TBR raises tuition and fees for Southwest Tennessee Community College’s 2023-2024 academic year for first time since 2021
For more information, contact: Diana Fedinec, Director of Public Relations and Media at (901) 333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu
(Memphis, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College tuition will increase by 3 percent for the 2023-24 academic year.
The raise in tuition was implemented by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and approved at its quarterly meeting June 16, 2023, for all 37 system-wide community and technical colleges across the state.
According to TBR, the increase will help cover a small portion of inflationary cost increases that its colleges are facing and the portion of salary increases not funded by the state. It is the system’s first tuition increase since 2021 and only the second in four years and is in line with tuition increases at the state’s public universities, although overall tuition and fees at community colleges are roughly one-third of the public four-year institutions, excluding room and board.
“Colleges would rather not see an increase in tuition but the hard truth is that inflation has impacted operational costs,” said Southwest Tennessee Community College President Tracy D. Hall. “Just like the average consumer, we are not immune from rising utility costs and other essential expenses. This increase allows us to continue to offer the quality of support services and innovative programs our students expect.”
As a result of the action of TBR, tuition for in-state students at Southwest will rise by $5 for each credit hour up to 12 hours per semester, to $176, a 2.92 percent increase, and by $1 per credit hour beyond 12 hours, to $38. Students taking a full course load of 15 credit hours will see an increase of $63 per semester. Combined tuition and mandatory fees (fees paid by all students, excluding class-specific fees) will be $2,389 per semester.
The TBR board also approved a $2 increase in the Tennessee eCampus rates, to $70 per credit hour.
Overall tuition and fees at community and technical colleges are roughly one-third of the public four-year institutions, excluding room and board. Most students attend free of tuition and mandatory fees, which are covered by Tennessee Promise for new high school graduates, Tennessee Reconnect for adults without college credentials, and other state and federal student financial aid. Additional scholarships are also available to those who might be struggling financially.
Southwest students are encouraged to contact the college’s financial aid office at 901-333-5960 to further explore their options.