There are 49 community colleges (2-4 year colleges) in Tennessee - 36 public and 13 private schools.

The 2025 average tuition & fees of Tennessee community colleges is $5,942 for Tennessee residents and $12,974 for out-of-state students. The average financial aid amounts including grants and/or scholarships is $3,934. A total of 108,179 students enrolled in Tennessee community colleges (2,302 in average).

Tennessee Community Colleges Average Statistics

44 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 97.53% and the yield, also known as enrollment rate, is 69.53%.

23 schools offer online degree/programs and 1,317 students enrolled online exclusively.

The average graduation rate is 58.46% and the transfer-out rate is 58.46%. The average students to faculty ratio is 21 to 1 at Tennessee community colleges.

The following table shows the 2025 average academic statistics for Tennessee community colleges.

Tennessee Community Colleges Average Statistics (2024-2025)
Number of Schools49 community colleges (36 public, 13 private)
Open Admission Policy44 out of 49 schools
Tuition & Fees$5,942 Tennessee Residents
$12,974 out-of-state Students
Financial Aid Amounts$3,934
Student PopulationTotal 108,179 (2,302 on average)
Online Student PopulationTotal 21,073 (1,317.06 on average) in 23 schools offering online classes)
Graduation Rate58.46%
Transfer-out Rate7.18%
Student to Faculty Ratio20.53 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 2025 average tuition & fees of the schools are $5,942 for Tennessee residents and $12,974 for out-of-state students. The following table compares the Tennessee community colleges with key statistics by ranking.

2025 Tuition & Academic Comparison Between Community Colleges in Tennessee
TN RankNameTuition & FeesFinancial AidStudent PopulationGraduation RateStudent to Faculty Ratio
1Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN$17,756 ($4,772) $4,719 7,623 26% 15 to 1
2Roane State Community CollegeHarriman, TN$18,630 ($4,998) $4,407 5,002 36% 18 to 1
3Volunteer State Community CollegeGallatin, TN$17,740 ($4,756) $4,646 6,963 28% 19 to 1
4Walters State Community CollegeMorristown, TN$17,736 ($4,752) $4,480 5,899 33% 17 to 1
5Pellissippi State Community CollegeKnoxville, TN$17,770 ($4,786) $4,094 9,399 31% 19 to 1
6Cleveland State Community CollegeCleveland, TN$17,746 ($4,762) $4,079 3,282 37% 18 to 1
7Nashville State Community CollegeNashville, TN$17,714 ($4,730) $4,532 7,533 18% 21 to 1
8Motlow State Community CollegeTullahoma, TN$17,722 ($4,738) $4,319 5,980 34% 22 to 1
10Jackson State Community CollegeJackson, TN$17,724 ($4,740) $4,916 3,518 26% 23 to 1
11Northeast State Community CollegeBlountville, TN$17,766 ($4,782) $4,536 5,757 33% 19 to 1
12Dyersburg State Community CollegeDyersburg, TN$18,060 ($4,758) $4,506 3,296 34% 22 to 1
13Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeMemphis, TN$17,750 ($4,778) $4,488 7,004 19% 20 to 1
15Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia, TN$17,772 ($4,948) $5,607 5,712 30% 19 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonDickson, TN$4,640 $3,218 1,628 74% 19 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper CumberlandCrossville, TN$4,620 $2,968 768 84% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonLivingston, TN$4,620 $2,382 1,055 78% 25 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollParis, TN$4,620 $5,620 278 75% 11 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton, TN$4,119 $2,525 1,850 81% 17 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville, TN$4,620 $3,268 1,101 70% 18 to 1
-TCAT AthensAthens, TN$4,620 $3,084 366 95% 25 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson, TN$4,119 $1,776 3,117 80% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisMemphis, TN$6,537 $3,531 1,960 55% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HartsvilleHartsville, TN$4,620 $1,937 1,014 82% 17 to 1
-North Central InstituteClarksville, TN$18,556 $4,967 61 100% 15 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroJacksboro, TN$4,620 $3,354 455 84% 17 to 1
-Fortis Institute-NashvilleNashville, TN$15,627 $6,414 393 43% 28 to 1
-Nashville Auto-Diesel CollegeNashville, TN$37,021 $4,371 967 68% 25 to 1
-Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis, TN$18,062 $5,277 517 55% 32 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-HuntsvilleHuntsville, TN$4,174 $3,278 559 74% 7 to 1
-John A Gupton CollegeNashville, TN$12,223 ($11,070) $4,920 166 38% 13 to 1
-Nashville Film InstituteNashville, TN$21,800 $6,463 60 86% 12 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestNewbern, TN$4,620 $2,225 2,284 69% 20 to 1
-William R Moore College of TechnologyMemphis, TN$9,723 ($6,255) $4,340 468 50% 12 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnvilleMcMinnville, TN$5,760 $2,440 812 67% 15 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzieMcKenzie, TN$4,620 $4,634 155 81% 13 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-PulaskiPulaski, TN$4,620 $1,925 742 75% 10 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanHarriman, TN$4,260 $2,233 729 69% 20 to 1
-Remington College-Memphis CampusMemphis, TN$17,083 ($16,455) $5,551 331 38% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN$5,137 $2,904 1,581 71% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownMorristown, TN$4,320 $4,084 749 80% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology CrumpCrump, TN$5,760 $1,603 1,659 63% 25 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldHohenwald, TN$5,584 $1,626 2,416 65% 20 to 1
-Remington College-Nashville CampusNashville, TN$16,258 ($15,022) $5,973 280 47% 21 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, TN$7,259 $3,792 928 76% 20 to 1
-Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleShelbyville, TN$7,200 $3,770 623 81% 20 to 1
-Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingNashville, TN$8,745 $2,532 805 - 97 to 1
Average$12,974 ($5,942) $3,934108,179 58.46% 20.53 to 1