Career Training Path

Career Training Path › Tennessee › Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie

McKenzie, Tennessee · Public technical college · Training programs available:

Welding schoolsHVAC schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsCNC & machining programs
not reportedcompletion rate · Tennessee avg 64%
not reportedmedian debt of graduates
not reportedmedian earnings, 6 yrs after entry
not reportedmedian earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education (Accredited)
Address: 16940 Highland Dr, McKenzie, TN 38201 · Phone: (731) 352-5364 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie is a public trade school in McKenzie, Tennessee offering welding, HVAC, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 64.3%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, but this campus's own completion rate, median graduate debt, and median earnings are not reported for this campus in federal data.

Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie; the school does participate in federal financial aid (Title IV), but the share of students receiving Pell Grants is not reported. Contact the school for current tuition.

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$37,840$48,040$57,450
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$38,540$55,490$65,590
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$34,820$50,290$63,790
Machinists$37,560$49,600$61,220

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Tennessee (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 21 $35,493 $28,055 not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 17 $21,353 $21,964 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 2–4 years 6 $24,457 not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 4 $35,493 $28,055 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 2 $35,493 $28,055 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 $35,493 $28,055 not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

The Path
Lineworkers earn $95k. Dental hygienists $98k. Barbers $38k.
The federal numbers on every trade, technical and healthcare career, in a free weekly newsletter.
Subscribe →

About this school

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie is a public trade and career school located in McKenzie, Tennessee, in a fringe rural area. The campus is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), meaning students may use FAFSA and Pell Grants to help pay for training. The school awards six program families, with the most completers in welding schools (25), HVAC schools (17), and auto mechanic schools (6).

Federal data shows 51 trade completers at this campus. The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 64.3%, but this campus's own completion rate and how it compares to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt of graduates, median earnings 10 years after entry, annual cost of attendance, and the share of students receiving Pell Grants are also not reported for this campus in federal data.

Based on the program mix, this campus may suit students seeking hands-on training in welding, HVAC, auto mechanics, or CNC machining rather than a traditional multi-year degree path; whether these formats fit adult career-changers specifically is not detailed in the available data. Prospective students should verify current program lengths, costs, and outcomes directly with the school by phone at (731) 352-5364 or through its website, and can review federal figures on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard for this institution.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

The campus offers six program families, most notably welding schools (25 completers), HVAC schools (17), and auto mechanic schools (6), along with CNC machining programs.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can apply for FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

This campus's specific completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 64.3%, but a direct comparison is not reported.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school or check the College Scorecard link for updates.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

This is a public school, which typically means state-supported tuition rates and eligibility for state as well as federal financial aid programs.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Specific program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school by phone at (731) 352-5364 or visit its website for details.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at the provided link.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The program mix of welding, HVAC, auto mechanics, and CNC machining suggests hands-on, skills-based training, but specific fit for adult career-changers is not detailed in the available data.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie at (731) 352-5364 or through its website, https://www.tcatmckenzie.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data against other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard for side-by-side figures where available.

Nearby trade and career schools in Tennessee

See all trade and career schools in Tennessee or search by ZIP code.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

The Path
Nine months to a paycheck that AI can't take.
A free weekly newsletter for people choosing a hands-on career: trades, technical and healthcare.
Subscribe →