2026 Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee
Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Nursing
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nursing. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 486 nursing degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $125,565 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Vanderbilt University
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top schools for nursing. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 328 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $97,755 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,292 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at The University Of Tennessee
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center one of the top schools for nursing. Located in the city of Memphis, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a mid-sized public university. About 201 nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center earn a median of $96,631 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dyersburg State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 106 nursing degrees were awarded at Dyersburg State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Dyersburg State Community College earn around $74,386 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Dyersburg State Community College
Belmont University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Belmont University awarded about 202 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $80,864 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,625.
More information about a degree in nursing from Belmont University
Christian Brothers University placed #6 among the best nursing schools. Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Christian Brothers University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $51,040 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,416.
Read more about the nursing program at Christian Brothers University
East Tennessee State University earned the #7 position for nursing this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 559 nursing students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $89,640 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,091.
See the full nursing program report for East Tennessee State University
Union University placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Union University awarded about 180 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $118,489 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,127 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Union University
Motlow State Community College landed the #9 spot for nursing this year. Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Tullahoma. Motlow State Community College awarded about 60 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $66,609 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,086 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Motlow State Community College
Tennessee Technological University came in at #10 for nursing this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 195 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $77,364 in the first couple years of their career. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $18,349 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Tennessee Technological University
University Of Memphis earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 387 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $86,186 early in their careers. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $27,168 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Memphis
Jackson State Community College placed #12 among the best nursing schools. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. About 66 nursing degrees were awarded at Jackson State Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Jackson State Community College earn a median of $66,385 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,450.
More information about a degree in nursing from Jackson State Community College
Volunteer State Community College landed the #13 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Gallatin. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 47 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $40,137 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,462.
More information about a degree in nursing from Volunteer State Community College
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #14 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 134 nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $108,081. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $23,558 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Lipscomb University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 70 nursing degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $64,954. Typical student debt for the program is $26,623.
See the full nursing program report for Lipscomb University
Southwest Tennessee Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Southwest Tennessee Community College awarded about 80 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Southwest Tennessee Community College earn around $72,913 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,593.
More information about a degree in nursing from Southwest Tennessee Community College
Walters State Community College came in at #17 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 109 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Walters State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Walters State Community College earn around $57,329 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,429.
More information about a degree in nursing from Walters State Community College
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #18 for nursing this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. About 52% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 46 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $71,727. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates carry a median of $25,231 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from The University Of Tennessee Martin
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #19 for nursing this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. About 85 nursing degrees were awarded at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $64,950. Typical student debt for the program is $16,253.
See the full nursing program report for Chattanooga State Community College
Lee University came in at #20 for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 58 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Lee University earn a median of $67,930 early in their careers. Lee University graduates carry a median of $25,300 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Lee University
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 128 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $79,030 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,884 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Middle Tennessee State University
Roane State Community College landed the #22 spot for nursing this year. Located in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 60 nursing degrees were awarded at Roane State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Roane State Community College earn around $56,446 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,518.
Get the full nursing details for Roane State Community College
King College placed #23 among the best nursing schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bristol. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. King College awarded about 113 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $77,837 in their early career. King College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for King College
Carson Newman College placed #24 among the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 158 nursing degrees were awarded at Carson Newman College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Carson Newman College earn a median of $74,145 early in their careers. Carson Newman College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Carson Newman College
Cumberland University came in at #25 for nursing this year. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Cumberland University earn a median of $67,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Cumberland University
Rest of the Top 44 Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for nursing this year:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 51 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
