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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-CRNA, DNP | CCNE |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | Public | BSN, Grad Cert-FNP, Grad Cert-PMHNP, PhD | CCNE |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin, TN | Public | BSN | ACEN |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville, TN | Private nonprofit | BSN | ACEN |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville, TN | Private nonprofit | BSN | — |
| Union University | Jackson, TN | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, PhD, PhD-CRNA, PhD-FNP | CCNE |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, TN | Public | BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-AGACNP, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, RN-MSN, Grad Cert-FNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | Private nonprofit | MSN, MSN-CNM, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-WHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin, TN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown, TN | Public | ADN, LPN-RN | ACEN |
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.