• At tnAchieves, we believe that Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce begins with ensuring that every community—especially our rural ones—has a seat at the table. Representing more than 80 percent of the state’s counties, rural communities are not only the heart of Tennessee’s culture and values but also vital contributors to its economic strength.

    This report reflects our deep commitment to you. It is designed to inform, engage, and celebrate the rural students and families we proudly serve.

    Supporting Rural Students

    We understand that students in rural areas often face unique challenges in accessing and navigating post-secondary opportunities. Whether it is limited resources, transportation barriers, or a lack of exposure to career pathways, these obstacles can make the journey to a meaningful career more difficult. Since our founding, tnAchieves has worked to remove those barriers so that every student—regardless of zip code—has a clear and supported path forward.

    Rooted in Rural Tennessee

    tnAchieves is deeply rooted in rural Tennessee. We serve all students—public, private, and homeschooled—and partner with all types of post-secondary institutions: community, technical, and four-year. We believe in placing a big tent around the word college.

    Our rural impact would not be possible without the rich partnerships we have with local community organizations, chambers of commerce, school systems, employers, and other stakeholders who make rural communities so special.

    Our Vision, Unchanged

    More than 17 years later, our vision remains unchanged: to invest in programs that increase college access and success while preparing students for careers that matter.

    Rural Tennessee is not just part of our mission—it is central to it. Together, we can continue to empower the next generation of leaders, workers, and innovators who will shape the future of our great state.

    Randy Boyd
    tnAchieves Chairman

    Krissy DeAlejandro
    tnAchieves President & CEO

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Students earning a post-secondary credential is a game-changer for rural counties. From changing the trajectory of students’ lives to attracting high-quality careers, prioritizing post-secondary attainment leads to meaningful economic impact and community mobility.

*According to Georgetown University, a Tennessee student who earns a bachelor’s degree will earn $1.1M more over their lifetime when compared to a high school graduate. An associate degree earner will earn $535,560 more. Carnevale, Anthony P., Stephen J. Rose, and Ban Cheah. The College Payoff: More Education Doesn’t Always Mean More Earnings. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2021. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegepayoff2021/.

Ways to get involved

Bring the Rural Impact Report to Your Community

Now Scheduling Community Presentations:
November 3-14, 2025

tnAchieves is excited to share the 2025 Rural Impact Report with communities across Tennessee! This report highlights the unique challenges rural students face—and the incredible opportunities that lie ahead when we work together to remove barriers to post-secondary success.

We would love to come present the report to your local leaders, share insights specific to your community, and discuss how we can continue building Tennessee’s future workforce together.

If your community is interested in hosting a presentation, please complete the form. A member of the tnAchieves team will be in touch to coordinate details.