TBR raises tuition and fees at Southwest Tennessee Community College

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

(Memphis, Tenn.) - Starting this fall semester, students at Southwest Tennessee Community College will experience a slight increase in their tuition and mandatory fees. This adjustment, approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) during their quarterly meeting on June 13, reflects an ongoing commitment to maintaining a quality education for students amid rising costs.

TBR governs the College System of Tennessee that includes the state’s 37 public community colleges and colleges of applied technology. The decision to adjust tuition and fees comes in response to several financial challenges. These include covering increased operational costs driven by inflation, funding a portion of the salary increase for college staff, and adapting to new federal rules on overtime pay.

For the upcoming academic year, Southwest Tennessee Community College will see an increase in tuition and mandatory fees totaling 5%. This means an additional $234 per year, based on a full course load of 15 credit hours per semester.

In addition to the general tuition and fee increases, there will be specific adjustments for certain specialized programs at the College. For nursing students, the testing fee will rise to $50 per course, up from the previous range of $27 to $47, and the course fee will increase from $20 to $25 per credit hour. However, the nursing lab fee, which was previously $15 per credit hour, will be eliminated. Similarly, the Allied Health course fee will go up from $20 to $25 per credit hour. These adjustments are necessary to cover the higher costs associated with these programs, which often require specialized equipment and resources.

Despite this increase, Southwest remains a highly affordable option compared to four-year universities in the state. According to TBR, the overall cost of attending Southwest and other community colleges in Tennessee is less than half of cost of the public four-year institutions, excluding room and board. Students can benefit from financial aid programs that significantly reduce or completely cover their tuition and mandatory fees.

With Tennessee Promise, for new high school graduates, and Tennessee Reconnect, for adults who have not earned college-level credentials, along with other state and federal financial aid programs, students may attend free of tuition and mandatory fees. Thanks to these programs, the majority of students at Southwest graduate without any loan debt. Southwest also provides students with a wealth of resources and scholarship opportunities, ensuring that every learner has the tools and support to succeed.

Over the past decade, the Tennessee Board of Regents has managed to keep tuition increases at community and technical colleges between 2.1% and 2.5% per year, which is often below the average annual inflation rate of 3.04%. During certain periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no increases in tuition, and some fees were reduced or suspended to alleviate financial burdens on students. The TBR continues to strive to cover only a portion of inflation costs through tuition, finding additional savings to maintain affordability for students.

For more information, students and families are encouraged to contact the college’s financial aid office at 901-333-5960 to further explore their options or visit www.southwest.tn.edu.