SERVING STUDENTS. STRENGTHENING OUR STATE.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO Serving Students. Strengthening Our State.
TENNESSEE INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
79K 34 CAMPUSES STUDENTS STATEWIDE IMPACT Tennessee’s independent colleges and universities play a vital role in educating students, strengthening communities, and fueling the state’s economic engine. With 34 campuses serving more than 79,000 students, TICUA institutions deliver high-quality education while operating as reliable partners to the state—expanding opportunity, growing talent, and preparing graduates who contribute immediately to Tennessee’s workforce. 1
2026 CASE STATEMENT
Tennessee Population Density
20 km2
1,400 km2
Primary Location
Satellite Location
2026 CASE STATEMENT
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DEGREES THAT DELIVER PREPARING GRADUATES FOR HIGHDEMAND CAREERS ACROSS INDUSTRIES TICUA campuses produce more graduates each year than any other higher education sector in the state. As a result of an ongoing effort to ensure students have clear pathways into high-demand fields, we see students from private institutions graduating with degrees that equip them to strengthen Tennessee’s workforce.
200K+
DEGREES
Collectively, TICUA institutions have awarded 202,957 degrees in just the last decade.
Interim Christian Brothers University President
In 2024-25, member colleges and universities graduated 4,400 healthcare professionals, 4,100 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) degrees, 3,300 business and management leaders, and 2,300 educators.
Tennessee’s independent colleges deliver exceptional completion outcomes. Despite enrolling a smaller share of Tennessee’s students, TICUA campuses award a disproportionately greater number of the state’s degrees.
4,400
4,100
3,300
2,300
HEALTHCARE
BUSINESS
Belmont has provided me with incredible hands-on experiences that have prepared me for my future career. Through research projects, volunteer opportunities, grant applications, and mentorship programs, I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world settings. The public health department provides multiple professional development opportunities both on and off campus that have helped me develop practical skills and given me direct exposure to the industry, strengthening my ability to make an impact in public health.” Alex Hamm
2026 CASE STATEMENT
Brother Chris Englert, FSC
FILLING CRITICAL CAREER PIPELINES
LEADING THE STATE IN GRADUATION RATES AND STUDENT SUCCESS
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Students enter CBU to learn and leave to serve. Ninetyeight percent of our graduates move directly into careers or graduate programs within six to twelve months, supported by hands-on internships, employer partnerships, and an alumni network deeply invested in their success.”
Belmont University, Class of 2025
STEM
EDUCATION
OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME & WORKFORCE READY
FROM THE TICUA HALL OF FAME Speaker Beth Harwell Tennessee’s First Female Speaker of the House of Representatives
56%
62%
Katherine Paterson
26%
62% of students at Tennessee’s independent colleges graduate within 6 years, compared to 56% at the State’s public universities.
Lipscomb College B.A. | 1978 George Peabody College M.S. | 1979 Vanderbilt University Doctor of Philosophy | 1980
31%
TICUA member institutions enrolled 26% of the students in Tennessee but awarded 31% of all degrees in the state.
Two-time winner of the Newbery Medal Author of Bridge to Terabithia and 30+ books Library of Congress Living Legend
King University B.A., English | 1954 Honorary Doctorate of Letters | 1978
Congressman John Lewis, 1940-2020 Civil Rights Leader 17-term United States Congressman
American Baptist College B.A., Theology | 1961 Fisk University B.A., Religion and Philosophy | 1967
Dr. Mildred Stahlman Creator of the World’s First Modern Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) International Expert on Newborn Diseases
FILLING LEADERSHIP POSITIONS Students at TICUA member institutions have gone on to be leaders in their fields and trailblazers in various sectors.
Vanderbilt University B.A. | 1943 M.D. | 1946
Being at Sewanee was a life-changing experience for me. I can attribute where I am in my career—and the drive to get there—to the plentiful resources available and support provided to me. I was able to participate in neuroscience research, get hands-on experience starting a business, and access an alumni network full of people willing to help me be successful. Once I was in the workplace, I was able to see the value of those experiences and how they distinguished me.”
Sambhav Bansal
Sewanee: The University of the South, Class of 2023 2026 CASE STATEMENT
4
CULTIVATING CHARACTER DEVELOPING LEADERS WITH STRONG VALUES AND PURPOSE Alongside academics, TICUA institutions go the extra mile to shape students as individuals— strengthening character, resilience, and leadership. These qualities are central to student success and long-term achievement.
At Fisk, we believe a liberal arts education is more than academic preparation—it’s character formation. We are developing leaders with integrity, purpose, and compassion who are ready to meet the demands of a changing world.” Dr. Agenia W. Clark
Fisk University President
Rhodes College offers an exceptional liberal arts education in the heart of a dynamic city filled with opportunity. Students dedicated to service have sustained a student-run soup kitchen in a local church for more than 30 years. Through partnerships with organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, our students contribute to groundbreaking research that changes lives. Guided by our outstanding faculty, Rhodes students graduate with the critical thinking, problemsolving, and communication skills needed to lead meaningful lives and careers. They leave ready to pursue their passions and make a positive impact on the world—the true value of a Rhodes liberal arts education.”
TICUA campuses offer values-based education grounded in faith, service, and community. These experiences help students grow personally while preparing them to contribute meaningfully to society.
It’s your character that will carry you where you go the rest of your life. It’s not accolades. It’s not what you do. It’s who you are in your heart. Your values, morals and ethics are an extension of your personal relationship with Christ; and every place that you serve is your mission field.”
As Paul writes in Galatians 5:13, ‘You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.’ Southern Adventist University students and employees regularly search for opportunities to serve, and the benefit is two-fold—it meets a need, and it changes our hearts. With each act of service, we learn a little more about empathy, humility, and love.”
Major General Mastin Robeson
Ken Shaw, EdD
Jennifer Collins
Rhodes College President
Bryan College, Class of 1976 5
FOSTERING FAITH, FELLOWSHIP, AND PERSONAL GROWTH
2026 CASE STATEMENT
Southern Adventist University President
FROM THE TICUA HALL OF FAME MELVOID BENSON, 1930-2016
First African American Woman Elected to the Rhode Island Legislature Trailblazing Public Servant Lane College B.A. | 1951
She was both an amazing listener and a captivating speaker. In short, Mel was everything that a public servant should be. And while she had many titles – teacher, legislator, advocate, activist, wife, mother – she was, first and foremost, a friend you could count on.” Representative Jim Langevin (D - Rhode Island)
College can either be a greenhouse, where your faith flourishes and grows, or a graveyard, where it withers away. Here at Union University, our close-knit community is deeply committed to providing a transformative academic environment where your faith will not only survive, but thrive.” Dr. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver Union University President
INSTILLING A COMMITMENT TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED
Independent colleges and universities instill in students a lasting commitment to serve—whether motivated by faith, community values, or a dedication to social justice.
BEN HOOPER, 1870-1957 Governor of Tennessee 1911-1915 Carson-Newman College | 1890
Governor Ben Hooper is deserving of his place in history. A Carson-Newman graduate, he has honored the legacy of our university. From moral reform to civic service, Hooper embodied the mission of Carson-Newman as an ‘educated citizen and worldwide servant-leader.’” Dr. Charles A. Fowler
Carson-Newman University President
Koy Lafferty
Anna Grace Cooper
Cumberland University Master of Public Service Management | 2024
Freed-Hardeman University Nursing | 2024
Cumberland University equipped me with knowledge; it instilled a profound sense of integrity, community, and a desire for lifelong learning that has guided me through each challenge. My experiences at Cumberland in the MSP program remind me that true leadership blooms from service to others.”
Life has shown me how beautiful, hard, and fragile our existence is. Any school could have given me a nursing degree, but Freed-Hardeman taught me how to be with people as they walk through the toughest season of their lives.” 2026 CASE STATEMENT
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PROVEN PARTNERSHIPS COLLABORATING WITH EMPLOYERS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE STATE TO STRENGTHEN TENNESSEE
TICUA member institutions participate in programs that focus on workforce development (e.g., continuing education, providing employee training for a particular business, badges, or certifications).
Carson-Newman has become an important partner for us at Five Oaks. Their students come in with a level of maturity and leadership that’s honestly hard to find. When we bring in a Carson-Newman intern, we know we’re getting someone who already understands what it means to serve people well and lead with a steady, Christ-centered mindset. We’re excited to be partnering with the University to start a new program that introduces students with onsite internship placements as early as freshman year. Carson-Newman interns rise to the top for us. They show up with purpose, they work hard, and they lift the culture around them.” Todd Turpin
Five Oaks Development Group L.P.
TICUA INSTITUTION PARTNERSHIPS
Lane College Partners with CVS to offer the Pharmacy Technician Career Pathways Certification Program. Lee University Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education has partnered with Hamilton County Schools (HCS), The Maclellan Foundation, and The Tucker Foundation to create the Licensing Excellent Educators (L.E.E.) Program for Hamilton County Schools. Lincoln Memorial University In partnership with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association (TNOTA), LMU hosts a Fieldwork Educators Certificate Program and a Physical Agents Certification Course. Maryville College Partners with the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program to offer an AP Summer Institute, a week-long course that trains educators in AP instruction. Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Provides Cadaveric Regional Anesthesia Workshops, Point of Care Ultrasound Workshops, TEE/TTE workshops, and supports nurse educators through a Nurse Educator Micro Credential, webinars, and conferences. Union University Partners with the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program as a training provider. And Many More...
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2026 CASE STATEMENT
DELIVERING COST-EFFECTIVE HIGHER EDUCATION AND SAVINGS FOR TENNESSEE TAXPAYERS. INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SAVE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS YEARLY.
$313M
SAVED
$0.03 $1.00
Tennessee taxpayers saved $313M in 2024-2025 by educating students at TICUA institutions.
The state of Tennessee invests just 3 cents on the dollar to assist Tennessee students on TICUA member campuses
MAKING A POWERFUL ECONOMIC IMPACT ACROSS TENNESSEE.
From local spending to job creation, TICUA institutions generate economic activity in every corner of the state.
DIRECT CASH INJECTIONS INTO THE TN ECONOMY
$3.2B
IN STATE SPENDING FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS
$524M IN STUDENT SPENDING
TICUA Institutions’ day-to-day operations account for $2.5B, and construction spending accounts for almost $766M.
$524M in additional spending occurs annually because of the student body of TICUA Institutions.
ONE OF THE STATE’S LARGEST EMPLOYERS Many private colleges and universities are the largest employers in their counties and are tied directly to the financial health of their local communities.
80+
LOCATIONS
across the state of TN employing over 21,000 people in Tennessee.
STUDENT BODY SPENDING
$181M
APARTMENT RENT
$177M
MEALS SPENDING
$166M MISC. SPENDING
2026 CASE STATEMENT
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CHAMPIONING CHOICE EXPANDING ACCESS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND SERVING STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TICUA institutions provide more institutional aid than any other sector and provide a variety of support services, expanding access for students from all backgrounds.
9%
Federal Government Aid
10%
State Government Aid
82%
TICUA Institutional Aid
THE TENNESSEE EDUCATION $68.5M $68.5 M FROM LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP (TELS)
13,236 students attending TICUA institutions received over $68.5 million in HOPE Scholarships.
1,000+ TENNESSEE PROMISE STUDENTS
1,045 Tennessee Promise students enrolled in a TICUA member institution, receiving an average award of $2,346.
$27.5M+
FROM THE TENNESSEE STUDENT ASSISTANCE AWARD (TSAA)
Over 7,000 students attending TICUA member institutions received $27.5 million from the TSAA, with an average award of $3,919.
17,000+ OF PELL GRANTS
17,066 of Pell Grants go to Tennessee students attending a TICUA institution. The per-student average yearly award amount for the Federal Pell Grant totaled $5,994. 9
2026 CASE STATEMENT
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AID
94%
TICUA institutions are more affordable than the average private college in the U.S., with nearly ALL (94%) first-time freshmen receiving some form of financial aid.
AVERAGE TUITION & FEES 2025 - 2026
SERVING STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS
$45K $31.5K NATIONAL
TICUA
CHOICE OF PROGRAM
65
Dual Degree Programs
16%
250+
Online and Hybrid Programs
CHOICE OF PATHWAY of degrees were awarded to adults 25+
20+
Institutions have joined the Tennessee Transfer Pathways
31%
20+
Institutions offer Dual Admissions or Dual Enrollment/Credit Courses of undergraduates are students of color
57% of those enrolled are women
20+
CAMPUSES WITH VETERAN SUPPORT
90
ADULT DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAMS
FUELING OUR STATE’S FUTURE BY BRINGING MORE TALENT TO TENNESSEE STUDENTS ARE FROM OTHER 51% OFSTATES AND COUNTRIES
Thousands of our students come to Tennessee to study. After graduation, many choose to stay in Tennessee to live, work, and raise a family.
EMPOWERING STUDENTS THROUGH A WIDE ARRAY OF INSTITUTIONS, PROGRAMS, AND PATHWAYS With 34 institutions of every size, specialty, and model, TICUA offers students the freedom to choose the environment and pathway that best fits their needs and goals.
PERCENT OF PELL-ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
15 TICUA campuses have 50% or more students who are Pell-eligible. Baptist Health Sciences University
51%
Carson-Newman University
53%
Christian Brothers University
55%
Gabriela Urbina Orellana
59%
Lee University (San Pedro Sula, Honduras)
55%
King University
60%
Lane College
94%
LeMoyne-Owen College
78%
Lincoln Memorial University
54%
Maryville College
55%
Tennessee Wesleyan University
CHOICE OF INSTITUTION TICUA member institutions offer a variety of institutional types:
HBCU
60%
FAITH-BASED
LIBERAL ARTS
Trevecca Nazarene University 50% Tusculum University
Vanderbilt University Chancellor
I saw an environment where I could thrive—especially with a disability, and I saw a place where I would be surrounded and encouraged by Christian-minded peers.”
59%
Fisk University Johnson University
Daniel Diermeier
63%
Bryan College
Cumberland University
At Vanderbilt, we often talk about bringing the world to Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt to the world. But we never forget that, for us, that world starts right here in Nashville and our great state. We are proudly rooted here and profoundly committed to doing our part to foster a Tennessee innovation economy that builds on our significant strengths and collectively addresses our challenges…”
68%
RURAL
SINGLE-PURPOSE 2026 CASE STATEMENT
10
MEMBER SNAPSHOTS
11
YEAR FOUNDED
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
DEGREES AWARDED
American Baptist College
1924
44
10
Aquinas College
1961
89
3
Baptist Health Sciences University
1912; 1994
1,129
196
Belmont University
1890
8,932
2,272
Bethel University
1842
2,849
558
Bryan College
1930
1,761
272
Carson-Newman University
1851
2,899
748
Christian Brothers University
1871
1,278
650
Cumberland University
1842
3,487
851
Fisk University
1866
1,015
90
Freed-Hardeman University
1869
2,346
420
Johnson University
1893
985
255
King University
1867
1,244
373
Lane College
1882
836
118
Lee University
1918
3,876
875
LeMoyne-Owen College
1862
726
86
Lincoln Memorial University
1897
6,472
1,641
2026 CASE STATEMENT
YEAR FOUNDED
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
DEGREES AWARDED
Lipscomb University
1891
4,917
1,443
Maryville College
1819
1,144
205
Meharry Medical College
1876
1,480
387
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
1950
234
87
Milligan University
1866
1,204
305
Rhodes College
1848
1,782
541
Southern Adventist University
1892
3,360
658
Southern College of Optometry
1932
535
125
Tennessee Wesleyan University
1857
1,398
344
The University of the South
1857
1,682
473
Trevecca Nazarene University
1901
3,272
926
Tusculum University
1794
1,112
343
Union University
1823
2,682
742
Vanderbilt University
1873
13,586
4,182
Welch College
1942
424
48
William R Moore College of Technology
1939
692
28
Williamson College
1997
50
18 2026 CASE STATEMENT
12
ABOUT TICUA
Founded in 1956, the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association engages Tennessee’s private higher education institutions to work collaboratively in the areas of public policy, cost containment, and professional development to serve the state and its citizens. We advocate for educational opportunity and freedom of choice in higher education at the state and federal levels to ensure students are able to attend the college or university that best fits their academic, financial, and career needs.
Thank you to our TICUA COLLEGIUM MEMBERS.