News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee’s College-Going Rate increased some 2.4 percent last year, a number Tech’s Admissions Director credits to education about college opportunities.
The college-going rate indicates what percentage of high school graduates in Tennessee enroll in post-secondary school immediately after graduating high school. Tennessee Tech Director of Admissions Frank Tittle said Tech has seen an increase in enrollment as well.
“In my opinion, I would say that students are realizing that it does open doors for them post-high school, post-secondary education there,” Tittle said. “And just gives them the opportunity to get out and you know, contribute in the workforce and things like that as well.”
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission said the 2023 rate for college enrollment stood at some 56.7 percent. Tittle said it is great to see an increase but he would like the percentage to be even higher.
“Many years of my career was in K-12 education and I spent 20 years in that area,” Tittle said. “So I mean I would love to see that more in the 65 percent to 70 percent mark of students choosing to go to some form of post-secondary education.”
Tittle said scholarships like the Tennessee Promise Scholarship and the HOPE scholarship have played a large role in increasing the rating.
“We work closely with THEC and that organization just to make sure of the awareness that is out there for students,” Tittle said. “And help them recognize that is an opportunity to remove the cost barrier. I know right now we have about 50 percent of our students graduate debt-free on a yearly basis.”
Tittle said educational success at the college level can propel students into a successful career.
