2027 Best Nursing Schools in Tennessee
Nursing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 46 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
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for nursing. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 463 nursing degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $125,565. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Get the full nursing details for Vanderbilt University
Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Madison, Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc is a small private not-for-profit university. Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc awarded about 88 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc generally make around $200,989.
Get the full nursing details for Middle Tennessee School Of Anesthesia Inc
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Memphis, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a mid-sized public university. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center awarded about 237 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $96,631 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center
A rank of #4 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. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 395 nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $97,755 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from The University Of Tennessee
A rank of #5 makes Dyersburg State Community College one of the top schools for nursing. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 107 nursing degrees were awarded at Dyersburg State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Dyersburg State Community College generally make around $74,386. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
See the full nursing program report for Dyersburg State Community College
Belmont University landed the #6 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Belmont University awarded about 147 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $80,864 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,625.
See the full nursing program report for Belmont University
East Tennessee State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 430 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. Students borrow a median of $25,091 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for East Tennessee State University
Union University earned the #8 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 150 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Union University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Union University generally make around $118,489. Students borrow a median of $29,127 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Union University
Tennessee Technological University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 179 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. Students borrow a median of $18,349 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Tennessee Technological University
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #10 for nursing this year. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Trevecca Nazarene University awarded about 13 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Trevecca Nazarene University earn around $69,533 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Trevecca Nazarene University
Christian Brothers University placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 35 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Christian Brothers University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Christian Brothers University earn around $51,040 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $32,416 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Christian Brothers University
University Of Memphis placed #12 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 363 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Memphis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Memphis earn around $86,186 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,168.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Memphis
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #13 spot for nursing this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Chattanooga State Community College awarded about 173 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $64,950 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,253.
Get the full nursing details for Chattanooga State Community College
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #14 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 198 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn around $108,081 in the first couple years of their career. 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
Walters State Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Walters State Community College awarded about 120 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $57,329 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,429 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Walters State Community College
Southwest Tennessee Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 83 nursing degrees were awarded at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $72,913. Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates carry a median of $16,593 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Southwest Tennessee Community College
Jackson State Community College landed the #17 spot for nursing this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public university. Jackson State Community College awarded about 74 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Jackson State Community College generally make around $66,385. Students borrow a median of $8,450 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Jackson State Community College
Volunteer State Community College came in at #18 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 55 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,462.
More information about a degree in nursing from Volunteer State Community College
Lipscomb University earned the #19 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 nursing degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Lipscomb University earn around $64,954 in the first couple years of their career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $26,623 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Lipscomb University
Roane State Community College placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. There were roughly 83 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Roane State Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Roane State Community College earn a median of $56,446 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,518.
Get the full nursing details for Roane State Community College
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #21 among the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Martin. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $71,727 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,231.
See the full nursing program report for The University Of Tennessee Martin
Motlow State Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Tullahoma, Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Motlow State Community College awarded about 40 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $66,609 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,086.
See the full nursing program report for Motlow State Community College
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Lincoln Memorial University awarded about 226 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lincoln Memorial University generally make around $70,403. Typical student debt for the program is $24,375.
More information about a degree in nursing from Lincoln Memorial University
Carson Newman College earned the #24 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Carson Newman College graduates 52% of students within six years. About 145 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. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Carson Newman College
Northeast State Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Blountville. About 69 nursing degrees were awarded at Northeast State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Northeast State Community College earn around $65,160 in the first couple years of their career. Northeast State Community College graduates carry a median of $6,511 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Northeast State Community College
Rest of the Top 46 Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing ranking:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 46 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.
