Become a Baker vol
Admissions & Aid
Choosing the right university to pursue a degree is an important decision and a significant investment. We want to make sure that you have the information you need to both apply and make attending UT affordable.
Ready to become a Baker Vol?
Securing your place at the Baker School is easy! To confirm your enrollment at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, head to your Go Vols Portal and follow the instructions provided to secure your place in the class. Be sure to confirm by May 1, 2026 to reserve your spot.
Undergraduate Degrees
The undergraduate program at the Baker School prepares students to be part of the solution through professional careers or advanced study in public administration, public policy, data analytics, or political communication.
Graduate Degrees
The graduate programs at the Baker School empower students to advance the public good through innovative teaching, high-quality research, and community engagement.
Baker School Scholarships
Thanks to generous donors, the Baker School offers several scholarships for undergraduate majors in Public Affairs. Academic achievement, commitment to public service, and financial need are considered when selecting recipients, and in some cases, individual donor-specified criteria. Scholarship amounts vary depending on the award and are renewable for four years, assuming the student complies with scholarship criteria. All Baker School scholarships are stackable with need-based, state, institutional, and competitive academic scholarships, but multiple Baker School scholarships are not always stackable with each other.
Admitted first-year students will be provided access to the scholarship application in January. One scholarship application is used to apply for all Baker School scholarships. The Tocqueville Scholars Program has a separate application.
Founders Scholarships
These six scholarships are named in honor of prominent Tennesseans and donors. The Al Gore, Lamar Alexander, Natalie Haslam, James A. Haslam II, Heath Shuler, and Bill Powers scholarships award $5,000 to recipients yearly, renewable for four years. Recipients must maintain a high GPA, engage in Baker School small groups, and complete experiential learning programs through the school. These awards are not stackable with the Baker Class Scholarship, but can be stacked with the Baker LLC Award.
Baker Class Scholarships
These awards range from $1,000 to $2,000 yearly and are renewable for four years. Recipients are required to maintain a high GPA and engage in Baker School small groups. This award is not stackable with the Founders Scholarship, but can be stacked with the Baker LLC Award.
Baker LLC
Students who apply and are accepted to live in the Baker School LLC through University Housing are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship each semester they live in the LLC and complete programmatic requirements. This scholarship can be stacked with other Baker School scholarships. The award is not renewable beyond the first year.
Tocqueville Scholars
The Tocqueville Scholars program is a 4-year scholars program grounded in the ideas of Alexis de Tocqueville to educate exceptional students in America’s constitutional, economic, and political foundations. Through an in-depth curriculum, the Tocqueville Scholars program prepares students to become civic leaders in government, law, business, and public affairs. Students in the program will receive a $1,250 scholarship each semester they are active in the program. The application process for this program is separate from the above scholarships and can be found below.
Transfer Student Scholarships
The Baker School awards limited scholarships to internal and external transfers. These awards range from $1,500 to $2,000 annually and are renewable for up to three years. Recipients are required to maintain a high GPA and engage in Baker School small groups. Students can apply for the award twice yearly, with March 1 and July 1 deadlines. Applications for these awards follow a different timeline and will open in February.
Baker Future Leaders Program
The Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs is thrilled to announce our brand new pre-collegiate summer program, Baker Future Leaders Program: Exploring Common Ground Through Public Policy!
Dates: June 1–5, 2026