Overview of the 2008-09 Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Recipients

Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association

September 2009

TELS Program Overview

Merit Scholarship enacted by State Legislature began in fall 2004.

In 2008-09, $259.9 million awarded across all programs and all institutions.

Since 2004, independent institutions have received $168 million as part of the TELS program.

Allocation and Distribution

Allocation by Award Type

$47 million awarded to students attending independent institutions.

Students Served by Award Type

Nearly 11,600 scholarships were awarded to students at independent institutions.

Recipients by Ethnicity

The racial/ethnic distribution of independent students receiving TELS awards, is not similar to the general student distribution. For instance, Black students comprise 16% of enrollment but reflect 8% of HOPE recipients.

Race/Ethnicity% Total HOPE Scholarship

Recipients% of Fall 2008 Undergraduate

Enrollment

Asian or Pacific Islander 3% 2%

Black, not Hispanic 8% 16%

Hispanic 2% 3%

Native American or Alaskan <1% <1%

Non-resident alien <1% 3%

White, not Hispanic 84% 70%

Unknown/Unreported 4% 6%

College Participation

TICUA Enrollment Trend

These figures include in-state and out-of-state students. Source: IPEDS Enrollment Surveys, fall 2002-fall 2008, full-time first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate (current year GRS cohort)

The greatest increase in enrollment occurs between fall 2003 and fall 2004. The years after 2004 exhibit enrollment growth, sustaining the growth that occurred in 2004.

In State Enrollment Trend

Since 2004 the percentage of in-state students at TICUA institutions has risen.

Scholarship Retention

Lottery Retention Rates

Data reports unique recipients attending four-year TICUA member institutions.

Similar to other state programs, retention rates of the initial cohort have dropped over the course of the program.

Percentage of First-Time Freshman Retaining TELS Awards, Fall 07-Fall 08

Data varies slightly from TICUA computed retention rates because of difference in reporting periods between THEC and TICUA. Source: The Tennessee Higher Education Commission, January 2008.

Overall, students at independent colleges retain the scholarship at the greatest rates.

Loss of Award

Since fall 2004, approximately 5,100 TELS recipients attending TICUA member institutions have failed to retain the lottery scholarship. 81% failed to maintain minimum GPA 5% reached maximum credit hours

More than 600 have regained the award.

Degree Completion

In all, more than 5,200 TELS recipients have graduated from private colleges and universities in Tennessee.

Of those TELS recipients who first received the TELS awards in 2004, 64% have graduated, whether they retained the scholarship or not, from private colleges and universities in Tennessee.

Of those TELS recipients who have earned a degree at a private college or university, 75% retained the award through the duration of their collegiate career.

Conclusions

In-state enrollments at private colleges have risen since 2004.

Demographics of enrolled students do not match those of lottery students.

Scholarship retention rates drop after the student’s first year, but are still greatest at private colleges.

It is important to examine ways to encourage greater retention.