What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Tennessee
If you’re considering attending college in Tennessee, it’s important to know where you’ll find job opportunities. As of October 2021, the top industries in the state include trade, transportation, and utilities; goods-producing; professional and business services; government; and education and health services.
For recent college graduates looking for a job, the fastest growing occupations in Tennessee are software developers, logisticians, information security analysts, medical and health services managers, and coaches and scouts.
Once you graduate from college in Tennessee, you can begin your job search with some of the top employers in the state. This includes HCA Healthcare Inc., which employs over 35,000 people, and FedEx, which employs 30,000. Other top employers in Tennessee include Knox County Schools, which employs around 8,500, Eastman Chemical Company, with around 8,000 employees, and Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, which has an employee base of more than 6,000.
What’s Next?
As a prospective student, learning how you’ll pay for college is a top priority. There are a variety of resources available to assist you in paying for an undergraduate degree in Tennessee. This includes loans, scholarships, and grants provided by both the federal and state governments.
- Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). The THEC is the coordinating board for higher education in Tennessee. It helps students locate available financial aid resources specific to the state, including contact information, how to apply, and comprehensive details.
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid provides billions of dollars each year to individuals seeking higher education. Awards come from work-study programs, grants, scholarships, and loans. Learn whether you are eligible at FAFSA4caster, or apply using the online form at FAFSA.
- CareerOneStop. Sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop has information on grants, scholarships, and available loan opportunities in each state. You can filter this information by degree and find out the monetary amount of each award as well as the qualifications, application deadlines, and contact information for each financial aid opportunity listed.