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State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education — The Beam #5 | Tennessee Firefly
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The Beam · Issue #5

State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education

Thursday, June 18, 2026 · Sent to 3,137 subscribers

State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education
State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education

Good morning.

For more than a decade, Tennessee has provided financial incentives to institutions of higher education based on how well they help students succeed through the Outcomes-Based Funding (OBF) formula.

The state is currently in the process of updating the OBF and we have an exclusive look at one proposal that supporters say will provide a greater return on investment by more directly tying funding to programs that lead to high-wage, in-demand careers.

The Lead

State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education

By Sky Arnold

A new proposal would more directly reward institutions for graduating students into high-wage, in-demand careers.

Read the full story →

THEC staff heard a need for the Workforce Investment Premium to incentivize high-need and high-wage programs not only statewide, but also at the regional level.

THEC Proposed Workforce Investment Premium Report

By the numbers

$39MOBF growth dollars approved this year.
$43,196Minimum five-year income required for a credential to qualify for one star.
100+Academic programs that would no longer be a part of the Workforce Investment Premium under the proposal.

That's all for this week. Be sure and check your inbox for the Friday Flicker tomorrow with a recap of the week's education news. Thanks for reading.

The Beam

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