Tennessee is commemorating a noteworthy achievement in education, observing the tenth anniversary of the Tennessee Promise program. As reported by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, this initiative has provided free college tuition assistance to more than 150,000 students since its establishment. Serving as a pioneering effort, it stands as the nation's inaugural college promise program. Over the past decade, the program has allocated over $207 million to support students in their endeavors to attain higher education, thereby strengthening Tennessee's workforce.
Since its launch for the high school class of 2015, the program has seen the college-going rate surge to 64.4%—a nearly six-percentage point increase from the previous year, and the latest class of 2024 has seen a record-breaking number of over 66,000 applicants, as stated on Tennessee Higher Education Commission's official website. Eligible high school seniors have the opportunity to earn a technical certificate or an associate degree tuition-free, the program covering tuition and mandatory fees that are not already picked up by other sources of financial aid, the program not only covering tuition but also mandatory fees not covered by other financial aid sources.
"The Tennessee Promise program has been life changing for countless students across Tennessee, opening doors to higher education and career opportunities," Dr. Steven Gentile, Executive Director of Tennessee Higher Education Commission, told their website. The initiative has led to a significant increase in Tennesseans earning technical credentials from TCAT campuses, now tallying nearly 17% of Tennessee Promise enrollments.
Backing this educational endeavor is Governor Bill Lee's administration, with a commitment best epitomized by a near $1 billion investment into the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) to catalyze TCAT expansion, aimed at both buttressing educational access and aligning with Tennessee’s economic aspirations; the Promise, as it continues to aid students, is a vow—"a promise to stand alongside these students and families on their higher education journey," as Senator Jon Lundberg (R – Bristol), Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said, the sentiment echoed by his counterpart in the House, Senator Mark White (R – Memphis), who praised Tennessee's devotion to the educational and workforce opportunities of the state's youth.
As Tennessee anticipates future growth in higher education participation, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission has expressed its dedication to expanding upon the solid foundation that is the Tennessee Promise, ensuring that the pathway to educational achievement remains accessible to all Tennesseans, striving to continue this positive trajectory in educational opportunities for the years to come.
