Building Tennessee’s Workforce: An Assessment of Credential Completion at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology

Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) are the primary providers of public postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities in the state. The purpose of this study was to determine which student demographic and enrollment characteristics significantly correlated with the completion of a postsecondary certificate or diploma at a TCAT. Using a state administrative dataset and employing multilevel modeling techniques, this study found students who enrolled on a full-time schedule, who had a prior postsecondary education background, and who received the state’s need-based grant had significantly higher odds of credential completion. Students who had below a high school education, students who were classified as nontraditional based on gender and program of study, and Students of Color had significantly lower odds.