As procrastinating students rushed to file their applications for the Tennessee Promise by Tuesday’s deadline, a new report sheds light on how the program is helping make 2-year college more affordable.
Last month the National College Attainment Network released The Growing Gap 2022: Public Higher Education’s Declining Affordability study. The report found just 40% of public two-year community colleges across the country to be affordable but in Tennessee, that percentage is 50%.
In determining affordability, the study looked at nine 4-year and eight 2-year institutions. Researchers evaluated the total price for in-state students living on campus at each institution versus average grant aid, loans, expected family contributions, and other data.
The report found no 4 year institutions affordable in Tennessee but did find 2-year institutions Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, and Roane State Community College affordable.
Nationwide the percentage of affordable 2-year colleges has dropped from 50% in 2016 according to the study to 40% in 2020. In Tennessee that percentage of affordable 2-year institutions has increased from 38% in 2016 to 50% in 2020.
One factor that may be helping in Tennessee is the Tennessee Promise. The scholarship program has seen an increase in students who receive the award enrolling at eligible 2-year institutions each year since it launched in 2015.
The Tennessee Promise provides students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the scholarship may cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the federal Pell grant, the HOPE Scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award at any of the state’s 13 community colleges or 27 colleges of applied technology.
While the program does not cover books or housing, it does provide important resources to help make college affordable. For the Fall 2020 Semester, Tennessee students averaged $1,127 in Tennessee Promise awards.
Affordability Challenges Remain
Despite the positive impact on college affordability provided by the Tennessee Promise, the report still found challenges for Tennessee students.
The average affordability gap for 2-year institutions in Tennessee is $938 and that number is higher than the $907 national average according to the report.
Additionally, the report found Tennessee’s affordability rate trailing multiple southern states. Even with the Tennessee Promise, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi all have higher 2 year college affordability rates than Tennessee.
One reason for that is the higher “total price for in-state students living on campus” for several Tennessee institutions.
Nashville State Community College, Volunteer State Community College, and Columbia State Community College all have a total cost exceeding $20,000 in the report. In Alabama and Mississippi only one 2-year institution has a cost above $20,000 and Kentucky and Florida have none.
The study examined college affordability through the 2019/2020 school year.
This year Tennessee students will have access to a new program that could help reduce the affordability gap. Eligible students can apply for up to $1,000 per semester in tnAchieves COMPLETE grants to help with expenses that are not covered by the Tennessee Promise scholarship.
