Best RN Programs in Tennessee: 2026 Rankings

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's College of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on a campus of nearly 39,000 students. The college's undergraduate nursing pathway is positioned within a broader academic structure that extends through doctoral work, including a BSN-to-PhD pipeline for students who want to move directly into research and science careers. The scraped program page describes PhD-level coursework in quantitative methods, nursing science theory, and grant writing, which reflects the research infrastructure surrounding the undergraduate program.

UT Knoxville carries a Hakia Score of 94.4, the highest among Tennessee's RN programs. The 42% admit rate signals real selectivity for a public flagship: fewer than half of applicants are accepted. The graduation rate stands at 74%, the strongest among the four programs ranked here. In-state tuition is $11,560 per year. Out-of-state students pay $30,704, making residency a significant financial factor. This program fits academically strong students who want a research-active environment at a public price point, provided they are Tennessee residents or can absorb the out-of-state premium. National context: BLS wage data puts the median annual wage for registered nurses at $97,550 nationwide.

Prospective students should note the program page provided describes PhD-level curriculum in detail, and the undergraduate BSN structure at UTK sits within a college that prioritizes research depth alongside clinical training. Students considering graduate pathways will find the institutional infrastructure already in place at Knoxville.

Lipscomb University's pre-licensure BSN is a 128-credit-hour, in-person program delivered on the Nashville main campus. The program covers medical-surgical nursing, critical care, obstetrics, pediatrics, mental health, and community-based learning. A state-of-the-art high-fidelity simulation lab lets students practice clinical scenarios before entering hospital placements. The program page notes that Nashville, as a major healthcare hub, provides direct access to clinical connections and employment networks. The curriculum closes with a capstone course in the final semester designed specifically to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN.

The program publishes detailed outcome data on its page. First-time NCLEX pass rates have ranged from 91% to 98% across 2016-2024, with 97.1% first-time and 100% overall in 2025. Job placement rates have been reported at 100% for every academic year from 2017-2018 through 2023-2024. On-time program completion (4 semesters) has ranged from 60% to 75% across recent cohorts; the 150% timeframe (6 semesters) runs 80-91%. Lipscomb's Hakia Score is 86.4. The 68% admit rate is the least selective of the four programs ranked here, which makes it a more accessible path for applicants who meet GPA and prerequisite standards. Tuition is $37,460 per year regardless of residency, so the cost calculus here turns on whether Nashville's clinical network and the program's licensure track record justify the private-school price.

The program is grounded in a Christ-centered mission and aligns its student learning outcomes to the 2021 AACN BSN Essentials framework. Students looking for a values-driven program with a strong NCLEX history and guaranteed placement in one of the country's largest healthcare markets will find a concrete case here. BLS data sets the national RN median wage at $97,550.

Union University's College of Nursing offers a Traditional BSN delivered in Jackson, Tennessee. The program runs eight semesters across four years. Students complete a 59-credit core curriculum shared with the broader university, then move into 61 hours of nursing coursework. The program page describes the curriculum as an excellence-driven, liberal arts framework with faculty who use state-of-the-art technology and clinical placements. Graduates are prepared for entry-level generalist nursing practice or for graduate-level nursing education. The college also offers a Nursing in Global Languages minor through Languages, Literature, and Writing.

Admission to nursing courses is handled separately from university admission. Students must hold a cumulative and science GPA of 3.0 or higher, score ACT 20 or above, and complete all science prerequisites, including A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Pathophysiology, with grades of C or better before beginning nursing coursework. Prerequisites in A&P and Pathophysiology must be taken within five years of starting nursing courses. The application deadline for progression is April 15 annually, with a Request to Progress form due by March 1. Union's Hakia Score is 86.2. The 60% admit rate and tuition of $36,005 per year, identical for all students, place this program between the accessibility of Tennessee Tech and the cost of Lipscomb. The graduation rate is 66%. This program suits students who want a structured, faith-integrated curriculum with clear academic progression requirements and rural-to-regional clinical access in West Tennessee.

The four-year curriculum map on Union's program page shows clinical nursing coursework beginning in the junior year with Foundations of Nursing, Health Assessment, and Pharmacology, advancing through OB, Pediatrics, Adult Health, and Community Health Nursing in the senior year. BLS data places the national median annual wage for registered nurses at $97,550.

Tennessee Technological University's Whitson-Hester School of Nursing offers a traditional four-year BSN and a second-degree BSN for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. The school also maintains an RN-to-BSN pathway, an MSN, and a DNP, so undergraduate students enter a nursing school with a full graduate ladder. The traditional BSN includes three semesters of prerequisite coursework, which students can complete either at Tennessee Tech or at any Tennessee community college, followed by a competitive admission process into the five-semester clinical Upper Division. Upper Division clinical placements cover Mental Health, Medical/Surgical Nursing, Pediatrics, and additional specialty areas at clinical sites across Middle and East Tennessee.

Tennessee Tech's program page reports first-time NCLEX pass rates above 95% for its graduates. The school flags a professional licensure disclosure noting it cannot guarantee licensure eligibility outside Tennessee, a standard but important caveat for students who plan to practice in another state. In-state tuition is $9,990 per year, the lowest of the four programs here. Out-of-state tuition is $14,190, a modest premium relative to UT Knoxville's out-of-state rate. The Hakia Score is 81.8. The 76% admit rate makes this the most accessible of the four programs by selectivity. The graduation rate of 58% is the lowest in the group, which reflects the competitive Upper Division admission filter and the demands of a clinically intensive five-semester final stretch. This program fits cost-focused Tennessee residents and community college transfer students who are prepared for a selective clinical-year process.

The second-degree BSN track is worth noting for career-changers: students with prior bachelor's degrees can enter a structured path without starting from scratch on general education requirements. BLS data puts the national RN median annual wage at $97,550.

Middle Tennessee State University's School of Nursing in Murfreesboro offers a four-year, on-ground Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Admission to the university does not guarantee entry to the upper-division nursing program: all applicants are rank-ordered by a composite score combining GPA and HESI, with a 7.75 composite as the competitive threshold. The program bridges classroom and clinical work through approximately 200 hours in simulation labs with specialty practice manikins and more than 500 hours of supervised rotations at community partners across Middle Tennessee, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, and Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Graduates become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon completion.

MTSU's in-state tuition of $8,204 makes it one of the most cost-accessible BSN paths in Tennessee; out-of-state students face a much steeper $29,512. The university's overall graduation rate is 54% and its admit rate is 69%, reflecting a moderately selective institution. The Hakia Score of 80.5 rewards the combination of affordable public-school pricing and a clinically intensive curriculum. With nearly 20,500 students enrolled, MTSU also supports a dedicated Career Development Center and a broad employer network stretching to Mayo Clinic and UNC Medical Center, giving graduates a wide post-graduation footprint.

Lee University's School of Nursing in Cleveland, Tennessee offers a traditional BSN track open to three student groups: first-time freshmen, current Lee students, and transfer students. All nursing majors are admitted once per year for the fall semester, and students begin as pre-nursing majors until the formal School of Nursing application is complete. Admission space is explicitly limited, and the program encourages applicants to apply before the Priority Admission Deadline. For freshmen, prerequisite courses do not need to be finished before admission; for transfers and current students, prerequisites should generally be completed first. Admission is based on space availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool.

Lee is a small private nonprofit with 3,714 enrolled students and an admit rate of 71%, meaning the broader university is accessible but nursing spots are tighter than that figure suggests. Tuition is flat at $23,040 regardless of residency, a straightforward cost structure that simplifies planning for out-of-state applicants. The university's graduation rate is 63%, and the Hakia Score of 80.0 reflects the program's balance of small-campus engagement and structured nursing preparation. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 according to BLS OEWS data, a benchmark Lee graduates pursue across East Tennessee and beyond.

Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing that the program page explicitly identifies as CCNE-accredited. The curriculum builds toward the NCLEX-RN through laboratory exercises, simulations, lecture courses, and clinical rotations, with 650 total hours of clinical experience spanning specialized labs and real-world healthcare settings. Admission to the nursing program requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8, a science GPA of 2.5 or higher, and a TEAS score at the proficient level or above. Students start as pre-nursing majors and must earn a C or better in every nursing course to advance each semester.

FHU is a selective small private school: with an admit rate of 60% and just 2,306 enrolled students, class sizes stay small and the program page emphasizes small student-to-teacher ratios and a faculty of practicing nurses. The graduation rate is 71%, the strongest among this group of four programs. Tuition is $25,620 with no in-state or out-of-state distinction. The Hakia Score of 79.7 reflects the program's CCNE standing, clinical depth, and selectivity. Elective coursework includes options such as Aging and Care for the Older Adult, Nursing Malpractice, and Substance Abuse Education, giving students room to specialize before graduation.

Belmont University's Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing in Nashville offers a direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing: students are admitted to the College of Nursing before they arrive on campus and begin nursing coursework from their first semester. Clinical placements start as early as sophomore year across a named network of Nashville health systems, including HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Ascension Saint Thomas, TriStar Health, the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee VA, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. The program guarantees 100% clinical placement, meaning every enrolled student is placed. The program page states that Belmont's nursing program is one of 95 institutions designated as an NLN Center of Excellence, attributing this recognition to the National League of Nursing.

Belmont is the most expensive program in this group at $40,560 in tuition, flat for all students. The university's admit rate is 95%, making university admission straightforward, though nursing program competitiveness operates separately. The graduation rate is 71%, matching Freed-Hardeman's. The Hakia Score of 78.9 reflects the program's strong clinical infrastructure set against its high private-school cost. Students also have access to a 60,000 square-foot Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation. The program's Nashville location gives graduates immediate proximity to one of the most concentrated healthcare job markets in the country, relevant context alongside the national RN median of $97,550 per BLS OEWS.

Milligan University offers a single-track traditional BSN through its School of Sciences and Allied Health. The program pairs a rigorous nursing curriculum with a liberal arts foundation, and clinical rotations begin in the sophomore year, not junior year, giving students more hands-on time earlier. Placement sites include major medical centers, rural hospitals, community health centers, home health programs, and school health initiatives. The program page notes no waiting list for admission and states NCLEX pass rates that exceed state and national averages, though Milligan does not publish the specific figure on the page. The program holds CCNE accreditation and approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Milligan is a small private institution with 1,240 enrolled students and a 72% admit rate, so it is selective without being a reach for qualified applicants. The graduation rate is 63%, which is the honest tradeoff of a demanding private program. Tuition is $38,800 per year with no in-state or out-of-state difference, a significant cost relative to Tennessee public options. That price point makes sense primarily for students who value small class sizes, an integrated liberal arts curriculum, and early clinical access. The program earns a Hakia Score of 78, ranking it 9th among Tennessee BSN programs in this analysis. US News has listed Milligan among its Best Value Schools, which the school reports on its program page.

Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Milligan's program page states that nearly all nursing graduates are employed by the time of graduation, though it does not publish a specific placement percentage. For students committed to a faith-grounded, small-college environment with immediate clinical immersion and a guaranteed seat upon acceptance, Milligan is a straightforward fit.

The Loewenberg College of Nursing at the University of Memphis offers a traditional four-year BSN, an Accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN completion pathway, making it one of the few Tennessee programs that serves pre-licensure students, career-changers, and working nurses under one roof. The traditional BSN is structured as four semesters of prerequisite and general education coursework followed by four nursing-major semesters covering pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, mental health, maternity, pediatrics, adult nursing, community health, and a senior transition seminar. The curriculum is built on Tennessee Board of Nursing requirements and CCNE standards. Freshmen can be pre-admitted directly from high school, and students who meet ongoing academic criteria are guaranteed a seat in the nursing major, removing the competitive re-application hurdle common at many programs.

The numbers here are notable for a public institution of this size. The program page reports 700+ students enrolled, a 90% six-year graduation rate, and a 94% retention rate. IPEDS data puts the university-wide graduation rate at 51% and the admit rate at 72%, which reflects the broader undergraduate population, not the nursing cohort specifically. For nursing, the program-reported 90% graduation rate is the operative figure for prospective students. In-state tuition is $8,856 per year versus $13,512 out-of-state, the largest cost advantage for Tennessee residents of any program in this ranking set. The program earns a Hakia Score of 77.8, placing it 10th in Tennessee. At this price, it represents strong value for in-state applicants who qualify for the guaranteed-admission pathway.

National median pay for registered nurses is $97,550 annually per the BLS OEWS. Memphis is a major healthcare market, and the Loewenberg program places students in clinical settings across that system. The combination of multiple program tracks, guaranteed freshman admission, a 94% retention rate, and $8,856 in-state tuition makes this the clearest value play in the Tennessee top-10 for residents who can commute to or relocate to Memphis.