of Music may file a written appeal with the Chair of the Music Department.
3. If an appeal is granted, the student’s appeal form and documentation will be filed in the student’s folder in the Office of Financial Aid.
4. The student will be notified in writing of the decision of the appeals committee. A copy of the letter will be sent to the, Department of Military Science or the Math and Science Scholars Program, when appropriate.
5. Recipients will not be granted more than one appeal.
6. Recipients may not appeal their failure to complete the 75 hours work requirement.