Primary, secondary and college education is a priority in Tennessee. State lottery revenue is dedicated to education, and the Governor has an initiative to produce more college graduates in science and math. New programs in K-12 emphasize science and math and strive to improve test scores in all curriculums. The following are examples of partnerships, accountability and innovation of the school systems located in the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association area.

Teach Tennessee encourages mid-career and retired professionals to become teachers in math and science curriculum.

FastTrack offers high school students a jump start to obtain a college degree in technology (such as electro-mechanical technology, plant maintenance and other technical skills that area employers recognize a need for in the workforce.) The program is conducted through a partnership between area schools and Northeast State Community College.

GEAR UP is a program conducted by East Tennessee State University to help 7th and 8th graders gain awareness and readiness for high school, college and the workforce. ETSU mentors the students until they graduate and beyond.

Partners in Education unites city and county schools with area businesses to address needs of the local workforce and to improve communication between educators and employers.

Tennessee Scholars are high school students who have completed a specific curriculum that provides a market of higher education.

VA Educational Testing: Tennessee is a leader in accountability testing for all students. Pioneered by Tennessee, the TVAAS scoring system provides precise data measurement of techniques which best impact student achievement.

Tennessee Lottery revenue is dedicated to education of Tennessee college students who qualify.

Private Schools are available throughout the region (K-12) offering education with emphasis on classical, Christian and liberal arts education.

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) offers 200 undergraduate, graduate and medical degree programs of study. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Technology (including a degree in Digital Media), College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Public and Allied Health. The School of Graduate Studies offers Masters and PhD. programs. Students can earn advanced degrees through Internet, distance learning and industry-on-site programs. Enrollment is 10,000 students.

Milligan College is a private, Christian, liberal-arts college in Northeast Tennessee. For several years in a row including 2005, Milligan was rated as one of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the country by US News & World Report. The college offers degrees such as: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Masters in Business Administration, Masters of Education, and Masters of Occupational Therapy. Enrollment is approximately 1,000 students.

Tusculum College is a private college in Tennessee offering 21 Majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts Degree. The Graduate & Professional Studies program offers degree tracks leading to a Bachelor of Science, Organizational Management, Marketing, a Master of Arts in Organizational Management and the Master of Arts in Education. Tusculum offers working adults opportunities to finish their degrees or get advanced degrees through concentrated study programs at off-campus sites, industry on-site and internet classes. Enrollment is 2,122.

Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee is a private liberal arts and professional studies college offering programs in English, Humanities, Math, Natural Science (including Environmental Science, Biology and Chemistry) Nursing and Allied Health. LMU is also offering Masters-level programs in Business and Nursing. Online and off-site classes are available. Enrollment is 2,800.

King College is a private college offering 80 majors, minors and concentrations. Degrees are offered in areas such as Business, Science, Math, Chemistry, Computer Science, Forensic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Management and International Business and Global Health, and Pre-Engineering. King has been rated one of the top colleges in the nation for 16 years by U.S. News & World Report. Enrollment is 970 students.

Carson Newman College, has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the best educational value in Tennessee and one of the best in the South among colleges and universities that offer master’s level degrees. More than 40 majors in business and science and other areas are offered. Enrollment is 2,150.

University of Tennessee, the largest and oldest university in the state, offers more than 90 major programs in nine different colleges. In recent years University of Tennessee has been rated by U.S. News & World Reports as having outstanding programs in Logistics, Social Work, Law, Education, Civil Engineering, Forensic Science and Physical Therapy. The main campus is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Enrollment is 26,100.

Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia was established in 1908 and today offers 87 Bachelor Degrees in the Arts, Education, sciences including Pre-medicine and Pre-veterinarian medicine, Computer Information Management, Pre-law, Equine Studies and many other degrees. The college also offers associate degrees in Allied Health, General Studies and Graphic Design. The college has a well-developed curriculum of online coursework and adult degrees in subjects from business to teacher education.

2-year Colleges
Northeast State Community College offers associate and bachelor degrees in medical, technical studies and liberal arts. Northeast State develops curriculum in partnership with area employers to specifically fill the needs of area business and industry, such as Computer Technology and Chemical Process Engineering. Northeast has multiple sites and total enrollment is 5,100.

Walters State Community College offers programs of study that lead to Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Art degrees. There are 70 programs of study ranging from Art Education to Web Developer Specialist and majors that prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges. Other areas of study include Business, Humanities, Mathematics, and Computer Science. Total enrollment at various sites is 5,900.

Tennessee Technology Centers, located throughout the region, are recognized as among the best technical training schools in the Southeast. Training is provided for students to gain entry-level employment and continuing education. Employer-driven curriculum is a priority. Total enrollment is approximately 4,000.

Mountain Empire Community College offers programs of study that lead to Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Art degrees. Degrees, certificates and transfer programs to four-year colleges are offered in a wide range of studies such as Manufacturing Distribution, Computer Technology, Welding and many others. Enrollment is approximately 500.

Hiwassee College, is the oldest private two-year college in Tennessee. Hiwassee offers two-year programs of study for transfer to four-year colleges in areas such as Finance, Family and Consumer Services, Biology, Sports Medicine, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education
Pre-Law, and Pre-Medicine Enrollment is 400.