There are 53 community colleges (2-4 year colleges) in Tennessee - 38 public and 15 private schools.

The 2024 average tuition & fees of Tennessee community colleges is $5,845 for Tennessee residents and $12,276 for out-of-state students. The average financial aid amounts including grants and/or scholarships is $4,386. A total of 93,494 students enrolled in Tennessee community colleges (1,833 in average).

Tennessee Community Colleges Average Statistics

45 Tennessee community colleges have the open admission policy with some application requirements such as high school diploma and certificate of attendance. The average acceptance rate of schools having competitive admission is 78.45% and the yield, also known as enrollment rate, is 74.64%.

23 schools offer online degree/programs and 1,260 students enrolled online exclusively.

The average graduation rate is 56.82% and the transfer-out rate is 56.82%. The average students to faculty ratio is 19 to 1 at Tennessee community colleges.

The following table shows the 2024 average academic statistics for Tennessee community colleges.

Tennessee Community Colleges Average Statistics (2023-2024)
Number of Schools53 community colleges (38 public, 15 private)
Open Admission Policy45 out of 53 schools
Tuition & Fees$5,845 Tennessee Residents
$12,276 out-of-state Students
Financial Aid Amounts$4,386
Student PopulationTotal 93,494 (1,833 on average)
Online Student PopulationTotal 20,164 (1,260 on average) in 23 schools offering online classes)
Graduation Rate56.82%
Transfer-out Rate11.23%
Student to Faculty Ratio19.27 to 1

Tennessee Community Colleges Comparison - Ranking and Key Facts

Chattanooga State Community College is ranked first among Tennessee community colleges and Roane State Community College and Volunteer State Community College are second and third position in the ranking.

The 2024 average tuition & fees of the schools are $5,845 for Tennessee residents and $12,276 for out-of-state students. The following table compares the Tennessee community colleges with key statistics by ranking.

2024 Tuition & Academic Comparison Between Community Colleges in Tennessee
TN RankNameTuition & FeesFinancial AidStudent PopulationGraduation RateStudent to Faculty Ratio
1Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN$17,750 ($4,550) $4,507 6,429 21% 13 to 1
2Roane State Community CollegeHarriman, TN$18,622 ($4,762) $4,280 4,457 32% 17 to 1
3Volunteer State Community CollegeGallatin, TN$17,724 ($4,524) $4,594 6,957 22% 24 to 1
4Walters State Community CollegeMorristown, TN$17,719 ($4,519) $4,771 5,477 32% 17 to 1
5Pellissippi State Community CollegeKnoxville, TN$17,776 ($4,576) $4,476 8,452 26% 18 to 1
6Cleveland State Community CollegeCleveland, TN$17,730 ($4,530) $4,031 3,180 29% 20 to 1
7Nashville State Community CollegeNashville, TN$17,698 ($4,498) $5,286 6,617 16% 20 to 1
8Motlow State Community CollegeTullahoma, TN$17,736 ($4,536) $4,725 5,636 32% 23 to 1
10Jackson State Community CollegeJackson, TN$17,716 ($4,516) $6,014 3,442 23% 19 to 1
11Northeast State Community CollegeBlountville, TN$17,742 ($4,542) $4,539 5,100 28% 20 to 1
12Dyersburg State Community CollegeDyersburg, TN$17,740 ($4,540) $5,357 2,683 26% 23 to 1
13Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeMemphis, TN$17,750 ($4,550) $4,672 6,443 14% 16 to 1
15Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia, TN$18,104 ($4,904) $4,948 4,954 27% 19 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, TN$6,924 $4,107 337 100% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonDickson, TN$4,419 $3,548 982 75% 17 to 1
-Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersChattanooga, TN$10,690 $5,378 220 98% 25 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollParis, TN$4,008 $5,972 248 76% 11 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanHarriman, TN$4,419 $3,067 579 59% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville, TN$4,972 $4,433 1,016 74% 17 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-RipleyRipley, TN$4,308 $4,492 362 54% 15 to 1
-North Central InstituteClarksville, TN$17,802 $2,726 51 72% 13 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldHohenwald, TN$5,344 $3,007 912 68% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-CrumpCrump, TN$5,428 $1,895 1,411 63% 22 to 1
-Fortis Institute-NashvilleNashville, TN$15,237 $5,655 383 49% 18 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleShelbyville, TN$6,865 $4,602 550 83% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonLivingston, TN$4,419 $2,512 1,417 70% 25 to 1
-Nashville Film InstituteNashville, TN$20,800 $3,765 57 70% 12 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-CrossvilleCrossville, TN$4,419 $4,238 495 82% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisMemphis, TN$6,269 $3,824 1,547 41% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson, TN$4,008 $2,400 2,239 75% 15 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-CovingtonCovington, TN$5,344 $3,931 396 64% 18 to 1
-Lincoln College of Technology-NashvilleNashville, TN$36,020 $4,253 1,053 54% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestNewbern, TN$4,419 $4,563 444 81% 12 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton, TN$3,936 $5,874 495 86% 19 to 1
-William R Moore College of TechnologyMemphis, TN$9,678 ($6,255) $4,323 361 74% 11 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-PulaskiPulaski, TN$4,308 $2,655 565 62% 13 to 1
-Remington College-Memphis CampusMemphis, TN$20,047 ($16,455) $4,533 344 30% 30 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HartsvilleHartsville, TN$4,419 $2,243 643 81% 13 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroJacksboro, TN$4,419 $4,739 328 73% 12 to 1
-Remington College-Nashville CampusNashville, TN$21,230 ($15,022) $5,011 240 60% 25 to 1
-John A Gupton CollegeNashville, TN$12,040 ($11,070) $9,719 196 45% 15 to 1
-Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingNashville, TN$7,602 $4,298 791 - 85 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-AthensAthens, TN$4,419 $5,201 221 69% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-HuntsvilleHuntsville, TN$4,070 $2,837 439 83% 6 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzieMcKenzie, TN$4,308 $6,882 134 83% 14 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnvilleMcMinnville, TN$5,492 $3,920 577 74% 15 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownMorristown, TN$4,419 $3,907 859 71% 20 to 1
-Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis, TN$17,622 $4,000 1,317 46% 34 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN$5,341 $3,672 1,157 65% 20 to 1
Average$12,276 ($5,845) $4,38693,494 56.82% 19.27 to 1