Getting and keeping accreditation is critical for almost all colleges in the United States. Accreditation is third-party validation that a college meets minimum standards. Not only is institutional accreditation required for participation in federal student loan programs, but without accreditation, it is hard (if not impossible) to be authorized…

In the 1980s, leaders recognized a small set of institutions enrolled a large percentage of Latino students but had limited resources to educate these students. The classification of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) formally recognized these institutions for capacity-building and other support. Federal law defines HSIs as accredited,…

Tuition-free college policies have gained momentum since the implementation of the Tennessee Promise, which provides financial aid to students pursuing two-year post-secondary degrees in Tennessee. While previous research has addressed the effects of similar programs on student outcomes, scholars have yet to thoroughly investigate potential…

This analytical report responds to the current policy interest in some states in offering "tuition-free college" to income-eligible students attending certain public colleges and universities. In most cases only public two-year colleges are covered, although New York State's Excelsior Scholarship program also covers public four-year…

This year's "Improving the Pipeline for Tennessee's Workforce: Academic Supply for Occupational Demand Report" is the first joint report between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), and…

This study tested the Bennett hypothesis by examining whether four-year colleges changed listed tuition and fees, the amount of institutional grants per student, and room and board charges after their states implemented statewide merit-based aid programs. According to the Bennett hypothesis, increases in government financial aid make it easier for…

The Academic Supply and Occupational Demand report highlights the connections between degrees that are being produced in Tennessee and the jobs that are available in the state. This year's report incorporates several meaningful changes from prior years' reports. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and Tennessee Department of Labor and…

The Academic Supply and Occupational Demand report highlights the connections between degrees that are being produced in Tennessee and the jobs that are available in the state. This report is divided into four sections: (1) Expected Degrees presents projections of postsecondary credentials to be awarded by public, private, and proprietary…

This report is the result of collaboration between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Using data from academic years 2006 through 2016, THEC projected degree production for public, private, and proprietary institutions in Tennessee through 2025 (i.e., academic…

The U.S. Congress has recognized that safety is essential on our college and university campuses. Incidents such as the Virginia Tech massacre and the death of Jeanne Clery have emphasized the need for legislation that assists students in selecting a safe college and improves their safety by reducing the incidence of crimes and fires. The Clery…

This report is the result of collaboration between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Using data from academic year (AY) 2006 through AY 2016, this report presents projections of awards to be produced by public, private, and proprietary institutions in Tennessee…

This brief report uses data collected under the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Fall Enrollment survey to highlight distance education data in the state of Tennessee. The sample for this analysis is comprised of all active, degree-granting…

This report is the result of collaboration between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Using data from 2006-2014, this report presents projections of degrees to be awarded from public, private, and proprietary institutions in Tennessee through the year 2025. These…

This report is the result of collaboration between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Using data from 2006-2014, this report presents projections of degrees to be awarded from public, private, and…

This report is the result of collaboration between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the University of Tennessee's Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER). Using historical data from 2000-2012, this report presents projections of academic degrees to be…