Pellissippi State Community College was founded in 1974 as State Technical Institute at Knoxville. Enrollment has grown from 45 students to nearly 11,000 students today (2018-2019). With five campuses, the college serves Knox and Blount counties in East Tennessee. The college’s students come from around the world, however. In the fall 2018 semester, for example, 116 International students from 32 countries were enrolled at the college, along with students from 27 states.

Northeast State Community College is a public comprehensive community college with technical education and college transfer programs. The school strives to tailor its programs and services to meet the special needs of a diverse student body numbering. Northeast State offers associate degrees, which can be transferred to a number of local and regional four-year colleges and universities.

Since it first opened in 1970, Nashville State Community College has been a vital part of Nashville. Initially named Nashville State Technical Institute, the college had 398 students and offered only five associate's degrees. Graduation was held in the parking lot. White Bridge Road, where the main campus is still located, had only two lanes and very few businesses. As the White Bridge Road area grew over the years, so did the college. In 1984, Nashville State joined the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system of state universities and community colleges.

Columbia State is a comprehensive community college serving southern Middle Tennessee dedicated to nurturing success and positively changing lives through teaching, learning and service. Established in 1966 as Tennessee’s first community college, Columbia State has grown to five campuses including Columbia, Williamson, Lawrence, Lewisburg and Clifton. The college was recognized as a finalist in the 2018 Awards of Excellence for Advancing Diversity, Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership and Student Success by the American Association of Community Colleges.