Tennessee college-going rate dips, but enrollment numbers vary widely
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In Tennessee, the share of public high school seniors heading to college last year varied widely depending on where they lived.
Why it matters: The discrepancy in college enrollment across the state points to significant factors driving students' decisions, particularly family income.
The big picture: Statewide, 56% of the seniors at public high schools enrolled in college last year after graduation, according to a new report out last week. That figure is down slightly from 56.7% in 2023.
State of play: A closer look shows different realities in different parts of the state.
- Tennessee's wealthiest county, Williamson, by far logged the highest college-going rate among public school graduates at 84%. (That's about 16 points higher than second place.)
- Meanwhile Cocke County in East Tennessee, which is economically distressed, logged 38.6%.
- Nashville's college-going rate dipped to 49.4% (from 50.8%).
Zoom in: There is a significant enrollment gap based on the financial barriers students face.
- Students who are considered economically disadvantaged enrolled at a 38.7% rate, while nearly 65% of their peers who were not disadvantaged enrolled.
- An analysis included with the state report on college enrollment found some high school graduates chose work over college as the job market improved in recent years.
Racial and gender-based enrollment gaps grew last year.
- Hispanic men had the lowest college-going rate among high school seniors, according to the state, at 32.5%.
- The group that enrolled at the highest rate was white women, at 69%.
Driving the news: The dip in the college-going rate coincided with the chaotic rollout of the new FAFSA in 2024. Technical glitches made the federal aid application harder for many students and delayed financial aid decisions.
- College officials nationwide predicted the bungled FAFSA launch would chip away at enrollment.
Yes, but: Even though Tennessee's college-going rate went down the raw number of students heading to college ticked up a bit because the Class of 2024 was larger than the Class of 2023.
What's next: The Tennessee Higher Education Commission launched a new effort this summer to invest more in college-related support for students in "under-resourced communities."
- A new pilot program starting this fall seeks to streamline college enrollment statewide. Students at about 230 high schools will get automatic admissions decisions from participating colleges.
Don't forget: Students at eligible schools must complete a Tennessee Promise application by Nov. 3 to participate in the pilot program.