A new statewide report shows Tennessee’s investment in adult education is paying off. According to the 2025 Navigate Reconnect Report—released by the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville—more adults are enrolling in college, completing degrees, and earning higher wages through Tennessee Reconnect, the free tuition program for adult learners powered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). The report highlights steady growth in participation and success rates across the state.
Enrollment among “Reconnectors”—adults returning to college through the program—has climbed to 45.1%, while credential completion rose to 15.2%, a 38% jump in just one year. Reconnect students continue to outperform other adult learners, earning credentials at a higher rate and persisting in school longer. After three years, 33.5% of Reconnect students earned a credential, compared to just 26.3% of other nontraditional students.
Economically, the results are just as encouraging. The report shows that 78% of Reconnect participants were already employed when they enrolled, and within three years, their wages increased by 21% — outpacing other adult learners. These gains show that the skills and credentials earned through Tennessee Reconnect are not only boosting employability, but also placing Tennesseans on stronger long-term career paths.
Dr. Steven Gentile, THEC Executive Director, praised the model: “This new data confirms what Tennessee has long believed: when adult learners are supported with personalized guidance and clear pathways, they don’t just enroll — they succeed.” More than 11,000 Tennesseans have now been supported through Navigate Reconnect’s one-on-one coaching and wraparound services, which program leaders say is key to its success. The full report is available through the Boyd Center at UT Knoxville.
