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 residents age 18 or older are eligible for up to $2,000 each year through the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program if they are enrolled full-time at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Visit the Financial Aid page for more information.
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 |
|---|---|
| Diesel Powered Equipment | $50 |
| Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration | $100 |
| Heavy Equipment Technology | $50 |
| Practical Nursing | $100 |
| Truck Driving | $300 |
| Welding Technology | $100 |
Cost of Attendance
The federal government allows financial aid to cover up to a student’s academic-year budget, known as the Cost of Attendance (COA).
The COA is an estimate of what it costs a typical student to attend college for one academic year. It is different from the actual tuition and fees charged to your student account each trimester.
The COA includes two types of costs:
- Direct costs are charges that appear on your TCAT bill, such as tuition and fees.
- Indirect costs are expenses related to college that do not appear on your bill. These may include books, supplies, equipment, housing, food, transportation and personal expenses.
The Cost of Attendance helps determine how much financial aid a student may receive. In most cases, your total financial aid cannot be more than 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 | $2,195 | $6,343 | $1,890 | $2,720 | $17,468 |
| Not With Parents | $4,320 | $2,195 | $13,352 | $1,890 | $2,720 | $24,477 |
| Military Living on Base | $4,320 | $2,195 | $4,006 | $1,890 | $2,720 | $15,131 |
| Incarcerated | $4,320 | $2,195 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,515 |
Adjustments to Cost of Attendance
The Financial Aid Office may adjust a student’s COA on a case-by-case basis when supported by documentation.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have extra education-related costs that may qualify for an adjustment. You may request an increase to the standard COA for reasons such as:
- Actual costs for books, course materials, supplies and equipment
- Dependent or childcare expenses
- Disability-related expenses not covered by insurance or another agency
- Required equipment, or the rental or upfront purchase of a personal computer
- Mileage between the student’s home and the place of employment
Cost per Clock Hour for Programs Eligible for the Military Tuition Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) requires schools that use flat-rate tuition to post the cost per contact hour for eligible programs. This information is needed for active-duty military students who use tuition assistance benefits.
Please note that TCAT does not use cost per contact hour to calculate tuition charges. This number is listed only to meet Department of Defense requirements.
Cost per Contact Hour (for DoD Memorandum of Understanding purposes only): $3.25
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology that participate in the DoD Memorandum of Understanding may accept Federal Tuition Assistance for qualified applicants.
The TN STRONG Act may also be used at eligible Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology that participate in the DoD Memorandum of Understanding.