College Promise Celebrates Tennessee's Statewide Promise Program In New Report
College Promise is proud to announce the release of a new report celebrating the 10th anniversary of Tennessee’s pioneering statewide Promise program. Since its inception, the Tennessee Promise has reshaped the state’s higher education landscape, and central to this success is the innovative leadership of tnAchieves. As the engine behind the Tennessee Promise, tnAchieves has evolved from a localized initiative to a powerful statewide force, driving college access, success, and workforce readiness.
But the influence of tnAchieves extends far beyond Tennessee. The organization has inspired over 440 College Promise programs across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. “Tennessee’s bold commitment to tuition-free education through Tennessee Promise has set a new standard for higher education access and success in America. This initiative has not only transformed the lives of countless students in Tennessee but also ignited a nationwide movement,” said Martha Kanter, College Promise National Advisory Board President & CEO Emerita and Former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
tnAchieves has shared its best practices, lessons learned, and proven strategies at no cost to other regions and states, helping scale the Promise movement nationwide. Programs aiming to operate at scale have particularly benefited from tnAchieves' expertise in designing impactful student programs.
“tnAchieves has considered itself the engine behind the TN Promise for more than a decade. We know that it takes more than eliminating the funding barrier to ensure increased college enrollment and completion,” tnAchieves President and CEO Krissy DeAlejandro explains. “tnAchieves is more than college access and success. It is a holistic career pathways model focused on building Tennessee’s future workforce.”
As Tennessee marks the 10th anniversary of its Promise program, the state stands as a beacon for the National College Promise movement. tnAchieves' innovative approach, combining tuition-free access with comprehensive student supports like the COMPLETE coaching model, has influenced how programs across the country operate at scale. By sharing best practices and lessons learned, tnAchieves has helped shape Promise programs nationwide, proving that meaningful student supports are essential to postsecondary completion and future career success.
As College Promise approaches its own 10th anniversary in 2025, Tennessee serves as a pillar of success, demonstrating that effective Promise programs not only provide financial access but also build the workforce of tomorrow. Tennessee's leadership continues to guide the national movement, ensuring that College Promise programs across the country adopt models that lead to lasting student success and workforce readiness.
Please read our full spotlight in Forbes here.