The future isn’t around the corner — it’s already here. By 2030, global workforce projections show that 92 million jobs will be automated while 170 million new ones will emerge worldwide. That’s a net gain of 78 million jobs. Technology is evolving fast, and Tennesseans are asking what this means for their careers — and for the workforce their children will join. New tools will reshape industries and eliminate some roles, but the people who know how to adapt and put emerging technologies to work will shape the workforce of tomorrow. Universities are preparing students to be those people.
The University of Tennessee System is built on a simple focus: preparing for what comes next. How do students prepare not only for today’s careers but also for jobs that don’t yet exist? How do communities grow stronger to serve the people who call them home? How can research and innovation power progress across Tennessee and beyond?
Affordability is central to those answers. College must remain within reach, which is why programs like UT Promise matter so deeply. This last-dollar scholarship assists with tuition and mandatory fees for families earning $75,000 or less, making nearly two-thirds of Tennesseans eligible.
And it’s not just scholarship support. Tuition across UT System universities has increased by just 1.4% annually over the past five years, well below the 3.7% average rise in consumer prices. By keeping costs manageable, our universities are helping students avoid excessive debt.
In fact, 55.2% of UT graduates finish without debt. That means more Tennesseans can take the next step toward meaningful careers that strengthen their families, communities and our state without the burden of loans.
And perhaps most impactful, a four-year degree can add an average of $1.5 million in earnings over a lifetime compared to a high school diploma. That means UT isn’t just making degrees affordable. It’s helping Tennesseans buy a car, own a home, support their family and build a stronger future. Across the UT System, opportunities look different in each place but share the same purpose: to expand access, create knowledge and prepare students for the future. Over the past five years, UT universities collectively grew enrollment by 20.2%, increased research spending by 20.9% to $524.1 million, and awarded 16.2% more degrees than just five years ago. Whether through groundbreaking research, health care training or community-based learning, our universities are building the workforce and innovations that will keep Tennessee moving forward.
Together, we’re creating Tennessee’s talent pipeline. More teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and health care professionals are entering fields that will define the Tennessee of tomorrow. Just as importantly, every university in the UT System is preparing students for careers that have not been created yet, equipping them with the critical thinking, adaptability and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in a constantly evolving world.
At the UT System, every decision is made with tomorrow in mind, preparing students for meaningful careers, building a workforce that drives our economy and creating innovations that change lives.
We’re building the greatest decade in the history of the University of Tennessee by preparing for the future now, so Tennessee is ready not just to meet tomorrow, but to lead it.
