Tennessee Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in Tennessee: 84 trade and vocational campuses (72 trade schools, 12 community colleges) median net price $12,684 (-10.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $34,811 (-0.5% vs U.S.) median completion rate 71.6% employment-outcome proxy 80.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 84 campuses (72 trade schools, 12 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 74,238 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $34,811 (-0.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.8% (-0.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $12,684 (-10.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $8,725 (-10.0% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $9,724. Debt rank: #8 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Southeast of 12
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 71.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 55.7%
- Earnings rank: #28 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #25 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #8 nationally of 52; #3 in Southeast of 12 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in Tennessee include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 84 campuses in this profile (72 trade schools, 12 community colleges), with about 74,238 students enrolled, and median net price near $12,684. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Southeast medians.
Tennessee vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (TN) | — | $12,684 | $8,725 | 71.6% | 74,238 |
| Southeast (region median) | — | $12,646 | $9,724 | 53.3% | 1,214,956 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Tennessee vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (TN) | $34,811 | 80.8% | 55.7% | 7.4% | — | 46.8% | 0.30 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Tennessee vs peer states (Southeast region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (TN) | N/A | $12,684 | $8,725 | 71.6% | 74,238 | $34,811 | 80.8% |
| South Carolina (SC) | N/A | $14,029 | $9,616 | 50.7% | 69,789 | $31,360 | 80.4% |
| Alabama (AL) | N/A | $12,609 | $9,833 | 41.2% | 61,273 | $32,912 | 83.5% |
| Louisiana (LA) | N/A | $14,183 | $9,500 | 59.4% | 61,228 | $29,834 | 82.9% |
| Mississippi (MS) | N/A | $8,616 | $8,239 | 52.1% | 53,340 | $31,420 | 84.8% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Tennessee
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 34 | $25,954 | 79.0% | 31.4% | 9.3% | — | 35.6% |
| Private nonprofit | 5 | $31,349 | 84.2% | 80.0% | 5.7% | — | 38.0% |
| Public | 36 | $37,160 | 82.2% | N/A | 0.00% | — | 61.4% |
Top 10 trade schools in Tennessee by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 100.0%, North Central Institute
North Central Institute
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 94.8%, TCAT Athens
TCAT Athens
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 88.9%, Vibe Barber College
Vibe Barber College
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 88.0%, TC Beauty
TC Beauty
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 86.4%, Nashville Film Institute
Nashville Film Institute
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 85.7%, Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology
Franklin Hair Academy School of Cosmetology
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 85.3%, The Hair Academy LLC
The Hair Academy LLC
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 84.2%, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 84.1%, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 83.7%, Brillare Beauty Institute
Brillare Beauty Institute
Top 10 trade schools in Tennessee by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.9%, Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.1%, Concorde Career College-Memphis
Concorde Career College-Memphis
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 86.6%, Volunteer State Community College
Volunteer State Community College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 86.3%, Southwest Tennessee Community College
Southwest Tennessee Community College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 86.1%, Jackson State Community College
Jackson State Community College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 86.1%, Motlow State Community College
Motlow State Community College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 85.9%, Columbia State Community College
Columbia State Community College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 85.6%, Pellissippi State Community College
Pellissippi State Community College
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 85.3%, Cleveland State Community College
Cleveland State Community College
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 85.3%, Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City
Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City
Top 10 trade schools in Tennessee by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $68,179, Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $50,635, North Central Institute
North Central Institute
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,500, Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,516, TCAT Athens
TCAT Athens
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,931, William R Moore College of Technology
William R Moore College of Technology
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,916, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,759, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,220, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,146, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,193, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
Top 10 trade schools in Tennessee by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $67,735, Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $59,836, North Central Institute
North Central Institute
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,195, William R Moore College of Technology
William R Moore College of Technology
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $47,206, Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,004, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,758, Volunteer State Community College
Volunteer State Community College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,607, TCAT Athens
TCAT Athens
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,346, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,174, Columbia State Community College
Columbia State Community College
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,007, Herzing University-Nashville
Herzing University-Nashville
Top 10 trade schools in Tennessee by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $62,978, Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,027, North Central Institute
North Central Institute
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,396, Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $41,150, Volunteer State Community College
Volunteer State Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,869, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,540, TCAT Athens
TCAT Athens
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,469, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,397, Motlow State Community College
Motlow State Community College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,368, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,322, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
Top 10 trade schools in Tennessee by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $254,132, North Central Institute
North Central Institute
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $200,153, Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $193,578, TCAT Athens
TCAT Athens
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $189,672, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $187,754, William R Moore College of Technology
William R Moore College of Technology
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $186,418, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $184,659, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $181,280, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $177,194, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $176,856, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Tennessee (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $-839, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump
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Rank 2, Net Price, $4,270, Roane State Community College
Roane State Community College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $4,734, Columbia State Community College
Columbia State Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $4,612, Dyersburg State Community College
Dyersburg State Community College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $4,983, Pellissippi State Community College
Pellissippi State Community College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $5,387, Walters State Community College
Walters State Community College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $8,472, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson
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Rank 8, Net Price, $4,754, Southwest Tennessee Community College
Southwest Tennessee Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $5,283, Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga State Community College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $7,194, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
Student debt: Tennessee vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Tennessee is $8,725 (-10.0% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $9,724. Rank: #8 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Southeast of 12.
Median earnings (10 years out): Tennessee vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Tennessee center around $34,811 (-0.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Tennessee vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.8% at the median Tennessee campus (-0.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Median graduate debt is $8,725 (-10.0% below the U.S. median of $9,699, and -10.3% vs the Southeast regional median of $9,724). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #8 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #3 in Southeast of 12 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Tennessee are $34,811, about -0.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 80.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 80.9% (-0.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 55.7% vs a U.S. median of 64.9%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.4% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 46.8% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Tennessee ranks earnings #28 and employment proxy #25 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting (91.9%), Concorde Career College-Memphis (90.1%), Volunteer State Community College (86.6%), Southwest Tennessee Community College (86.3%), Jackson State Community College (86.1%), Motlow State Community College (86.1%), Columbia State Community College (85.9%), Pellissippi State Community College (85.6%), Cleveland State Community College (85.3%), Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City (85.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Tennessee, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $25,954 (34 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $31,349 (5 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $37,160 (36 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Tennessee is 71.6% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in Tennessee?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Tennessee, median net price is $12,684 vs $14,215 nationally (-10.8% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Tennessee trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Tennessee is $8,725 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (Tennessee ranks #8 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Tennessee?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Tennessee trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $34,811 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $31,867.
What share of Tennessee trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 80.8% in Tennessee vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Tennessee?
This profile covers 72 trade schools and 12 community colleges (84 total) in Tennessee with roughly 74,238 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Tennessee?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 36 public, 5 private nonprofit, and 34 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Tennessee?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: North Central Institute; highest 10-year earnings: Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting; lowest net price among large campuses: Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Tennessee?
Among 148 campuses in Tennessee, 6 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including American Baptist College, Fisk University, and Lane College; 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Southern Adventist University and Mid-South Christian College; 31 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Interdenominational (4), Presbyterian Church (USA) (4), Baptist (3).
How does Tennessee compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Tennessee is in the Southeast region. Regional median net price is $12,646 and median 10-year earnings are $32,612 vs $12,684 net price and $34,811 earnings in Tennessee.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Tennessee college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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