2023 Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee
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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee ranking. This report analyzed 39 schools in Tennessee to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Vanderbilt University the best school in Tennessee for nursing students working on their degree.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,392 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $644, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Vanderbilt graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $66,962 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
Degree recipients from UT Knoxville accumulate an average of $22,232 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $325 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UT Knoxville graduates make an average of $44,189 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Belmont University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
Degree recipients from Belmont accumulate an average of $22,196 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $824 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Belmont graduates make an average of $43,927 annually.
The excellent programs at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Tennessee.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,246 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $162.After graduating from UT Chattanooga, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,162 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 39 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, King University landed the # 5 spot on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,018 in student loans. During the early years of their career, King graduates make an average of $40,581 annually.
University of Memphis ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
Degree recipients from UofM accumulate an average of $28,159 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $147, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UofM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,884 during the early year of their career.
Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $16,818 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Southwest graduates make an average of $34,164 annually.
Lipscomb University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,213 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $216 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Lipscomb graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,759 during the early year of their career.
Jackson State Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
Degree recipients from JSCC accumulate an average of $10,729 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, JSCC graduates make an average of $40,689 annually.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
On average, students take out $19,943 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $103, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Tennessee Tech University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,563 during the early year of their career.
Union University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,879 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $477 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Union graduates make an average of $57,821 annually.
Freed-Hardeman University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list.
Degree recipients from FHU accumulate an average of $22,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, FHU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,293 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from TNU accumulate an average of $26,746 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from TNU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,373 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Christian Brothers University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,104 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $199, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Christian Brothers, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,446 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Southern Adventist University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,595 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $375, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Southern Adventist, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,680 during the early years of their career.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
On average, students take out $24,342 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $144.After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,675 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Lincoln Memorial University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,978 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $97. Once they receive their degree, LMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,647 during the early year of their career.
Dyersburg State Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee ranking.
On average, students take out $12,229 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, DSCC graduates make an average of $41,344 annually.
Cumberland University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,639 in student loans.After graduating from CU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,113 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Milligan University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,548 in student loans.After graduating from Milligan, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,692 during the early years of their career.
The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list.
Degree recipients from UT Martin accumulate an average of $24,559 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $149 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UT Martin, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,647 during the early years of their career.
Lee University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
Degree recipients from Lee University accumulate an average of $26,373 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $260. Once they receive their degree, Lee University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,791 during the early year of their career.
Motlow State Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,423 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Motlow graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,022 during the early year of their career.
Remington College - Memphis Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee list.
Degree recipients from Remington College - Memphis Campus accumulate an average of $19,660 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $66, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Remington College - Memphis Campus graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $25,245 during the early year of their career.
East Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,047 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $212. During the early years of their career, ETSU graduates make an average of $38,858 annually.
Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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.