Best MSN Programs in Tennessee for Working RNs (2026)

Vanderbilt's MSN ranks #5 nationally for graduate nursing programs and scores 92.7 on the Hakia ranking, the highest of any Tennessee MSN. BSN-prepared RNs choose from 13 specialties across three tracks: nurse practitioner (9 concentrations including Family, Emergency, Neonatal, Psychiatric-Mental Health Lifespan, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care), nurse-midwifery (including a dual FNP/Midwifery option), and nursing informatics. Most NP specialties run online or hybrid with brief on-campus sessions a few times during the program; Nursing Informatics is 100% online; Midwifery varies by semester with both on-campus and offsite clinical components. NP and midwifery programs finish in 4 to 5 full-time semesters or 7 to 9 part-time; Informatics runs 6 part-time semesters. Each specialty includes hundreds of clinical practice hours. Graduates who finish the MSN can roll directly into Vanderbilt's DNP or PhD in Nursing Science.

Tuition is $65,008 per year, the same for all students since there is no in-state rate at a private university. A two-year MSN runs roughly $130,000 in tuition before financial aid. The payoff math: BLS median wages for advanced practice nurses sit at $123,860 per year versus $97,550 for a staff RN, a $26,310 annual gap. At that earnings difference, the tuition cost is recovered in about six years of practice, with career-long additional earnings well above $400,000 over a 20-year span. The program is CCNE-accredited, which is required for sitting national certification exams in most states. Vanderbilt's 94% graduation rate and 97% post-graduation employment in advanced practice nursing are the strongest outcome figures among Tennessee programs on this list. The 6% admit rate is real: this is a competitive application, and Vanderbilt expects a solid clinical record and a focused personal statement.

Tennessee Tech's Whitson-Hester School of Nursing offers a CCNE-accredited MSN with multiple NP concentrations and non-clinical tracks. BSN-prepared RNs can choose from Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care, alongside Nursing Administration and Nursing Education concentrations. For RNs without a BSN, a bridge RN-to-MSN pathway works with any MSN concentration. Post-master's certificate options are available in all NP concentrations for nurses who already hold a graduate degree and want to add or switch a specialty. The program runs online, which matters for working RNs who cannot relocate to Cookeville.

In-state tuition is $9,990 per year; out-of-state is $14,190. A two-year MSN at in-state rates costs roughly $19,980, making this one of the most affordable CCNE-accredited NP pathways in the state. The pay gap between a staff RN ($97,550 median) and a master's-prepared advanced practice nurse ($123,860 median) is $26,310 per year. At that difference, a $19,980 tuition investment pays back in under 11 months of practice as an NP. Tennessee Tech earns a Hakia Score of 78.1, ranking it second among Tennessee public MSN programs here. The 76% admit rate means this is accessible to a broad pool of qualified RNs, though a 58% graduation rate signals the program is demanding and students who enroll part-time while working full-time should plan their course load carefully. The CCNE accreditation keeps graduates eligible for national certification exams.

Middle Tennessee State University offers an online MSN through its College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, with hybrid delivery also available. MTSU's program page does not detail NP concentrations or clinical hour requirements the way Vanderbilt and Tennessee Tech do, and prospective students should contact the department directly to confirm current specialty tracks and practicum structures before applying. The university enrolls over 20,000 students and the nursing MSN is delivered primarily online, which is the main draw for working RNs in the Middle Tennessee region who need schedule flexibility. The program appears on the Hakia Tennessee ranking with a score of 77.5, placing it third among the four programs listed here.

In-state tuition is $8,204 per year; out-of-state is $29,512. A two-year completion at in-state rates comes to roughly $16,408, which is the lowest total cost of any program on this list. The $26,310 annual pay gap between a staff RN median and a master-prepared advanced practice nurse means a $16,408 tuition investment is recovered in roughly nine months of NP practice, making the financial case straightforward for in-state applicants. The 69% admit rate indicates a reasonably accessible admissions process. A 54% graduation rate, one of the lower figures on this list, is worth noting: confirm with the department what support structures exist for students who enroll while working. Prospective students should verify current CCNE or ACEN accreditation status directly with the school before applying, as accreditation standing determines eligibility for national certification exams.

The University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing runs a fully online MSN with five concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (40 credit hours), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (44 credit hours), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (46 credit hours), Nursing Education, and Nursing Leadership. Online coursework is paired with in-person clinical practicums arranged near the student, so you are not traveling to Memphis for most of the program. NP tracks do require up to three on-campus intensives during the program, each lasting one to three days and scheduled at least six months in advance. The AGACNP track requires the summer and fall intensives; other NP tracks require the spring intensive and may optionally attend the earlier ones. Credit hours vary by track: FNP at 40, AGACNP at 44, PMHNP at 46. Graduate certificates are available in each concentration for nurses who already hold a graduate degree.

In-state tuition is $8,856 per year; out-of-state is $13,512. A two-year MSN at in-state rates runs approximately $17,712. The program cites 100% employment for graduates and a 75% graduation rate, which is the strongest graduation figure among the three Tennessee public programs on this list. The $26,310 annual pay gap between a staff RN and a master's-prepared advanced practice nurse means the $17,712 tuition cost is recovered in roughly ten months of NP practice. Loewenberg holds a 74 Hakia Score and a #33 U.S. News ranking for online graduate nursing, which reflects the program's national reputation for online delivery. Admission is competitive by the school's own description: the 72% admit rate is general university-level data, and the nursing department states that meeting minimum standards does not guarantee admission. Prospective students should verify current CCNE or ACEN accreditation status directly with Loewenberg before applying.

Tennessee State University's MSN program, housed in the School of Nursing and Respiratory Care in Nashville, is ACEN-accredited and holds the distinction of being the only land-based, state-supported MSN in Middle Tennessee. It offers three concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Holistic Nursing, and Nursing Education (currently on hold). The FNP track leads directly to board certification eligibility. Courses are available online with flexible part-time or full-time scheduling, though all students must come to campus a maximum of three times during their entire program for a Research Day presentation, a Project Writing presentation, and the comprehensive exam. The program is not open to students residing in California, Louisiana, Nevada, or New York.

In-state tuition runs $7,368 per year, making total program cost manageable for working RNs who pace themselves part-time. The 70% admit rate is accessible for qualified BSN-holding RNs, and the three-year completion rate sits at 51%, which reflects the realities of adult learners balancing work and school. The 2025 FNP certification pass rate was 100%, and employment after graduation was 80% in 2025. The Hakia Score of 65.3 places TSU fifth among Tennessee MSN programs in this ranking. This program fits Nashville-area RNs who want an affordable, regionally rooted FNP pathway with minimal campus disruption, backed by a program that has passed its ACEN accreditation review with outstanding evaluations. The pay ceiling shifts significantly after completing the degree: BLS data puts master's-prepared NPs at a national median of $123,860 per year, compared to $97,550 for a staff RN, a difference of $26,310 annually. At $7,368 per year in-state tuition, the payback window on tuition alone is roughly two years of that salary delta.

Austin Peay State University's MSN program, based in Clarksville, Tennessee, is ACEN-accredited (initial accreditation) and fully approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. It offers three concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator. The FNP and PMHNP tracks include two on-campus intensives where faculty work directly with students on clinical skill development; the rest of the program runs online. APSU explicitly positions this as a personalized, affordable program and backs it with a concrete number: in-state students can complete the MSN for under $25,000 in tuition. The PMHNP track is a meaningful differentiator for RNs looking to meet demand in mental health care, a sector where shortage pressures are acute.

In-state tuition is $7,272 per year, the lowest per-credit-hour rate among Tennessee graduate nursing programs according to APSU's own program page. At a 96% admit rate, this program is broadly accessible to BSN-prepared RNs who meet the standard requirements. The 40% graduation rate reflects part-time adult learners completing on their own timelines. The Hakia Score of 60.2 ranks APSU sixth in Tennessee. On the ROI side, the gap between a staff RN median ($97,550) and a master's-prepared NP or PMHNP ($123,860 nationally per BLS) is $26,310 per year. If total tuition lands under $25,000, the salary increase alone covers the entire cost in just over one year of full-time advanced practice earnings. That math is hard to ignore for an RN already holding a BSN.