Nashville State History

Our Past: Bringing Higher Education to Middle Tennessee 

Since 1970, Nashville State Community College has been a vital part of Nashville and surrounding communities. Initially named Nashville State Technical Institute, the College had 398 students and offered five associate degree programs. Graduation was held in the parking lot. White Bridge Road, where the original and first campus is located, had only two lanes and very few businesses.

As the White Bridge area grew over the years, so did the College. In 1984, Nashville State joined the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system of state universities and community colleges. In 2002, the Tennessee General Assembly and the Governor expanded the mission of Nashville State to a comprehensive community college. As a comprehensive community college, Nashville State offers the Associate of Applied Science technical and career degrees, and the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Fine Arts, the Associate of Science, and the Associate of Science in Teaching transfer degrees.

"I opened the BlueBird Café in June of 1982, and within a couple of months, I realized how much I didn't know about owning a small business. Everything I know about business, other than my on-the-job learning, came from my classes at Nashville State."

Our Present: Focusing on Completion and Post-Completion Success 

In service to middle Tennessee, Nashville State now has several campuses, along with classes taught online and virtually: Clarksville campus (Clarksville), Dickson campus (Dickson), East Davidson campus (Donelson), Humphreys County campus (Waverly), North Davidson campus (Madison), Southeast campus (Antioch), and White Bridge campus (West Nashville). 

Nashville State has more than 8o program offerings with flexible online options, where students can earn an associate degree or career-ready credential, or transfer credits to a four-year institution.

In 2021, the College created and began implementing its first strategic plan, Nashville State LEADS: Vision 2030 A Student-Ready College. The plan provides the strategic framework for guiding its work and resources towards this intentional effort. Nashville State is continuously identifying and removing barriers to success for the students it serves. Strategic focus areas include: (1) Access (2) Completion (3) Post-Completion Success (4) Community and Workforce Development.

In 2022, Nashville State introduced its mascot, Finn the Falcon, during a series of on-campus events for a “Return to the Nest.” Finn a unifying symbol of pride for all Falcons.

"This degree through Nashville State is giving me the opportunity to have a career, not just a job."

Our Future: Continuing to Serve Our Students and Communities 

As Nashville State looks toward the future, it will build upon its reputation as a comprehensive community college. By expanding and adapting course and program offerings, and instructional delivery methods at all of its campus locations and online, Nashville State will stay in step with the educational needs and workforce demands of Nashville and the surrounding middle Tennessee area.

"Dual Enrollment has helped me in knowing that I'm working toward a long-term goal. It's motivating to know that I'm getting college courses out of the way while still in high school. Getting ahead and taking initiative in my own future by taking Dual Enrollment is a very rewarding feeling."