Many adults put off college after they graduate high school or go straight to work only to find that their career options are limited without some sort of technical training or higher education. But the expense of going back to college may be too much for many whose lives could be transformed with additional education.  

Fortunately, Tennessee Reconnect was established in 2018 to help more adults go to community or technical college and gain new skills, advance in the workplace and fulfill lifelong dreams of completing a degree or credential. With TN Reconnect, eligible adults who do not have an associate degree or higher can attend a community or technical college for up to two years tuition-free.  

With TN Reconnect, returning students can pursue those high-demand skills that lead to good-paying jobs and a long-term career.

 

College, Location and Delivery Options

Community College Eligibility

The student must:

  • Not already have an associate or bachelor’s degree;

  • Have been a Tennessee resident for at least one year preceding the date of application for the grant;

  • Complete the FAFSA and be deemed an independent student

  • Be admitted to an eligible institution (any of the state’s 13 public community colleges or any four year institution that is eligible for the Tennessee education lottery scholarship, as defined by TCA 49-4-902, that offers an associate degree program)

  • Enroll in a degree or certificate program at least part-time (6 semester hours) beginning with the 2018-19 year; and

  • Participate in an advising program approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

  • In order to maintain the Tennessee Reconnect grant, the student must enroll in classes leading to an associate’s degree or certificate, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and maintain continuous enrollment.

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Colleges of Applied Technology Requirements

The student must:

  • Be a Tennessee resident, U.S. Citizen

  • Have a FAFSA dependency status of independent

  • Enroll Full-time at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology

  • Be in pursuit of a certificate or diploma

  • Maintain continuous enrollment and satisfactory academic progress

For more extensive information and to apply for TN Reconnect online, visit

tnreconnect.gov