2025 Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Tennessee
Nursing is of the hottest master's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #2 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
College Factual reviewed 13 schools in Tennessee to determine which ones were the best for master's degree seekers in the field of nursing. Combined, these schools handed out 1,148 master's degrees in nursing to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Master's Degree
The nursing master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A Great Overall School
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Early-Career Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on nursing students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of nursing students who choose to seek a master's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How easy is it for nursing to pay back their student loans after receiving their master's degree.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their master's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Tennessee list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Nursing in Tennessee
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in nursing.
10 Top Tennessee Schools for a Master's in Nursing
Any student who is interested in a master's degree in nursing has to check out Southern Adventist University. Southern Adventist is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Collegedale.
Soon after graduation, nursing master's recipients typically earn an average of $105,170 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Southern Adventist University
Union University is a great option for students pursuing a master's degree in nursing. Union is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Jackson.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn about $102,228 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Union University
It's difficult to beat The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga if you wish to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the midsize city of Chattanooga, UT Chattanooga is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga receive $44,771 more than the average nursing student.
More information about a master’s in nursing from The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
East Tennessee State University is a good decision for students pursuing a master's degree in nursing. Located in the small city of Johnson City, ETSU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $93,524 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from East Tennessee State University
LMU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the distant town of Harrogate.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $97,154 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Lincoln Memorial University
Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a private for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
After graduation, nursing master's recipients generally make an average of $88,631 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from South College
UofM is a very large public university located in the city of Memphis.
After graduation, nursing master's recipients usually earn about $98,692 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Memphis
Belmont is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Nashville.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $94,655 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Belmont University
King is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Bristol.
After graduation, nursing master's recipients generally make an average of $87,661 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from King University
Located in the remote town of Cookeville, Tennessee Tech University is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career wages of $93,349.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Tennessee Technological University