TCAT Athens is a public institution offering certificate degrees based in Athens, Tennessee. It enrolls 205 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes81
Value44
Affordability45
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, TCAT Athens admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $12,758 a year on average, it sits below what public colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,299
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,169
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,963
What this means:
36% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
82% of students who start here finish within six years, and 71% come back after first year. Most people who start here leave with the degree they came for. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
82%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $40,540 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,540
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,000, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.2 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 205 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 63% are the first in their family to go to college.
Total Enrolled
205
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
63%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.5%165
Hispanic 7.8%16
Black 5.9%12
Other 2.4%5
Asian 0.5%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at TCAT Athens. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
TCAT Athens offers
a focused set of programs:
6 distinct programs across
5 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
Best for:
Based on the data, TCAT Athens is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about TCAT Athens
The questions families ask most about TCAT Athens, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is TCAT Athens hard to get into?
Not especially. TCAT Athens admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at TCAT Athens?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does TCAT Athens cost?
Budget around $12,758 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is TCAT Athens worth it?
On the numbers, yes: solid return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $40,540 a year against a net price of $12,758, about 3.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is TCAT Athens known for?
Mostly Practical Nursing, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Precision Metal Working. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do TCAT Athens graduates earn?
About $40,540 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is TCAT Athens accredited?
Yes. TCAT Athens is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
How many students attend TCAT Athens?
205 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at TCAT Athens?
82% finish within six years. Most people who start here graduate, which is the signal you want. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is TCAT Athens a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is TCAT Athens located?
TCAT Athens is located in Athens, Tennessee.
What programs does TCAT Athens offer?
6 different programs, most commonly Practical Nursing, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Precision Metal Working. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at TCAT Athens?
25 students per instructor. On the high side, so expect big classes and to seek out contact time yourself. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
Other colleges in Tennessee share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Ground Transportation
Practical Nursing
Precision Metal Working
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