Nursing Schools in Tennessee: All 103 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Tennessee has 91 schools running 103 board-approved nursing programs — 74 RN-track and 29 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Tennessee programs is 90.1%, 3.6 points above the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Carson Newman UniversityJefferson City · Bachelor Degree
- 2100%Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson · Bachelor Degree
- 3100%Herzing University Madison Online-TNMadison (WI) · Bachelor Degree
- 4100%Jersey CollegeCleveland · Associate Degree
- 5100%King UniversityBristol · Bachelor Degree
- 6100%Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro · Bachelor Degree
- 7100%Pellissippi State Community CollegeKnoxville · Associate Degree
- 8100%Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale · Bachelor Degree
- 9100%University of Tennessee SouthernPulaski · Bachelor Degree
- 1098.5%Lincoln Memorial UniversityHarrogate · Bachelor Degree
Every Approved Nursing Program in Tennessee
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
103 of 103 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| Allied Health Careers Institute | Murfreesboro | Practical NursingPN | 25% |
| American National UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| American National UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Appalachian Regional Practical Nursing Program | Jacksboro | Practical NursingPN | 88.2% |
| Arizona College of Nursing - MemphisNew/provisional | Cordova | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Arizona College of Nursing - NashvilleNew/provisional | Mt. Juliet | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Aspen University | — | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 97.2% |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | 81.9% |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 97.7% |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Graduate Degree (direct-entry/pre-licensure track)RN | — |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Bachelor DegreeRN | 88.9% |
| Bryan CollegeNew/provisional | Dayton | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Carson Newman University | Jefferson City | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Casa Loma College - NashvilleNew/provisional | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Chamberlain UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Chattanooga CollegeNew/provisional | Chattanooga | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Chattanooga College | Chattanooga | Practical NursingPN | 71.1% |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Associate DegreeRN | 95.9% |
| Chattanooga State Community College Practical Nursing Program | Chattanooga | Practical NursingPN | 79% |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | 47.1% |
| Cleveland State Community College | Cleveland | Associate DegreeRN | 92.9% |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Associate DegreeRN | 94.9% |
| Concorde Career College (Associate of Applied Science)New/provisional | Memphis | Associate DegreeRN | 63.6% |
| Concorde Career College (Closed 2020) | — | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Cumberland UniversityNew/provisional | Lebanon | Bachelor DegreeRN | 97.8% |
| Dyersburg State Community College | Dyersburg | Associate DegreeRN | 92.8% |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Bachelor DegreeRN | 90.1% |
| Excelsior University TNNew/provisional | Albany (NY) | Associate DegreeRN | 85.7% |
| Fortis Institute Cookeville | Cookeville | Associate DegreeRN | 91.4% |
| Fortis Institute Nashville | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | 88.9% |
| Fortis Institute NashvilleNew/provisional | Nashville | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Galen College of Nursing | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | 94.2% |
| Galen College of Nursing | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 84.8% |
| Herzing UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | 64.3% |
| Herzing UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 77.8% |
| Herzing UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Herzing University Madison Online-TNDistanceNew/provisional | Madison (WI) | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Herzing University Madison Online-TNDistanceNew/provisional | Madison (WI) | Graduate Degree (direct-entry/pre-licensure track)RN | — |
| Jackson Regional Practical Nursing Program | Jackson | Practical NursingPN | 96.2% |
| Jackson State Community College | Jackson | Associate DegreeRN | 93.2% |
| Jersey College | Cleveland | Associate DegreeRN | 100% |
| King University | Bristol | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Bachelor DegreeRN | 97.2% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Associate DegreeRN | 96.1% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Bachelor DegreeRN | 98.5% |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 97.1% |
| Marian University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 82.4% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Bachelor DegreeRN | 81.3% |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | Associate DegreeRN | 97.5% |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | 95.7% |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Associate DegreeRN | 97.1% |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Associate DegreeRN | 100% |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Associate DegreeRN | 77.4% |
| South Central Regional Practical Nursing Program | Pulaski | Practical NursingPN | 97.1% |
| South College | Knoxville | Associate DegreeRN | 81.5% |
| South College | Knoxville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 90% |
| South College Practical Nursing Program | Knoxville | Practical NursingPN | 84.6% |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Associate DegreeRN | 90.8% |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Associate DegreeRN | 76.4% |
| Stones River Practical Nursing Program at TCAT-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Practical NursingPN | 95.5% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Athens | Athens | Practical NursingPN | 92.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crump | Crump | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson | Dickson | Practical NursingPN | 96.9% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton | Elizabethton | Practical NursingPN | 96.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Harriman | Harriman | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hartsville | Hartsville | Practical NursingPN | 91.4% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Practical NursingPN | 89.8% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville | Knoxville | Practical NursingPN | 79.4% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston | Livingston | Practical NursingPN | 85.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis | Memphis | Practical NursingPN | 87.5% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown | Morristown | Practical NursingPN | 87.9% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Nashville | Nashville | Practical NursingPN | 93.9% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Northwest | Newbern | Practical NursingPN | 92.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Upper Cumberland | Crossville | Practical NursingPN | 84.6% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll | Paris | Practical NursingPN | 91.4% |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 61.9% |
| Tennessee State University (Closed 2020) | — | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 94.7% |
| Tennessee Valley Regional Practical Nursing Program | Shelbyville | Practical NursingPN | 92.2% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Knoxville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 91.1% |
| The Academy of Allied Health CareersNew/provisional | Chattanooga | Practical NursingPN | — |
| The Healthcare Institute | Memphis | Practical NursingPN | 0% |
| Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 88.9% |
| Trinity College of NursingNew/provisional | Chattanooga | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Union University | Jackson | Bachelor DegreeRN | 91.1% |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | 82.5% |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center School of NursingClinical onlyNew/provisional | Jackson (MS) | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| University of Tennessee Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Bachelor DegreeRN | 98.3% |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | 84.9% |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville | Knoxville | Bachelor DegreeRN | 96.7% |
| University of Tennessee Martin | Martin | Bachelor DegreeRN | 97.3% |
| University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Bachelor DegreeRN | 100% |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Graduate Degree (direct-entry/pre-licensure track)RN | 95.9% |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Associate DegreeRN | 88.6% |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Associate DegreeRN | 91.8% |
| Western Governors University TennesseeNew/provisional | Salt Lake City (UT) | Bachelor DegreeRN | — |
| Western Kentucky University - TennesseeNew/provisional | Bowling Green (KY) | Associate DegreeRN | 93.2% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Tennessee by NCLEX pass rate?
9 RN programs in Tennessee tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Carson Newman University in Jefferson City — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 91 schools offering 103 board-approved nursing programs: 74 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 29 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Tennessee?
Across Tennessee RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 90.1% — 3.6 points above the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Tennessee board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
- www.tn.gov — list: Master lists dated February 2026 (revised quarterly); pass rates = CY2025 first-time
- www.tn.gov — list: Master lists dated February 2026 (revised quarterly); pass rates = CY2025 first-time