THEC: Tennessee higher ed enrollment up 1.3%

Enrollment at public community colleges and universities in Tennessee has increased for the fall 2026 semester with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission recording 228,352 students enrolled. This is a 1.3% gain – approximately 2,933 students – from last year’s numbers. First-time freshman enrollment increased by 3.9% to 41,310 students while community colleges reported a 3.6% increase in first-time students. Community college enrollment increased by 1.9% with Nashville State Community College recording the largest increase while university enrollment jumped 1% with Tennessee State University seeing the largest overall increase.