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Tennessee Reconnect Grant Evaluation

An adorable tween son stands outdoors behind his seated mother and drapes his arms over her shoulders. They are cheek to cheek as they smile for the camera. She wears a cap and gown and holds a rolled degree after her graduation ceremony.

May 2026

Author: Matthew Veach

Full Report
Snapshot

The Comptroller's Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) is required by state law to review, study, and determine the effectiveness of the Tennessee Reconnect Grant every four years. Established by the General Assembly in 2017, Tennessee Reconnect gives adult students (23 years old or older) the opportunity to earn a certificate or associate degree free of tuition and mandatory fees.

OREA's first evaluation was published in 2022 and included data from fall 2018 through 2020. OREA's second evaluation includes enrollment data from fall 2018 through summer 2023 and credential attainment data from fall 2018 through summer 2024.

The evaluation includes six conclusions:

  • The number of Reconnect students has declined since the grant began in fall 2018.
  • Starting in the 2022-2023 academic year, the General Assembly lowered the age eligibility threshold for Reconnect from 24 years of age to 23 years of age. Lowering the Reconnect age eligibility threshold had minimal impact on enrollment.
  • Between 2018 and 2023, the Reconnect grant provided nearly $132 million to over 34,000 students.
  • Last-dollar Reconnect students persist and earn credentials at higher rates than similar non-Reconnect students, though overall completion rates remain modest.
  • Many adult learners experience barriers to enrollment and persistence, including work and family responsibilities and misconceptions about what costs the Reconnect grant covers.
  • Reconnect Navigators provide adult students with valuable support, but awareness of and integration with Navigator services varies across community colleges.

The 2026 evaluation also includes three policy considerations for relevant stakeholders:

  • State agencies and institutions could improve coordination to increase the share of new Reconnect applicants who ultimately enroll with the grant.
  • State agencies and community colleges should explore ways to increase the number of students who work with a Reconnect Navigator.
  • Further research is warranted on the effectiveness of hybrid and virtual course delivery formats for Reconnect students, the role and usefulness of Reconnect success plans, and support models for students who are employed and those with dependents.