Enrollment up 2.3% at Tennessee’s colleges and universities
(The Center Square) – Enrollment in Tennessee’s colleges and universities is up by almost 5,000 students, a jump of 2.3% from 2023, according to a report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
The most significant increases are in the state’s community colleges, according to the 2025 Tennessee Higher Education Fact Book, which compares 2024 fall enrollment numbers with 2023 numbers.
Chattanooga State Community College is one example of a post-pandemic climb in the number of students. The school welcomed 7,156 students in 2023 and 7,657 in 2024. The school’s enrollment was 7,604 in 2020 but had declined to 7,050 in 2022, according to the report.
Among the commission’s four-year colleges, all of them increased enrollment except for Nashville’s Tennessee State University and the University of Memphis.
The decrease at the University of Memphis is attributed to a new start because of a new strategic plan called Ascend.
“Ascend focuses on success-driven education by providing multiple pathways and opportunities for students to succeed in the classroom and their future careers,” the report said.