Nursing Schools in Tennessee (2026)

77 accredited nursing programs found

Nursing Schools

46 / 31

Public / Private

$7,001

Avg Public Tuition

55.5%

Avg Grad Rate

Tennessee has 77 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with 46 public and 31 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $17,874, with public schools averaging $7,001 and private schools averaging $29,782. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,762 to $27,840. The cheapest tracked program is Nashville State Community College at $4,498 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville at approximately 28,763.

Across Tennessee programs the average graduation rate is 55.5 percent and the average retention rate is 71.1 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $40,345 and median federal debt at graduation averages $17,425. The state's healthcare employer base is anchored by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, plus a network of HCA Healthcare facilities and regional hospital systems across the Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga markets.

Registered Nurse Market in Tennessee

BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses

+6% projected growth

10th Percentile

$49,480

Median

$67,480

90th Percentile

$92,440

Employment

63,060

Openings

193,100

Registered Nurse Salary in Tennessee

Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Median Salary

$67,480

Mean Salary

$69,710

Entry Level (10th %)

$49,480

Experienced (90th %)

$92,440

RNs Employed: 63,060

vs National Median: -28% (below $93,600)

Job Growth (2023-2033): +6%

Average Tuition

$17,874

Matches the Tennessee average of $17,874.

Graduation Rate

55.5%

0.0%

Matches the Tennessee average of 55.5%.

Median Earnings

$40,345

Matches the Tennessee median of $40,345.

Tuition Overview

Avg Public Tuition	$7,001
Lowest Tuition	$4,498
Highest Tuition	$54,892
Avg Private Tuition	$29,782

Student Outcomes

Avg Graduation Rate	55.5%
Avg Earnings After Grad	$42,593
Avg Student Debt	$17,425
Total Enrollment	214,570

Most Affordable Nursing Schools in Tennessee

#1 Lowest

Nashville State Community College

$4,498

#2 Lowest

Jackson State Community College

$4,516

#3 Lowest

Walters State Community College

$4,519

#4 Lowest

Volunteer State Community College

$4,524

#5 Lowest

Cleveland State Community College

$4,530

Highest Graduation Rates in Tennessee

Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville

81.5%

#5 Grad Rate

Massage Institute of Memphis

80.0%

All Nursing Schools in Tennessee

Institution	City	Type	Tuition (In-State)	Grad Rate	Earnings After	Enrollment
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	Public	$13,484	73.5%	$60,249	28,763
Middle Tennessee State University	Murfreesboro	Public	$9,506	54.0%	$48,541	16,115
University of Memphis	Memphis	Public	$10,344	49.4%	$48,458	13,645
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	Chattanooga	Public	$10,144	53.1%	$51,151	9,878
East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	Public	$9,950	49.9%	$44,859	9,807
Tennessee Technological University	Cookeville	Public	$10,084	54.2%	$48,501	8,495
Austin Peay State University	Clarksville	Public	$8,675	44.5%	$44,301	7,365
Belmont University	Nashville	Private	$41,320	71.7%	$55,930	7,306
Tennessee State University	Nashville	Public	$8,568	33.0%	$42,730	6,498
Pellissippi State Community College	Knoxville	Public	$4,576	27.7%	$38,440	6,391
South College	Knoxville	For-Profit	$17,935	36.7%	$36,642	6,323
Southwest Tennessee Community College	Memphis	Public	$4,550	19.4%	$34,071	5,207
Volunteer State Community College	Gallatin	Public	$4,524	24.3%	$41,150	5,139
Nashville State Community College	Nashville	Public	$4,498	17.0%	$38,519	4,931
Chattanooga State Community College	Chattanooga	Public	$4,550	21.9%	$37,598	4,689
The University of Tennessee-Martin	Martin	Public	$10,208	54.8%	$44,213	4,600
Northeast State Community College	Blountville	Public	$4,542	32.2%	$34,553	4,214
Motlow State Community College	Tullahoma	Public	$4,536	28.7%	$40,397	4,055
Walters State Community College	Morristown	Public	$4,519	36.0%	$37,085	3,781
Columbia State Community College	Columbia	Public	$4,904	30.8%	$40,256	3,679
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga	Chattanooga	For-Profit	N/A	55.9%	$31,102	3,667
Roane State Community College	Harriman	Public	$4,762	32.1%	$39,407	3,203
Lipscomb University	Nashville	Private	$38,824	68.7%	$55,541	3,021
Lee University	Cleveland	Private	$22,690	60.7%	$43,222	2,712
Southern Adventist University	Collegedale	Private	$25,590	51.4%	$53,723	2,673
Jackson State Community College	Jackson	Public	$4,516	20.1%	$35,224	2,211
Cumberland University	Lebanon	Private	$27,840	47.0%	$57,687	2,053
Cleveland State Community College	Cleveland	Public	$4,530	29.0%	$36,671	1,967
Rhodes College	Memphis	Private	$54,892	81.6%	$66,651	1,931
Dyersburg State Community College	Dyersburg	Public	$4,540	27.4%	$36,132	1,923
Trevecca Nazarene University	Nashville	Private	$29,790	54.8%	$49,378	1,697
Bethel University	McKenzie	Private	$18,168	34.9%	$47,482	1,671
Union University	Jackson	Private	$38,450	70.9%	$53,990	1,637
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate	Private	$26,150	53.9%	$49,956	1,487
Carson-Newman University	Jefferson City	Private	$34,700	46.5%	$48,382	1,374
Freed-Hardeman University	Henderson	Private	$25,000	68.4%	$47,485	1,244
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis	Memphis	Public	N/A	40.1%	$31,192	1,078
Maryville College	Maryville	Private	$38,514	47.2%	$49,279	1,028
King University	Bristol	Private	$34,800	46.4%	$59,831	975
Christian Brothers University	Memphis	Private	$37,300	56.0%	$57,478	953
Tennessee Wesleyan University	Athens	Private	$29,264	43.6%	$45,989	832
The University of Tennessee Southern	Pulaski	Public	$10,506	35.7%	$38,924	827
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting	Nashville	For-Profit	N/A	N/A	$62,978	788
Milligan University	Milligan	Private	$39,350	60.3%	$46,641	783
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville	Knoxville	Public	N/A	70.5%	$37,235	730
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville	Nashville	Public	N/A	70.6%	$38,955	730
Johnson University	Knoxville	Private	$20,318	62.2%	$40,596	703
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest	Newbern	Public	N/A	64.5%	$38,514	681
Baptist Health Sciences University	Memphis	Private	$13,846	53.8%	$72,529	673
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson	Dickson	Public	N/A	76.5%	$36,829	622
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown	Morristown	Public	N/A	76.4%	$38,837	613
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro	Murfreesboro	Public	N/A	74.2%	$40,869	601
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson	Jackson	Public	N/A	74.5%	$38,383	543
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton	Elizabethton	Public	N/A	78.6%	$35,069	497
Concorde Career College-Memphis	Memphis	For-Profit	N/A	51.1%	$31,599	420
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center	Memphis	Public	N/A	N/A	$66,318	376
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville	Shelbyville	Public	N/A	68.0%	$38,700	366
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens	Athens	Public	N/A	57.6%	$40,540	365
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump	Crump	Public	N/A	62.4%	$30,796	353
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville	Crossville	Public	N/A	81.5%	$35,551	346
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston	Livingston	Public	N/A	73.3%	$33,497	333
Genesis Career College-Cookeville	Cookeville	For-Profit	N/A	46.2%	$22,652	329
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald	Hohenwald	Public	N/A	50.0%	$36,106	322
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers	Chattanooga	For-Profit	$10,690	87.4%	$25,954	311
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville	McMinnville	Public	N/A	66.7%	$40,322	289
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman	Harriman	Public	N/A	71.1%	$31,591	265
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski	Pulaski	Public	N/A	69.5%	$40,368	264
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville	Hartsville	Public	N/A	76.0%	$40,469	221
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro	Jacksboro	Public	N/A	79.8%	$36,449	216
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll	Paris	Public	N/A	67.1%	$29,074	203
Academy of Allied Health Careers	Chattanooga	For-Profit	N/A	58.0%	N/A	196
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville	Huntsville	Public	N/A	70.0%	$31,949	181
Genesis Career College-Lebanon	Lebanon	For-Profit	N/A	49.5%	$24,977	98
Allied Health Careers Institute	Murfreesboro	For-Profit	N/A	76.9%	N/A	47
Mind Body Institute	Madison	For-Profit	N/A	90.9%	N/A	36
Massage Institute of Memphis	Memphis	For-Profit	N/A	80.0%	N/A	20
Health-Tech Institute of Memphis	Memphis	For-Profit	N/A	80.0%	N/A	4

Nursing Schools by City in Tennessee

Memphis 10 Nashville 7 Chattanooga 5 Knoxville 5 Jackson 3 Murfreesboro 3 Athens 2 Cleveland 2 Cookeville 2 Harriman 2 Lebanon 2 Morristown 2 Pulaski 2

Nursing Guides & Resources

How to Become an RN RN Salary by State Most Affordable Programs Financial Aid & Scholarships BSN vs ADN Comparison Types of Nursing Degrees NCLEX Pass Rates Guide Compare Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nursing schools are in Tennessee?

There are 77 nursing schools in Tennessee, including 46 public and 31 private institutions.

What is the average nursing school tuition in Tennessee?

Average in-state tuition across nursing schools in Tennessee is $17,874. Tuition ranges from $4,498 to $54,892 where data is available.

What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Tennessee?

The average graduation rate is 55.5%, with Mind Body Institute reporting the highest rate at 90.9%.

What is the average retention rate in Tennessee?

The average retention rate across nursing schools in Tennessee is 71.0%.

What do graduates from nursing schools in Tennessee earn?

The median schoolwide earnings figure among these institutions is $40,345 10 years after entry. This is institution-level outcomes data rather than nursing-only wage data.

What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Tennessee?

Average median debt among nursing schools in Tennessee is $17,425.

How much do registered nurses earn in Tennessee?

Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $67,480, with the 10th percentile at $49,480 and the 90th percentile at $92,440.

What is the RN job outlook for Tennessee?

The RN occupation shows projected growth of 6% in this state, with 63,060 registered nurses employed in the latest BLS wage data.

Tennessee Nursing Market Context

BLS data for Tennessee shows an RN median annual wage of $67,480 and a mean of $69,710. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $49,480 to $92,440. Statewide RN employment is approximately 63,060 and the projected growth rate is 6 percent — in line with the national figure.

Median program debt of $17,425 against a $67,480 RN median wage is one of the tighter payback profiles among large healthcare-employment states; the wage floor of $49,480 at the 10th percentile is meaningfully below the national 10th-percentile of approximately $63,000. Graduates concentrated in the higher-cost private programs should weigh that debt load carefully. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which materially shifts the after-tax comparison against neighboring states. The lack of dramatic specialty-pay differentials at the 90th percentile ($92,440) suggests that career growth in Tennessee leans on advanced practice (NP, CRNA) rather than RN-tier specialty bonuses.

Nursing Programs in Other States

California 286 New York 193 Florida 184 Pennsylvania 159 Texas 159 Ohio 145 Illinois 119 North Carolina 101 Missouri 79 Georgia 78