Online Degrees In Tennessee (TN)

Why Earn An Online Degree In Tennessee?

With more than half the jobs (58 percent) in 2020 requiring a college degree, according to a Georgetown University report, earning a college degree may give you the edge you need to compete for higher-paying jobs in Tennessee’s growing economy.

A 2016 Lumina Foundation study on Tennessee’s progress toward its educational goals, reported that among adults age 25 to 64:

• 16.7 percent had some college experience, but no degree
• 5 percent held a professional certificate
• 8 percent held an associate degree
• 18.2 percent held a bachelor’s
• 9.5 percent held a graduate or professional degree

Another reason for Tennesseans to earn a college a degree is because of the correlation between earning potential and education. Those who hold a college degree earn more than high school graduates. According to the Economic Policy Institute, average earnings in 2016 across the country in relation to education levels were:

• Workers without a high school diploma made an average of $13.01 per hour
• Workers with a high school diploma or equivalent made an average of $17.14 per hour
• Workers with some college made an average of $19.09 per hour
• Workers with a college degree made an average of $31.87 per hour
• Workers with an advanced degree made an average of $40.76 per hour

Top Online Colleges in Tennessee

Whether you are going back to school to complete your education, entering college for the first time, or advancing in your education to aim for a raise or promotion, students need to know that the school they attend is geared to their success as a distance education student. In order to help prospective online students make this important choice, we have compiled a list of the top online colleges in Tennessee based on factors we believe online students would care about most.

The following list of top colleges was created from our methodology that weighs accredited two- and four-year colleges’ tuition rate, flexibility, student services, placement services, percentage of students participating in distance education, and degree completion rates.

Top Online Degree Programs in Tennessee

In order to ensure they can compete in the changing economy, Tennessee residents need to earn online degrees that will likely equip them for careers in industries that are expected to grow. Popularity of online degree programs based on higher number of enrollments may be an indication of fields that are or will probably be in good demand in the coming years.

The following list displays the top online degree programs in Tennessee based on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. While reviewing the list, students should remember that no matter what subject they choose to study, the school they enroll in should be accredited to ensure they’re receiving a quality education.

Quality of Online Education in Tennessee

Quality Assurance Funding (QAF) is a performance-based model that incentivizes the promotion of academic excellence among higher education institutes in Tennessee — regardless of whether courses are offered online or on campus. Implemented in 1979 by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), QAF evaluates postsecondary institutes (which include online colleges and universities) based on 7 qualitative and quantitative measures as described in the Tennessee Higher Education Fact Book (2016-2017):

• General Education Assessment
• Academic Major Assessment (e.g., licensure)
• Academic Programs (e.g., accredited programs)
• Institutional Satisfaction Study (e.g., surveys of students/alumni)
• Adult Learner Success
• Tennessee Job Market Graduate Placement
• Student Access and Success

Institutes that meet these quality standards can earn up to 5.45 percent above their annual operating budgets.

Tennessee is a SARA state. SARA stands for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and according to their website, it “is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs.” SARA-participating institutions agree to follow best practices for distance education as laid out in their Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that SARA-participating institutes offer comparable distance learning offerings that are as rigorous as traditional on-campus programs.

Students who are considering earning online degrees in Tennessee should look for schools that are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an accrediting body which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. When accrediting a school, the organization evaluates its education content and structure, student achievement, goals, planning effectiveness, faculty, governing board, mission, administration, library, learning resources, educational policies, and student support services.

Tennessee’s Initiatives for Increasing College Graduates

Tennessee has introduced several different initiatives to support growth in higher education. Governor Bill Haslam initiated the Drive 55 Alliance consisting of the private sector, leaders and nonprofit organizations. The goal is to increase the percentage of college degree and certificate holders in the state to 55 by 2025. To this end, the Drive55 Alliance seeks greater partnership with industry leaders to help identify and close skills gaps. This will better prepare Tennessee’s workforce to meet future economic growth. The state seeks to promote and increase college entry and completion through the following initiatives:

• The Tennessee Transfer Pathways helps students transfer smoothly from a community college to a four-year college or university to complete their baccalaureate degree.
• The Tennessee Promise not only serves as a mentoring program for high school students but can provide students with a “last dollar scholarship” which covers tuition and fees not covered by the Pell Grant, the HOPE scholarship or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program (TSAA )funds for two years of technical or community college.
• Tennessee Reconnect helps adults to return to school to complete their college credential, learn new skills through higher education and be eligible for advanced positions in the workplace.

Students who are looking for online degree programs in Tennessee can find them through TN eCampus, which allows users to search for programs and courses from certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at schools affiliated with the Tennessee Board of Regents.

How Online Degree Programs Can Benefit Tennessee Students

Online education in Tennessee is ideal for almost any type of student — rich or poor, rural or urban, young or old. Not only does distance learning in Tennessee increase access for the state’s rural residents, but it also makes it easier for working adults to remain in the workforce while they earn an advanced degree or finish a degree they have already started.

According to Joe Kitterman, founder of 180Skills.com, an online career and technical education service that seeks to enable careers seekers to gain the skills they need for meaningful employment, “finding a…form of education… that allows individuals to flexibly balance existing work with their training is an important enabler to helping them prosper.”

Kitterman elaborates, “As an example, Forbes.com has listed Nashville/Davidson/Murfreesboro/Franklin, Tennessee among its top 10 manufacturing boomtowns. Finding the right mixture of affordable education that’s connected to these growing companies… can be a quick and effective way to become gainfully employed.”

“Online education isn’t going anywhere,” adds Kitterman. “For individuals who find work, the majority of formal career and technical education they’ll receive after embarking upon their career will probably be web-enabled. Becoming accustomed to this form of training will serve individuals throughout their entire career and beyond as lifelong learners.”

Top Occupations In Tennessee

According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, between 2014 and 2024,400,000 jobs are projected to be added to the state’s workforce. The information in this table, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lists the top occupations for the state along with their projections.

Scholarships and Financial Aid In Tennessee

Students can apply for federal aid such as Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants, Pell Grants, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

In addition to federal assistance, there are several available scholarships and financial aid in Tennessee to students who qualify. The following are some examples of state-sponsored financial aid:

• Aspire Award
• Christa McAullife Scholarship Program
• General Assembly Merit Scholarship
• Helping Heroes Grant
• Middle College Scholarship
• Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

More information on federal and state-level financial aid and scholarships is available on CollegePaysTN.

Scholarship Listing

Tests You May Need to Take

All online schools in Tennessee have their own standards for student admission, but generally schools look at students’ grade point average and the courses they completed, as well as their scores on the SAT or ACT examinations. Students can find out the details of the grades and scores that are expected from the individual schools they are applying to.

In addition, Tennessee Board of Regents schools, such as Tennessee State University, require that students complete the Admissions Placement Exam (ACCUPLACER), which is designed to evaluate students’ proficiency in mathematics, writing, and reading. There are also examinations that are administered for specific disciplines, such as the Dental Hygiene Assessment Exam for dental hygienists, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination for attorneys, and the Praxis Series for teachers.