Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee (2026): Rankings and Reviews

Tennessee has more than 20 colleges producing BSN graduates, with Nashville, a national centre of the health care industry, at its heart. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.

Imagine you want to become a nurse in Tennessee. You could study at the state’s flagship university in Knoxville, at one of several private universities in Nashville, or at a smaller Christian college in West Tennessee. Here is how they compare.

How we ranked these schools

We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Tennessee that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.

Tennessee nursing schools ranked (2026)

Rank	College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
1	Union University	Jackson	Private nonprofit	75%	120	$76,559	$41,470
2	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	Public	74%	256	$72,791	$13,812
3	Freed-Hardeman University	Henderson	Private nonprofit	73%	31	$70,910	$26,260
4	Belmont University	Nashville	Private nonprofit	71%	179	$80,836	$43,750
5	Lipscomb University	Nashville	Private nonprofit	71%	70	$76,068	$42,596
6	Lee University	Cleveland	Private nonprofit	62%	54	$73,167	$24,870
7	Southern Adventist University	Collegedale	Private nonprofit	56%	77	$76,567	$28,900
8	Tennessee Technological University	Cookeville	Public	56%	152	$70,611	$11,926
9	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	Chattanooga	Public	56%	96	$75,897	$10,762
10	Christian Brothers University	Memphis	Private nonprofit	55%	45	$64,661	$39,750
11	East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	Public	55%	443	$70,922	$10,994
12	Carson-Newman University	Jefferson City	Private nonprofit	54%	37	$63,391	$38,700
13	Middle Tennessee State University	Murfreesboro	Public	54%	86	$78,836	$10,932
14	University of Memphis	Memphis	Public	53%	321	$77,155	$11,256
15	The University of Tennessee-Martin	Martin	Public	51%	46	$71,892	$10,824
16	Tennessee Wesleyan University	Athens	Private nonprofit	49%	63	$66,596	$32,050
17	Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate	Private nonprofit	49%	98	$66,618	$27,368
18	Cumberland University	Lebanon	Private nonprofit	45%	65	$76,305	$28,540
19	King University	Bristol	Private nonprofit	44%	53	$76,423	$37,564
20	Austin Peay State University	Clarksville	Public	42%	143	$78,041	$9,456
21	Baptist Health Sciences University	Memphis	Private nonprofit	33%	90	$74,793	$14,036

Also offering a BSN in Tennessee (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):

College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
South College	Knoxville	Private for-profit	45%	262	$78,574	$19,360
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center	Memphis	Public	n/a	98	$79,541	n/a

Top Tennessee nursing schools reviewed

1. Union University

Union University in Jackson is a private Christian university with a large and well-established School of Nursing and the highest graduation rate on our Tennessee list.

• Graduation rate: 75%, number 1 in Tennessee on our list
• Programme size: about 120 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,559 one year after graduating
• Cost: $41,470 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 60%

2. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the state’s flagship public university, with a large College of Nursing.

• Graduation rate: 74%, number 2 in Tennessee on our list
• Programme size: about 256 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $72,791 one year after graduating
• Cost: $13,812 in-state tuition ($33,256 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 42%

3. Freed-Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson is a small private Christian university offering a BSN.

• Graduation rate: 73%, number 3 in Tennessee on our list
• Programme size: about 31 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $70,910 one year after graduating
• Cost: $26,260 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 60%

4. Belmont University

Belmont University in Nashville is a private Christian university with a sizeable nursing school in the heart of the city’s health care industry.

• Graduation rate: 71%, number 4 in Tennessee on our list
• Programme size: about 179 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $80,836 one year after graduating
• Cost: $43,750 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 95%

5. Lipscomb University

Lipscomb University in Nashville is a private Christian university offering a BSN with clinical training at Nashville hospitals.

• Graduation rate: 71%, number 5 in Tennessee on our list
• Programme size: about 70 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,068 one year after graduating
• Cost: $42,596 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 68%

Studying nursing in Tennessee: what to know

Nashville is home to the headquarters of several of the largest hospital companies in the US, and Tennessee has major academic medical centres in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga. East Tennessee State University and the University of Memphis are among the largest BSN producers in the state. Vanderbilt University’s well-known nursing school focuses on graduate programmes, including entry routes for people with degrees in other subjects.

Ways to become a registered nurse in Tennessee

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
• Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.

Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Tennessee is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.

Frequently asked questions

How many colleges in Tennessee offer a BSN?

Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 23 colleges in Tennessee produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 2,885 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.

Which Tennessee nursing school has the highest graduation rate?

Union University has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 75%.

Which is the largest nursing programme in Tennessee?

East Tennessee State University produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 443 a year.

How much do new BSN graduates earn in Tennessee?

Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $63,391 to $80,836, with a typical (median) figure of about $75,897. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.

How much does a public nursing degree cost in Tennessee?

In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $9,456 to $13,812 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.

But is a ranking enough to choose a school?

No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:

• NCLEX pass rates: the Tennessee Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
• Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
• Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
• Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
• Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.

Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school

Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Tennessee Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.