A new independent study finds that Tennessee’s ‘Advise TN’ program is significantly increasing the number of students enrolling in college and technical training programs after high school.
The research, released by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, shows the state-funded initiative has raised immediate postsecondary enrollment by six percent statewide. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and evaluated the program across more than two dozen communities.
Advise TN, launched in 2017, places full-time college and career advisors in high schools with historically low college-going rates. Advisors work directly with students and families to plan next steps after graduation, whether that involves a university, trade school, apprenticeship, military service or entering the workforce.
State officials said the program’s impact is especially strong among students in rural and low-income communities—where access to guidance and resources can be limited.
“The data is clear: higher levels of education mean higher earnings, stronger workforce participation and healthier communities,” said Dr. Steven Gentile, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. “Advise TN helps students not only make a plan, but execute it.”
Researchers found the program’s success is tied to its focus on helping students complete key milestones, including filing the FAFSA and applying for scholarships. Students who met with advisors multiple times and received in-person or hybrid support saw the greatest benefits.
Dr. Taylor Odle, an assistant professor of educational policy studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said the results are notable for a program operating at scale.
“A six percent increase achieved across multiple student groups is a substantial gain,” Odle said. “Advise TN stands out nationally for delivering measurable statewide impact through consistent, high-frequency advising.”
The study also highlighted several elements that contribute to the program’s effectiveness, including the use of full-time professional advisors, centralized training and oversight, and regular, relationship-based engagement with students.
Program leaders say those components help ensure students not only receive information, but follow through on the steps required to enroll in post secondary education or training.
The findings were discussed during a public briefing hosted by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission earlier this month, featuring program leaders and researchers involved in the study.
Advise TN is part of the commission’s broader mission to expand access to higher education and career readiness opportunities across the state. Officials say the program is designed to help more Tennesseans earn credentials that lead to higher incomes and support local workforce needs.
As Tennessee continues to focus on education and workforce development, state leaders say the study provides further evidence that targeted advising can play a key role in improving outcomes for students across diverse communities.
