To avoid student loan debt and get through post-secondary school quicker, many students may decide to attend a technical school, community college or other local career training option. With the huge presence a large university like MTSU has in the community, many are unaware of the various other career and technical education options for students in the area.
State schools, private schools and companies offer a wide variety of career training. State community and technical colleges may be free for students in Tennessee, and there is sometimes financial assistance available for education in the private sector.
The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce focuses on the state programs that can use TN Promise dollars and scholarships.
“These are what we are most familiar with,” said Essence Brisco, who works with local high schools and students and is director of the Chamber of Commerce’s Rutherford Works program, promoting education and workforce development in the area.
Some students know what they want to do, and they may go to a two-year or four-year college, and then you have a whole group of students who have no idea what they want to do, said Beth Duffield, senior vice president of education and workforce development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce/Rutherford Works.
“Tennessee Promise is two free years of college, and it is a great way to start for students who don’t know what their career aspirations are because they are going to have to get their basics out of the way, paid for by the state,” Duffield said.
One option using TN Promise is Tennessee College of Applied Technology. The College of Applied Technology has 12- and 18-month programs, and they are certificate-based. There are no general education courses required with this—it’s all specific career-based education, versus going to a community college, where you get a mixed bag of diverse courses.
Other students may start their college career at a community college earning their general education requirements through TN Promise (nearly or completely debt-free) and then continue to a four-year university such as MTSU where they can pursue degrees in upper skill jobs in the same industry sectors.
MTSU actually offers transfer scholarships to community college students, another great way to earn a college degree at no cost or a reduced cost, Duffield said.
Students can also attend a community college to earn a certificate of degree in two years or less for what are called “middle skill jobs,” which have strong earning potential and require less training than a four-year degree but more than a high school diploma.
Rutherford County actually has more of these jobs open than any other category, Duffield said.
“We absolutely believe students need to have a goal in mind before choosing a college option,” Duffield said. “Rutherford County Schools offers multiple career and technical education programs in all of our high schools that help students explore career pathways while still in high school. By the time students spend four years studying [manufacturing, health care, agriculture, IT, culinary arts or automotive repair, for example) they should have a pretty good idea of what they do or don’t want to do for a career. Then they can pick the best college option to meet their goal.”
Rutherford County Schools also provide students in these fields the option to earn industry certifications and earn college credits before graduating.
“Students may complete their college choice much more quickly, at less cost and be ready to fill the thousands of job openings in our high-wage, high-demand industry sectors (health care, IT, construction, manufacturing and supply chain management),” Duffield said.
She said the Chamber supports the lowest cost education options, and she doesn’t believe anyone should go into debt to pay for their education.
“There are certainly other college options available in our community. We would encourage students and parents to assess the cost of the college of their choice and the earning potential of their chosen degree program,” she said.
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Some of the educational options in Rutherford County include:
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) is a public state vocational college that offers courses in all sorts of fields from heating & air to computer science. Most programs can be completed within two years and some students can use the Tennessee Promise Scholarship to attend and graduate debt-free.
Programs include administrative office technology, automotive technology, collision repair technology, building and electrical technology, central sterile processing technology, computer aided design technology, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration; industrial electrical maintenance/mechatronics, information technology and infrastructure management, machine tool technology, welding, digital graphic design, cosmetology, dental assisting, pharmacy technician, practical nursing and surgical technology.
TCAT Murfreesboro is located at 1303 Old Fort Pkwy. For information, visit tcatmurfreesboro.edu or call 615-898-8010. A Smyrna campus is located at 663 Ken Pilkerton Dr.
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• Motlow Community College is a public school that offers certificates, associate degrees and flexible learning pathways toward a variety of bachelor’s degrees and industry-recognized training programs that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers.
Motlow serves transfer and degree-seeking as well as non-credit students pursuing continuing education units, certifications, professional development and industry-recognized credentials through MotlowTrained and specialized automation and robotics training.
Motlow features Tennessee Promise and Reconnect scholarships. Both allow eligible Tennessee students to receive an award at Motlow toward tuition and mandatory fees after all other aid has been applied. Promise is for Tennessee high school graduates, while Reconnect is for adults without degrees.
Students may complete their general education courses or choose from two-year associate degree programs in more than 40 disciplines. Motlow has a robust selection of articulation agreements with state institutions that offer Motlow graduates a host of unique benefits and supported pathways toward 4-year degrees through Tennessee Transfer Pathways.
Motlow has a nationally recognized reputation for automation, robotics and mechatronics and is located at 5002 Motlow College Blvd., Smyrna. For information, visit mscc.edu or call 615-220-7800.
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• Georgia Career Institute Murfeesboro Campus offers a nail technology program, where students learn manicuring and pedicuring, nail art, wraps, nail tips and sculptured nails as well as aromatherapy and reflexology. The cosmetology program prepares students for careers in the beauty industry, teaching students hair cutting, hair styling, permanent waving, coloring and basic skincare. Successful graduates of either program are qualified to take the state board exam for a cosmetology license.
The esthetics program teaches students about the care, repair and enhancement of the skin. This is a fast-growing professional segment, and the program prepares students for a career in skincare and for the licensing examination of the Georgia or Tennessee Boards of Cosmetology.
The massage therapy program leads to an entry level massage therapy license for a broad range of jobs in hotels, spas, fitness centers, doctors offices, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, wellness centers, cruise lines and sports settings. Additionally, many therapists develop their own private massage practices.
Georgia Career Institute is located at 1691 Memorial Blvd. For information, visit gci.edu or call 615-896-0702.
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• Murfreesboro Aviation can help aspiring pilots get their wings. Want to become an airline pilot, fly for a charter company, be a corporate pilot or fly freight? Earn a commercial rating from Murfreesboro Aviation and the money to fly now comes to you rather than from you.
Located at the Murfreesboro Airport, Murfreesboro Aviation offers various flight training programs, from private pilot license and instrument flight rating to a high performance endorsement and multiengine instructor rating. Learn to fly with Murfreesboro Aviation and make your career in the sky.
For more information, call 615-494-1900 or visit murfreesboroaviation.com.
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• TN Professional Training Institute in Murfreesboro offers programs in registered dental assisting and in phlebotomy. A registered dental assistant provides support to the dentist and hygienist. The dental assisting programs are offered as three options: a 10-week part-time program meeting every Saturday, a three-week full-time program meeting Monday through Friday, or a 10-week part-time evening program meeting Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 10 weeks. The facility allows students to learn in a real dental office.
TN Professional Training Institute is located at 1819 Memorial Blvd. It is authorized for operation as a post-secondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. To view detailed job placement information, visit tn.gov/thec.
For more information and to find out about the new phlebotomy program, visit tnpti.com or call 615-631-8440.
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• Daymar College Murfreesboro campus offers programs in accounting, billing and coding, business management, criminal justice, medical assisting clinical, network support administration and pharmacy technology.
The degree program offering can be slightly shorter than a traditional four-year college degree with small class sizes, day, evening and online classes, plus career training.
Daymar College is located at 415 Golden Bear Ct. For more information, visit daymarcollege.edu or call 615-225-4497.
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• The Boro Barber Academy is a barber shop where students learn as they work. The barber college is located on the square in Murfreesboro at 115 S. Maple St. For information, call 615-896-9500.
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• Truck Driver Institute teaches truck driving within a three-week training program. Students who successfully complete the program become Class A or B CDL drivers.
The Truck Driver Institute is located at 6201 Epps Mill Rd, Christiana. For information, visit drivebigtrucks.com or call 1800-848-7364.
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• United Truck Driving School is another local truck driving school for students looking to receive Class A CDL training or Class B CDL training. Instructors prepare students for a career as a professional commercial driver. Third party examiners administer CDL certification tests on-site. This is a 20-day program.
The school is located at 819 Park Ave., Murfreesboro. For more information, visit unitedtruckschool.net or call 615-410-7600.
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• Paul Mitchell The School offers courses in hair cutting, coloring, styling, skin care, waxing and makeup for those interested in a career in cosmetology or esthetics.
Authorized for operation as a post-secondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro helps its graduates launch a career in the beauty industry, preparing students to pass the state board examination and gain employment within their field of study. View job placement information at tn.gov/thec.
Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro, is located in Stones River Town Center. For more information, visit paulmitchell.edu/murfreesboro or call 615-225-5130.
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Helpful Websites:
https://www.collegefortn.org/
https://www.tn.gov/tnpromise.html
https://tnachieves.org/
Information on Student Loan Debt:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2020/02/03/student-loan-debt-statistics/?sh=78adbb60281f
Stats on Rutherford County Degree Attainment:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/countyprofiles/CountyProfile_Rutherford.pdf
https://www.hbs.edu/competitiveness/research/Pages/middle-skills.aspx
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/31566/411633-America-s-Forgotten-Middle-Skill-Jobs.PDF
