As high school students and adults returning to school look for the right college program, and businesses seek to build the best workforce, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and partners have introduced a new interactive resource to help with both.

The American Institutes for Research's (AIR) College Measures, Gallup, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation--with funding from USA Funds--have collaborated to develop a state-specific online tool that will give prospective students actionable information to evaluate college programs based on potential earnings, employment, and other outcomes following graduation.

Launch My Career TN is a free, open website at LaunchMyCareerTN.org. Tennessee is among the first states in the nation to offer this new college selection tool.

"Tennessee students and Tennessee businesses have a common interest to ensure students are making informed decisions about college," said Bradley Jackson, interim President of the state chamber. "A degree is one of the biggest investments Tennesseans make, and they deserve to have all the information available on how that decision may affect their ability to meet their personal goals.

"At the same time, companies want a workforce trained in the skills they need. The Launch My Career TN tool is an innovative way to address the needs of both."

"Students are looking for ways to demystify the process of selecting a college," said Mark Schneider, a vice president and institute fellow at AIR. "Launch My Career TN offers them real information on the kind of return they might get for their investment in higher education. It allows them to select a degree program or institution based on their interests or preferred jobs, and then compare how that degree stacks up against the same degree from other colleges."

Launch My Career TN is supported by one of four College Value grants totaling $3.5 million from the non-profit corporation USA Funds. The grants support development in 12 states, including Tennessee, of new models for measuring college value to help students and their families, policymakers, and postsecondary institutions make more-informed decisions about the training and skills that will provide the greatest value to students and their communities. (Learn more at www.collegevalue.net.)

"To pursue a more purposeful path through college to rewarding careers, college-bound students and adult learners need better information about the outcomes they can expect from postsecondary programs," said Derek Redelman, USA Funds vice president, research and policy. "By developing this resource, Tennessee is demonstrating national leadership in enhancing student success in college and careers."

For Tennessee in particular, workforce is a key factor. "Tennessee employers--and those who might be considering coming to Tennessee--are looking not only for a skilled workforce, but for individuals who are on the right paths in their own lives," Jackson, with the Tennessee Chamber, said. "Smart decisions about their education will put them on those right paths."

Launch My Career TN offers the following information to help prospective students select the best college program aligned with their career and lifestyle goals:

• Identifies "hot jobs" that are in demand across Tennessee, and the degree or certificate programs that will prepare students for these roles.
• Compares projected future earnings to the investment required to graduate from a particular school and program.
• Analyzes the earnings potential of many career options.
• Helps students understand the personal and professional satisfaction that accompanies different careers and courses of study.

Other features of the tool include a lifestyle goal calculator, showing the number of years it will take for the salary from a particular occupation to meet a user's lifestyle goals; and a break-even calculator that demonstrates the numbers of years it will take for the earnings after completing a particular degree program to exceed the total net price of the program.