In a noticeable uptick, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) reported yesterday that the college-going rate for the state's high school graduates has hit 56.7% for the class of 2023, marking a 2.4 percentage point hike from the previous year. According to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, this is the biggest jump in college enrollment rates since the introduction of the Tennessee Promise scholarship back in 2015, which offers tuition-free education to eligible students.
The rising figure reflects the number of students enrolling in college straight out of high school. THEC Executive Director Dr. Steven Gentile expressed optimism about the progress, “It is gratifying to see those efforts pay off in helping even more Tennessee students and adult learners pursue their dreams and careers with college degrees and workforce credentials beyond high school,” as detailed by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Despite the gains, disparities remain, particularly among economically disadvantaged students who enrolled at a rate of 39.3%, significantly lower than their peers with sturdier financial backgrounds, who enrolled at a 65.3% rate.
The report dissected the demographics further, revealing that while college-going rates for the class of 2023 rose across different racial and gender categories, not all saw equal increases. White females and Hispanic/Latino males, alongside the “Other” race/ethnicity category, experienced growth surpassing the statewide average of 2.4 percentage points.
One of the keys to higher enrollment, the report suggests, is participation in the state's Dual Enrollment Grant. “Students who were found to have participated in the Dual Enrollment Grant at any point in their high school career were found to have consistently higher college-going rates than their high school peers.” For the class of 2023, those engaged in dual enrollment programs were better positioned for college readiness, benefitting from expanded opportunities made possible through state investments over time, as per the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
