The tuition rates table below includes only tuition and fees for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) day programs. The rates presented below do not include program fees or textbooks. To view estimated total costs that include all tuition, textbooks, and tools/program fees, find your program of interest.
Note: Most Tennessee citizens 18 years of age or older are eligible for up to $2,000 a year from the Tennessee Educational Lottery Scholarship program for full-time enrollment at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology. See the Financial Aid page for more details.
2025-2026 TCAT Tuition
| Trimester Hours | Maintenance Fee | Student Access Fee | Technology Access Fee | Trimester Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-40 | $218 | $10 | $45 | $273 |
| 41-80 | $295 | $10 | $45 | $350 |
| 81-135 | $446 | $10 | $45 | $501 |
| 136-217 | $777 | $10 | $73 | $860 |
| 218-340 | $1255 | $10 | $73 | $1338 |
| 341-432 | $1404 | $10 | $73 | $1487 |
* Does not include program-specific fees or textbook/supplies/tool costs.
**Dual enrolled students receiving the Dual Enrollment Grant are assessed only Tuition and a Dual Enrollment Access Fee (5% of Tuition) unless another third-party arrangement for payment exists.
Special Academic Fees
| Program | Cost Per Trimester |
|---|---|
| Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration | $100 |
| Practical Nursing | $100 |
| Truck Driving | $300 |
| Welding Techology | $100 |
Cost of Attendance
The federal government allows financial aid funds to be used to cover up to the student’s academic year budget or Cost of Attendance (COA). The COA is an estimate of what it costs a typical student to attend college. This is different from the actual tuition/fees amounts that you may see on your student account as charges due each trimester. The COA is made up of two different types of costs: direct and indirect. Direct costs are items that appear on your TCAT bill, such as tuition and fees. Indirect costs will not appear on your bill but are estimated costs associate with going to college. These include items like books, supplies, and equipment, housing and food (living expenses), transportation and personal expenses. The Cost of Attendance is used to determine your need for financial assistance. Typically, the total of your financial aid cannot exceed your COA.
2025-26 Estimated Cost of Attendance
| Housing Type | Estimated Tuition & Fees | Books, Course Materials, Supplies, & Equipment | Living Expenses (Housing & Food) | Personal/ Miscellaneous | Transportation | Total COA for Academic Year |
| With Parents | $4,320 | $1,463 | $6,343 | $1,890 | $2,720 | $16,736 |
| Not With Parents | $4,320 | $1,463 | $13,352 | $1,890 | $2,720 | $23,745 |
| Military Living on Base | $4,320 | $1,463 | $4,006 | $1,890 | $2,720 | $14,399 |
| Incarcerated | $4,320 | $1,463 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,783 |
Adjustments to Cost of Attendance
The Financial Aid Office may also adjust the COA on a documented case-by-case basis. Please contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if you have additional costs that may be included in your COA. Requests may be made for an increase to the standard COA for the following reasons:
- Actual cost for books, course materials, supplies & equipment
- Dependent/childcare expenses
- Disability related expenses, not covered by insurance or other agencies
- Required equipment or the rental/upfront purchase of a personal computer
- Mileage between student’s residence and place of employment
Cost per Clock Hour for Programs Eligible for the Military Tuition Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) requires all institutions using a flat rate for tuition to post on their websites the derived “cost per contact hour” of eligible programs in order for active duty military students to receive the tuition assistance benefit. Please note that this figure is provided solely to meet this requirement. The Tennessee College of Applied Technology does not use a cost per contact hour calculation to determine tuition charges.
Cost per Contact Hour (for DoD Memorandum of Understanding purposes only): $3.25
A DOD MOU participating institutions for Federal Tuition Assistance to qualified applicants.
TN STRONG Act is Eligible for use at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology that are DOD MOU participating institutions.