Roane State Earns 2026 Entrepreneurial College Honor
The Tennessee college shares the national award with Houston Community College and Seminole State College.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Adult Education
The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship named Roane State a 2026 Entrepreneurial College of the Year, sharing the honor with Houston Community College and Seminole State College. NACCE announced the co-winners at its 2026 Annual Conference in Boston on November 3.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights community college programs that prepare adults to start and run businesses, including associate degrees in business administration and management and a certificate in business ownership. It also signals that Tennessee's adult learners have access to entrepreneurship training and support resources in the state.
NACCE recognized three co-winners in 2026, including Roane State, Houston Community College and Seminole State College. Roane State reported more than 100,000 hours of continuing education provided last year, though the award announcement does not detail how that total was measured.
The players
Roane State Community College
A public community college in Harriman, Tennessee, that offers associate degrees, certificates and workforce training across East Tennessee.
National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
A national organization that promotes entrepreneurship education at community colleges and presents annual Entrepreneurial College of the Year awards.
The details
Roane State's Workforce Development offerings connect businesses and individuals with industry-focused training, professional development and continuing education. The Cumberland Business Incubator offers coaching, mentoring, marketing support, access to capital, and office and co-working space for testing new concepts, while the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce provides free confidential consulting.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: NACCE announces co-winners at its Annual Conference in Boston.
2025: Roane State provides more than 100,000 hours of continuing education.
Market Landscape
NACCE's Entrepreneurial College of the Year program recognizes community colleges that build entrepreneurship into their curricula, and Roane State joins Houston Community College and Seminole State College in the 2026 class. The Aspen Institute separately named Roane State one of 200 colleges eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
Adults interested in starting a business can enroll in Roane State's associate degree programs in business administration and management or pursue a certificate in business ownership. Local entrepreneurs can also use the Cumberland Business Incubator and the free counseling offered through the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Oak Ridge.
The takeaway
Adults who want to start a business can build practical skills through community college programs designed with entrepreneurs in mind. Tennessee residents can also tap free coaching and incubator resources to test ideas before committing significant capital.
What happens next
The full NACCE announcement about this year's Entrepreneurial Colleges of the Year is forthcoming and will be available at nacce.com/news.
Further reading
Explore more on Adult Education across Tennessee and the Southeast.
More information
Learn about the options on the Roane State business and management programs page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 102.5 WOW COUNTRY | Today's Country & the Legends!.
