Does free community college work?

“We’ve never turned away a student,” said Graham Thomas, director of community partnerships at tnAchieves, which raises money from large state employers or wealthy individuals. Through 2013, the program had awarded $7.8 million in scholarship.

Thomas said 65% of their students are the first in their families to attend college and 70% are from low-income families. The retention rate is also about 40% higher than the state average.

These are people who wouldn’t have the means — and might not know the ropes — of getting a college degree.

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