High School Counselors

In the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships we know that you, high school counselors, have a tough and demanding job. This page exists to be a hub of important information, dates, and resources. In other words, we are here for you and your students.

Feel welcome to visit our main website if you have additional questions. Bucky’s Treasure Map is another site that you may find useful, as it provides a more in-depth look at the Financial Aid process. This site for Freshmen and New Students is full of important information, including a list of scholarships. And at ETSU, students have a personal Financial Aid Counselor able to answer questions. 

Basics Of The Financial Aid Process

As you know, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (also known as the FAFSA) is the gateway to all federal financial aid, as well as many state and school funding programs. Put simply, there are lots of funding opportunities – including the Pell Grant and Tennessee HOPE (Lottery) Scholarship – that will not be available to students without a completed FAFSA.

Submitting the University Scholarship Application is another important step. Doing so automatically places a student in the running for range of scholarship opportunities.

Both the FAFSA and the University Scholarship Application open for the coming academic year on October 1. Please encourage your students to complete both applications as quickly as possible. Some funding opportunities operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so timeliness is critically important. 

Your students may find it helpful to see the Financial Aid process laid out in easy-to-understand steps. They may do so here.  

Important Dates

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships publishes many important dates here. For potential students, some especially important dates are:

• October 1. Both the FAFSA and the University Scholarship Application open on this date. Students should complete both applications as quickly as possible.
• March 1. The University Scholarship Application closes on this date. New students attending in the coming year must complete the application by or before this date.
• April 15. This is the priority date for a student to have their Financial Aid ready for the fall. That means a student should have filed the FAFSA, completed verification if selected, and provided the office with any requested documentation.
• July 1: For a student attending in the fall, filing a FAFSA after July 1 will delay the receipt of a student’s financial aid, and it could be necessary for the student to pay fees, tuitions, and other expenses without financial aid by the fee payment deadline. 

Resources For You

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is proud to provide you and your students with a range of resources:

• Bucky’s Treasure Map offers students and parents an in-depth look at the Financial Aid process.
• ETSU’s Jargon Handbook is filled with important terms and definitions that help students and their families better understand Financial Aid. 
• The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships has a page filled with important information, including a list of scholarships, for Freshmen and New Students. 
• ETSU is home to a Tuition and Fees Estimator, a tool that will help a student and family understand costs.
• For free assistance submitting the FAFSA, reach out to the ETSU Educational Opportunity Center.
• ETSU provides students with a personal Financial Aid Counselor who is able to answer questions.
• Bucky the chatbot answers general Financial Aid questions.
• Financial Aid TV houses dozens of short, easy-to-understand videos. 
• Financial Aid and Scholarships regularly posts important content on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.