Best colleges for nursing in Tennessee

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for nursing in Tennessee31 schools

31 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in Tennessee.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll
#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
2
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit
#5 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
3
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit
#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
4
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit
#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
5
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit
#8 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
6
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit
#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
7
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit
#10 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
8
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · Public
Top 21% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
9
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public
#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
10
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN · Private nonprofit
#15 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 50%
11
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public
#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 44%
12
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofit
Top 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
13
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Private for-profit
Top 22% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
14
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit
#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 50%
14
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit
#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
14
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · Public
Top 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
17
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit
#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
17
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit
#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
19
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · Public
Top 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
20
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · Public
Good: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
21
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens, TN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 39%
22
Strayer University-Tennessee
Memphis, TN · Private for-profit
Top 20% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
23
The University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski, TN · Public
Top 25% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
24
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · Public
Top 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
25
Cumberland University
Lebanon, TN · Private nonprofit
#34 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	$18,976	$20,500	$60,249	74%
Lipscomb University	$24,739	$19,500	$55,541	72%
Union University	$27,171	$20,714	$53,990	66%
Belmont University	$33,147	$20,500	$55,930	71%
Freed-Hardeman University	$21,574	$21,500	$47,485	71%
Milligan University	$21,365	$25,219	$46,641	63%
Lee University	$18,878	$25,750	$43,222	63%
Tennessee Technological University	$14,246	$15,650	$48,501	58%
Middle Tennessee State University	$13,359	$20,000	$48,541	54%
Bryan College-Dayton	$20,614	$23,000	$54,434	50%
East Tennessee State University	$15,983	$19,442	$44,859	53%
Christian Brothers University	$9,854	$27,000	$57,478	55%
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga	$23,958	$15,917	$31,102	60%
Lincoln Memorial University	$20,406	$20,000	$49,956	50%
Southern Adventist University	$24,345	$24,500	$53,723	49%
The University of Tennessee-Martin	$10,701	$21,024	$44,213	53%
Carson-Newman University	$20,251	$21,500	$48,382	53%
Trevecca Nazarene University	$16,813	$18,744	$49,378	53%
University of Memphis	$12,397	$23,300	$48,458	51%
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	$14,265	$19,500	$51,151	50%
Tennessee Wesleyan University	$14,836	$20,000	$45,989	48%
Strayer University-Tennessee	$11,645	$40,621	$40,092	0%
The University of Tennessee Southern	$12,798	$21,500	$38,924	37%
Austin Peay State University	$9,735	$20,547	$44,301	40%
Cumberland University	$18,759	$17,952	$57,687	46%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges for nursing in Tennessee

How this list is made

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Lipscomb University

Union University

Belmont University

Freed-Hardeman University

Milligan University

Lee University

Tennessee Technological University

Middle Tennessee State University

Bryan College-Dayton

East Tennessee State University

Christian Brothers University

Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga

Lincoln Memorial University

Southern Adventist University

The University of Tennessee-Martin

Carson-Newman University

Trevecca Nazarene University

University of Memphis

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Strayer University-Tennessee

The University of Tennessee Southern

Austin Peay State University

Cumberland University

Compare cost and outcomes

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