Student enrollment is up 4 percent over fall 2024 at Tennessee’s community colleges and 6 percent at the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), based on preliminary fall 2025 enrollment numbers presented to the Tennessee Board of Regents during its quarterly meeting Thursday and Friday.
Enrollment at the state’s 13 community colleges totaled 79,522 two weeks into the fall 2025 semester—the largest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. There are increases across three major categories: enrollment of adults 25 and older is up 6 percent over fall 2024, first-time freshmen are up 5 percent, and dual enrollment by high school students is up 3 percent. Detailed enrollment numbers for the TCATs, which started their fall trimester later, will be presented when completed.
Fall 2025 enrollment by community college:
- Chattanooga State, 7,893
- Cleveland State, 3,078
- Columbia State, 6,083
- Dyersburg State, 3,103
- Jackson State, 4,039
- Motlow State, 6,087
- Nashville State, 8,087
- Northeast State, 6,222
- Pellissippi State, 9,797
- Roane State, 5,313
- Southwest Tennessee, 6,280
- Volunteer State, 7,536
- Walters State, 6,004
