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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in Tennessee

29 Ranked Colleges
3,101 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 313,362 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across Tennessee, there were 5,948 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,772 and $31,354 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,101 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 136 students in 2019-2020.

Baptist College of Health Sciences also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Baptist College of Health Sciences is $9,945 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences Nursing Report

#2

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tennessee Technological University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. Cookeville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 117 students in 2019-2020.

Tennessee Tech University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee Tech University is $15,929 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Tennessee Tech University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 123 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Chattanooga, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Chattanooga is $12,952 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at UT Chattanooga

#4

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Middle Tennessee State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students list, Middle Tennessee State University has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $12,464 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

UTHSC also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #5.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 464 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

ETSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $14,332 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students per year to attend East Tennessee State University.

Full East Tennessee State University Nursing Report

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. University of Memphis is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 269 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

UofM also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $13,248 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students per year to attend University of Memphis.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Memphis

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 252 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $18,825 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

With a ranking of #9, The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Martin, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

UT Martin also took the #23 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Martin is $10,955 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Full The University of Tennessee - Martin Nursing Report

#10

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #10. Austin Peay State University is a public institution located in Clarksville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 148 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Peay State University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $13,692 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Austin Peay State University

#11

Bethel University

McKenzie, Tennessee

With a ranking of #11, Bethel University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Bethel is a private not-for-profit institution located in McKenzie, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bethel, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $15,701 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students per year to attend Bethel.

Full Bethel University Nursing Report

#12

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee

Union University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #12. Union is located in Jackson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 166 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Union also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Union is $28,249 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Nursing at Union University

#13

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

With a ranking of #13, Lee University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Lee University is a medium-sized school located in Cleveland, Tennessee that handed out 56 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee University also took the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $17,696 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students per year to attend Lee University.

Read more about Nursing at Lee University

#14

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee

Freed-Hardeman University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Freed-Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henderson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

FHU also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Freed-Hardeman University is $16,703 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students.

Full FHU Nursing Report

#15

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,443 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students per year to attend Tennessee State University.

Read more about Nursing at Tennessee State University

#16

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee

Lincoln Memorial University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Lincoln Memorial University is located in Harrogate, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 158 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

LMU also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for LMU is $15,180 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full LMU Nursing Report

#17

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee

Cumberland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Lebanon, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 68 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

CU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for CU is $24,458 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Cumberland University

#18

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Adventist University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 77 students in 2019-2020.

Southern Adventist did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $22,661 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students per year to attend Southern Adventist University.

Read full report on Nursing at Southern Adventist

#19

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee

Tennessee Wesleyan University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. TWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Athens, Tennessee. It awarded 76 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students list, TWU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Wesleyan University is $13,636 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students.

Full TWU Nursing Report

#20

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee

Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students list, TNU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Trevecca Nazarene University is $17,499 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at TNU

#21

King University

Bristol, Tennessee

With a ranking of #21, King University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. This small school is located in Bristol, Tennessee, and it awarded 113 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students list, King has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for King is $22,652 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Full King Nursing Report

#22

South College

Knoxville, Tennessee

South College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #22. South College is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 214 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend South College is $17,816 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at South College

#23

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Carson - Newman University is a small school located in Jefferson City, Tennessee that handed out 52 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Carson - Newman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $17,471 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students per year to attend Carson - Newman University.

Full Carson - Newman University Nursing Report

#24

Tusculum University

Greeneville, Tennessee

Tusculum University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Greeneville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,537 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students per year to attend Tusculum.

Read full report on Nursing at Tusculum University

#25

Martin Methodist College

Pulaski, Tennessee

Martin Methodist College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Pulaski, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Martin Methodist is $18,859 for tennessee bachelor’s degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Martin Methodist

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Notes and References

References

  • 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%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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