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Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee

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2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee

16 Schools Ranked
$7,381 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,071 Avg Student Debt

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Our analysis looked at 16 schools in Tennessee to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

926 Total Awards
$4,430 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Southwest Tennessee Community College to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Tennessee. Southwest is located in Memphis, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 926 associate degrees to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $4,430 in tuition and fees if they attend Southwest full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,246.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Southwest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Southwest Tennessee Community College Report

#2

Jackson State Community College

Jackson, Tennessee
532 Total Awards
$4,396 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent associate degree programs at Jackson State Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Tennessee. JSCC is a public institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 532 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Students from Tennessee who attend JSCC full time pay an average of $4,396 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,076.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at JSCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Jackson State Community College

#3

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
136 Total Awards
$23,870 Average Tuition & Fees
$21,339 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Southern Adventist University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Tennessee. Located in Collegedale, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 136 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

If you want to attend Southern Adventist, expect to pay an average of $23,870 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,339 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that Southern Adventist does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 39% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Southern Adventist University Report

#4

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
146 Total Awards
$25,180 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,251 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lincoln Memorial University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. LMU is located in Harrogate, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 146 associate degrees to qualified students.

LMU does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $25,180. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,251 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at LMU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#5

Dyersburg State Community College

Dyersburg, Tennessee
407 Total Awards
$4,410 Average Tuition & Fees
$7,185 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Dyersburg State Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. DSCC is a public institution located in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 407 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,410 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend DSCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,226. Associate Degree recipients from DSCC accumulate an average of $7,185 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

DSCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Dyersburg State Community College

#6

Motlow State Community College

Tullahoma, Tennessee
967 Total Awards
$4,416 Average Tuition & Fees
$3,554 Avg Student Debt

Motlow State Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 967 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees if they attend Motlow full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,232. Associate Degree recipients from Motlow accumulate an average of $3,554 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Motlow does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

41 Total Awards
$21,194 Avg Student Debt

Remington College - Memphis Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 41 students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,194 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Remington College - Memphis Campus. In 2020-2021 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Remington College - Memphis Campus

#8

Northeast State Community College

Blountville, Tennessee
868 Total Awards
$4,422 Average Tuition & Fees
$5,286 Avg Student Debt

Northeast State Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Northeast State Technical Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Blountville, Tennessee. It awarded 868 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northeast State Technical Community College is $4,422. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,238. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $5,286 in student loans.

Online courses are available at Northeast State Technical Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Northeast State Community College Report

#9

Columbia State Community College

Columbia, Tennessee
934 Total Awards
$4,480 Average Tuition & Fees
$11,670 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #9, Columbia State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Columbia State Community College is a public institution located in Columbia, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 934 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Students from Tennessee who attend Columbia State Community College full time pay an average of $4,480 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,260. Associate Degree recipients from Columbia State Community College accumulate an average of $11,670 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Columbia State Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Columbia State Community College

#10

Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga, Tennessee
1,163 Total Awards
$4,430 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,604 Avg Student Debt

Chattanooga State Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,163 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,430 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Chattanooga State Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,246. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,604 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that Chattanooga State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Chattanooga State Community College

#11

Walters State Community College

Morristown, Tennessee
932 Total Awards
$4,399 Average Tuition & Fees
$4,796 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #11, Walters State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. WSCC is located in Morristown, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 932 associate degrees to qualified students.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at WSCC is $4,399. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,215. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $4,796 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that WSCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 66% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Walters State Community College

#12

Pellissippi State Community College

Knoxville, Tennessee
1,415 Total Awards
$4,456 Average Tuition & Fees
$9,776 Avg Student Debt

Pellissippi State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,415 students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,456 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pellissippi State Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,272. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,776 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Pellissippi State Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Pellissippi State Community College Report

#13

Roane State Community College

Harriman, Tennessee
850 Total Awards
$4,724 Average Tuition & Fees
$11,564 Avg Student Debt

Roane State Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Roane State Community College is a small public school located in Harriman, Tennessee that handed out 850 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Roane State Community College is $4,724. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,540. Associate Degree recipients from Roane State Community College accumulate an average of $11,564 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Roane State Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Roane State Community College Report

#14

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
19 Total Awards
$8,336 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,211 Avg Student Debt

Tennessee State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.

Students from Tennessee who attend Tennessee State University full time pay an average of $8,336 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $21,692. On average, associate degree students take out $17,211 in loans while pursuing their degree.

One thing to take note of is that Tennessee State University does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#15

Nashville State Community College

Nashville, Tennessee
951 Total Awards
$4,372 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,983 Avg Student Debt

Nashville State Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 951 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Tennessee who attend Nashville State Community College full time pay an average of $4,372 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,188. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,983 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Nashville State Community College. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nashville State Community College

#16

Cleveland State Community College

Cleveland, Tennessee
449 Total Awards
$4,400 Average Tuition & Fees
$11,386 Avg Student Debt

Cleveland State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Cleveland State Community College is a public institution located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 449 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,400 in tuition and fees if they attend Cleveland State Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,216. On average, associate degree students take out $11,386 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cleveland State Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 50% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

View Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 16 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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