Tennessee's Community Colleges

Enrollment in Tennessee’s community colleges rose one percent this fall over the fall semester of 2022, ending a three-year decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest enrollment report presented at the Tennessee Board of Regents quarterly meeting Thursday and Friday.

A total of 72,289 students are enrolled in the 13 community colleges this fall, compared to 71,804 in Fall 2022. Enrollment reached 88,946 in Fall 2019 but began a three-year annual decline in Fall 2020.

The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA and The Suder Foundation, recently welcomed all thirteen community colleges in the Tennessee Board of Regents system to its First Scholars Network.

The Center for First-generation Student Success announced that Tennessee’s 13 community colleges are among the 76 new member institutions of the First Scholars Network for 2023-24 – colleges and universities chosen based upon their demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.

As Tennessee’s community and technical colleges honor veterans in their campus communities this week, they’re also celebrating the news that all 13 community colleges are now certified as VETS Campuses, a state program that recognizes their commitment to services that help veterans succeed as they pursue their education.

To Support Last-Dollar Scholarships for Minority and Underserved Students at Tennessee’s 13 Community Colleges

The Tennessee Board of Regents today approved tuition, fees and preliminary budgets for the 2021-22 academic year at the state’s community and technical colleges, updates to the systemwide strategic plan, and new training programs at the technical colleges.

Students, faculty and staff at Tennessee’s community and technical colleges collected nearly 76,000 food items, including almost $28,000 in cash donations, for food pantries on their campuses and food banks and other organizations in their communities during the College System of Tennessee’s 22nd Annual Food Drive Challenge.

Tennessee’s Community Colleges awarded a record number of 15,874 degrees and technical certificates during the 2019-20 academic year – a 44 percent increase from a decade ago. The previous high was 15,240 two years ago.

Tennessee’s community colleges are welcoming students back for Fall semester, in a variety of class modalities and with a focus on keeping them healthy and safe as they continue their studies.

Eleven of the 13 community colleges start fall classes Monday, Aug. 24.  Northeast State Community College began classes Aug. 17 and Roane State Community College launched Aug. 19.

The 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology start their Fall terms Sept. 1.

Tennessee's community colleges are “probably the furthest along in implementing guided pathways reforms” of any community college system in the nation, a new study by Columbia University concludes.