Tennessee · 91 schools · 2025 NCLEX
Nursing Schools in Tennessee: All 103 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Part of Nursing in Tennessee — schools, RN and NP pay, and licensing on one page.
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.
- 103
- Approved programs
- 91
- Schools
- 90.1%
- Avg RN pass rate (2025)
- 86.5%
- National RN average
Rank it your way
Rank Tennessee’s 56 RN programs on what matters to you
NCLEX pass rate, graduation rate, cost vs nurse pay, grads’ early pay — compare in-state, by region, or nationwide.
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.
Pass rate isn’t everything: the NurseSavvy top 10 in Tennessee →- 1100%Jefferson City · Bachelor Degree
- 2100%Henderson · Bachelor Degree
- 3100%Madison (WI) · Bachelor Degree
- 4100%Cleveland · Associate Degree
- 5100%Bristol · Bachelor Degree
- 6100%Murfreesboro · Bachelor Degree
- 7100%Knoxville · Associate Degree
- 8100%Collegedale · Bachelor Degree
- 9100%Pulaski · Bachelor Degree
- 1098.5%Harrogate · Bachelor Degree
What Nursing School Costs in Tennessee — and What Graduates Earn
Tuition, admissions and graduate-earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, matched to 63 of 91 Tennessee schools. Earnings are program-level — the median for graduates of that school's own nursing program, not all its alumni.
Median federal loan debt for BSN graduates in Tennessee is $23,181 (26 programs). Sticker tuition is the whole school's published price, not the nursing program's alone, and it ignores aid — the number that decides whether a program pays off is what you actually pay plus the wages you give up while enrolled. Check if nursing school is worth it for you or read the full cost of becoming an RN.
Every Approved Nursing Program in Tennessee
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city. Want cost, local RN pay, and outcomes in one view? .
103 of 103 programs · “—” = not published for that program · tuition is the school’s published in-state price for one year, before aid; grad pay is the median for that program’s own graduates, one year out
| 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 | $9,006 | $68,235 | 97.2% |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | $13,796 | $74,962 | 81.9% |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $42,540 | $67,072 | 97.7% |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Graduate Degree (direct-entry/pre-licensure track)RN | $42,540 | — | — |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Bachelor DegreeRN | $18,712 | $71,315 | 88.9% |
| Bryan CollegeNew/provisional | Dayton | Bachelor DegreeRN | — | — | — |
| Carson Newman University | Jefferson City | Bachelor DegreeRN | $34,700 | $56,509 | 100% |
| Casa Loma College - NashvilleNew/provisional | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | $47,355program year | — | — |
| 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 | $4,772 | $64,950 | 95.9% |
| Chattanooga State Community College Practical Nursing Program | Chattanooga | Practical NursingPN | $4,772 | $36,350 | 79% |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | $38,420 | — | 47.1% |
| Cleveland State Community College | Cleveland | Associate DegreeRN | $4,762 | $69,229 | 92.9% |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Associate DegreeRN | $5,296 | $65,077 | 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 | $27,840 | $67,094 | 97.8% |
| Dyersburg State Community College | Dyersburg | Associate DegreeRN | $4,758 | $74,386 | 92.8% |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Bachelor DegreeRN | $10,472 | $64,459 | 90.1% |
| Excelsior University TNNew/provisional | Albany (NY) | Associate DegreeRN | — | — | 85.7% |
| Fortis Institute Cookeville | Cookeville | Associate DegreeRN | $15,120 | $65,516 | 91.4% |
| Fortis Institute Nashville | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | $15,627 | $66,276 | 88.9% |
| Fortis Institute NashvilleNew/provisional | Nashville | Practical NursingPN | $15,627 | — | — |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Bachelor DegreeRN | $25,620 | $64,784 | 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 | $4,740 | $66,385 | 93.2% |
| Jersey College | Cleveland | Associate DegreeRN | — | — | 100% |
| King University | Bristol | Bachelor DegreeRN | $36,194 | $68,012 | 100% |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Bachelor DegreeRN | $23,790 | $67,930 | 97.2% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Associate DegreeRN | $26,938 | $54,468 | 96.1% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Bachelor DegreeRN | $26,938 | $59,588 | 98.5% |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $40,572 | $64,954 | 97.1% |
| Marian University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | — | — | 82.4% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Bachelor DegreeRN | $10,266 | $65,839 | 100% |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Bachelor DegreeRN | $40,450 | $70,523 | 81.3% |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | Associate DegreeRN | $4,738 | $66,609 | 97.5% |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | $4,730 | $63,235 | 95.7% |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Associate DegreeRN | $4,782 | $65,160 | 97.1% |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Associate DegreeRN | $4,786 | $55,217 | 100% |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Associate DegreeRN | $4,998 | $56,446 | 77.4% |
| South Central Regional Practical Nursing Program | Pulaski | Practical NursingPN | — | — | 97.1% |
| South College | Knoxville | Associate DegreeRN | $18,535 | — | 81.5% |
| South College | Knoxville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $18,535 | $65,109 | 90% |
| South College Practical Nursing Program | Knoxville | Practical NursingPN | $18,535 | $39,238 | 84.6% |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Associate DegreeRN | $27,300 | $61,225 | 90.8% |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Bachelor DegreeRN | $27,300 | $66,005 | 100% |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Associate DegreeRN | $4,778 | $72,913 | 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 | $5,760program year | $44,134 | 100% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson | Dickson | Practical NursingPN | $4,640program year | $42,651 | 96.9% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton | Elizabethton | Practical NursingPN | $4,119program year | $33,692 | 96.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Harriman | Harriman | Practical NursingPN | $4,260program year | $37,837 | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hartsville | Hartsville | Practical NursingPN | $4,620program year | $46,390 | 91.4% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Practical NursingPN | $5,584program year | $42,694 | 89.8% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville | Knoxville | Practical NursingPN | $5,137program year | $38,388 | 79.4% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston | Livingston | Practical NursingPN | $4,620program year | $25,955 | 85.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis | Memphis | Practical NursingPN | $6,537program year | $44,669 | 87.5% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown | Morristown | Practical NursingPN | $4,320program year | $39,477 | 87.9% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Practical NursingPN | $7,259program year | $44,555 | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Nashville | Nashville | Practical NursingPN | $4,620program year | $51,085 | 93.9% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Northwest | Newbern | Practical NursingPN | $4,620program year | $37,350 | 92.7% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Upper Cumberland | Crossville | Practical NursingPN | $4,620program year | $44,915 | 84.6% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll | Paris | Practical NursingPN | $4,620program year | $39,112 | 91.4% |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $8,616 | $65,331 | 61.9% |
| Tennessee State University (Closed 2020) | — | Associate DegreeRN | — | — | — |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $11,376 | $61,379 | 94.7% |
| Tennessee Valley Regional Practical Nursing Program | Shelbyville | Practical NursingPN | — | — | 92.2% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Knoxville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $30,814 | — | 91.1% |
| The Academy of Allied Health CareersNew/provisional | Chattanooga | Practical NursingPN | $9,625program year | — | — |
| The Healthcare Institute | Memphis | Practical NursingPN | — | — | 0% |
| Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Associate DegreeRN | $31,300 | — | — |
| Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNew/provisional | Nashville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $31,300 | $69,533 | 88.9% |
| Trinity College of NursingNew/provisional | Chattanooga | Associate DegreeRN | — | — | — |
| Union University | Jackson | Bachelor DegreeRN | $40,025 | $68,399 | 91.1% |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | $10,728 | $73,680 | 82.5% |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center School of NursingClinical onlyNew/provisional | Jackson (MS) | Bachelor DegreeRN | — | — | — |
| University of Tennessee Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Bachelor DegreeRN | $10,448 | $65,273 | 98.3% |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Bachelor DegreeRN | — | $70,619 | 84.9% |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville | Knoxville | Bachelor DegreeRN | $13,812 | $65,298 | 96.7% |
| University of Tennessee Martin | Martin | Bachelor DegreeRN | $10,560 | $71,727 | 97.3% |
| University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Bachelor DegreeRN | $10,924 | $67,349 | 100% |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Graduate Degree (direct-entry/pre-licensure track)RN | $67,498 | — | 95.9% |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Associate DegreeRN | $4,756 | — | 88.6% |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Associate DegreeRN | $4,752 | $57,329 | 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 — free to try, then $9.99/mo.
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%.
How much does nursing school cost in Tennessee?
Across Tennessee nursing schools we could match to U.S. Department of Education data, median published in-state tuition and fees run $4,892 a year at public schools (24 schools) and $31,300 at private nonprofits (17 schools). That is the whole institution's sticker price per year, before aid — an ADN takes about two years and a BSN four, and most students pay less than sticker. Per-school figures are in the table above.
What do nursing graduates in Tennessee earn?
Federal earnings data tracks graduates of each specific nursing program. In Tennessee, median earnings one year after finishing are $65,077 for ADN graduates (17 programs) and $67,072 for BSN graduates (27 programs). These are medians of program-level medians and the federal figures lag by a few years, so treat them as a floor for comparison between schools rather than a salary prediction.
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.
Tuition, admission rates, graduate earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release), matched by school name and city to 63 of 91 Tennessee schools. Schools the federal data does not cover — hospital-based programs and schools outside federal student-aid reporting — show “—” rather than an estimate. Tuition and admission rates describe the whole institution; earnings and debt are specific to its nursing programs, by credential, and lag the current graduating class by several years.
- collegescorecard.ed.gov — Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release
- 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
Nursing schools in other states
Keep going
- State guideNursing in TennesseeTennessee in one page: 91 nursing schools and their NCLEX pass rates, RN pay (median 81,500), NP pay, and compact-license status — each with its source.
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- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
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- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.