Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in Tennessee. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.
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Nursing Programs in Tennessee
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing is consistently ranked in the nation's top 5 and is Tennessee's most prestigious nursing program. Students train at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
UTHSC's College of Nursing is Tennessee's flagship public health sciences nursing program, with clinical placements at Regional One Health — Memphis's Level I trauma and safety-net hospital.
Elite private university MSN with Vanderbilt University Medical Center partnerships
Flagship state university BSN with UT Medical Center clinical network
Middle Tennessee ADN with HCA and Vanderbilt clinical placements
East Tennessee ADN with Covenant Health and UT Medical Center partnerships
Private Christian university BSN in Nashville with HCA Healthcare partnerships
Tennessee has become a healthcare hub, anchored by Nashville — home to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the headquarters of HCA Healthcare, the nation's largest hospital company — along with strong markets in Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. The concentration of healthcare employers and corporate headquarters makes Tennessee a strong state for both clinical and non-bedside nursing careers.
Students can pursue affordable community and technical college ADN programs, BSN degrees at public universities and private institutions, accelerated second-degree options, and RN-to-BSN bridges plus MSN tracks for advanced practice and leadership. The community-college route is a common, budget-friendly way to become an RN in Tennessee.
Licensure is handled by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, under the Department of Health. Tennessee is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN license issued to a Tennessee resident is a multistate license valid across all compact states — a meaningful advantage given how many surrounding Southeastern states also participate.
Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Nursing.