Top Nursing Schools in Tennessee
This page lists 70 schools in Tennessee that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 23 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 20 associate degree (ADN), 30 bachelor's (BSN), 16 master's and 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 46 public, 19 private nonprofit and 5 private for-profit. 41 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Nashville (9), Memphis (7), Knoxville (4) and Jackson (3).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (70)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN-CRNA, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, PhD | ACEN |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN | Private nonprofit | BSN | ACEN |
| Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc | Madison, TN | Private nonprofit | Doctorate-CRNA | — |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, TN | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert | CCNE |
| Milligan University | Milligan, TN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| South College | Knoxville, TN | Private for-profit | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, RN-MSN, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP, DNP-Leadership, MSN-DNP, Doctorate-CRNA, BSN-DNP | CCNE, COA |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-Leadership | ACEN |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| TCAT Athens | Athens, TN | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville | Nashville, TN | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest | Newbern, TN | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump | Crump, TN | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson | Dickson, TN | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton | Elizabethton, TN | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman | Harriman, TN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
Before you apply in Tennessee
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Tennessee. See online coursework and clinical requirements.