Nashville State Community College partners with Clarksville-Montgomery County School System for accelerated associate program
The partnership begins this month and allows high school students to work toward earning an associate degree while they are still earning their high school diploma.
Nashville State Community College and Clarksville-Montgomery County School System have formed a partnership to create an Accelerated Associate Program. The inaugural cohort of the program begins this month, August 2026, and will give high schoolers the opportunity to earn an associate degree for free while they are still working toward their high school diploma.
According to an article on Nashville State Community College’s website, Nashville State’s Clarksville Campus Director Kathleen Akers was quoted as saying of the new opportunity, “The Accelerated Associate Program reflects Nashville State’s commitment to removing barriers and creating clearer, more accessible routes to higher education. Through the program, students earn college credit early, save time, reduce costs, and build confidence as they transition into college-level coursework. CMCSS has been a great partner in building out this pathway to advanced learning for our area high school students.”
The Accelerated Associate Program will remove barriers to education for students who want to pursue further schooling after receiving their high school diploma. The cost-free opportunity to earn an associate degree can open doors to more, as students who participate in the program will also be eligible to pursue additional schooling at Nashville State Community College through the Tennessee Promise scholarship program, which covers most tuition and fees.
The program will still allow high schoolers to participate fully in their high school experiences, as they will spend most of their day at their high school, taking their regular courses. They will then be transported to Nashville State Community College for their associate degree courses. Once they graduate from high school, they will be able to finish up their remaining credits for their associate degree in as few as three semesters.
Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, the CMCSS Director of Schools, said, "CMCSS is committed to expanding high-quality academic opportunities for every student we serve. Through strong relationships with our community partners, especially Nashville State Community College, we are helping ensure that postsecondary education remains an accessible and attainable option, regardless of a student’s chosen path. The Accelerated Associate Pathway is another meaningful step forward in preparing our students to graduate college and career ready."
Tuition for the program is covered, while the students are still in high school, by a dual-enrollment grant.
For more information about Nashville State Community College, visit the school’s website.