Each year, more than 26,000 students ages 25 and over enroll at Tennessee’s community and technical colleges. TBR community colleges and TCATs are committed to helping adult students succeed, whether they are enrolling in college for the first time or returning to college after time away.Tennessee Reconnect makes it possible for eligible adult students to enroll free of tuition and mandatory fees. Through the Tennessee Reconnect grant, eligible adult students can pursue an associate degree, technical certificate, or technical diploma at a Tennessee community college or technical college.
Learn more about opportunities for adult learners at community colleges and TCATs.
Resources about Tennessee Reconnect
- Learn More about Tennessee Reconnect
- Apply for Tennessee Reconnect
- Tennessee Higher Education Commission: Tennessee Reconnect Annual Report
Research and Data about Tennessee Reconnect
- Tennessee Reconnect at Community Colleges: Enrollment & Success, 2018-2021
- A Nudge to Reconnect: Using Financial Aid Nudges to Promote Adult Students’ Persistence at Tennessee Community Colleges (Summer 2021 Research Brief)
- A Nudge to Reconnect: New Perspectives on Outreach to Adult Students (Spring 2022 Presentation)
Pathways to Success for Adults with Some College but No Degree
View the Interactive Report
Adult Learner Data Toolkit
View Toolkit
Working Papers on Adult Student Success
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From Reconnection to Graduation: Meeting the Needs of Returning Adult Students at Community Colleges
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How Flexible Courses Promote Access and Success for Returning Adult Students at Community Colleges
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Coursetaking and Success for Returning Adult Students at Community Colleges
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Employment Outcomes for Returning Adult Students at Community Colleges