# Best Nursing Colleges in Tennessee

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 41 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-tennessee

## Methodology

Nursing programs in Tennessee ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Tennessee Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tennessee-wesleyan-university) | Athens, TN | 46% | $45,989 | $14,836 | $20,000 | 0.43x |
| 2 | [East Tennessee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-tennessee-state-university) | Johnson City, TN | 52% | $44,859 | $15,983 | $19,442 | 0.43x |
| 3 | [Southern Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-adventist-university) | Collegedale, TN | 50% | $53,723 | $24,345 | $24,500 | 0.46x |
| 4 | [Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/union-university) | Jackson, TN | 68% | $53,990 | $27,171 | $20,714 | 0.38x |
| 5 | [Lincoln Memorial University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-memorial-university) | Harrogate, TN | 52% | $49,956 | $20,406 | $20,000 | 0.4x |
| 6 | [Christian Brothers University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/christian-brothers-university) | Memphis, TN | 55% | $57,478 | $9,854 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 7 | [Roane State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roane-state-community-college) | Harriman, TN | 34% | $39,407 | $4,270 | $8,454 | 0.21x |
| 8 | [Dyersburg State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dyersburg-state-community-college) | Dyersburg, TN | 31% | $36,132 | $4,612 | $6,900 | 0.19x |
| 9 | [Columbia State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbia-state-community-college) | Columbia, TN | 30% | $40,256 | $4,734 | $8,500 | 0.21x |
| 10 | [Chattanooga State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chattanooga-state-community-college) | Chattanooga, TN | 24% | $37,598 | $5,283 | $10,419 | 0.28x |
| 11 | [Volunteer State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/volunteer-state-community-college) | Gallatin, TN | 26% | $41,150 | $7,802 | $7,550 | 0.18x |
| 12 | [Baptist Health Sciences University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baptist-health-sciences-university) | Memphis, TN | 46% | $72,529 | $11,212 | $29,500 | 0.41x |
| 13 | [Austin Peay State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/austin-peay-state-university) | Clarksville, TN | 42% | $44,301 | $9,735 | $20,547 | 0.46x |
| 14 | [King University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/king-university) | Bristol, TN | 47% | $59,831 | $22,347 | $22,750 | 0.38x |
| 15 | [Tennessee Technological University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tennessee-technological-university) | Cookeville, TN | 56% | $48,501 | $14,246 | $15,650 | 0.32x |
| 16 | [Lipscomb University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lipscomb-university) | Nashville, TN | 70% | $55,541 | $24,739 | $19,500 | 0.35x |
| 17 | [Trevecca Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trevecca-nazarene-university) | Nashville, TN | 54% | $49,378 | $16,813 | $18,744 | 0.38x |
| 18 | [Lee University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lee-university) | Cleveland, TN | 62% | $43,222 | $18,878 | $25,750 | 0.6x |
| 19 | [Belmont University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belmont-university) | Nashville, TN | 71% | $55,930 | $33,147 | $20,500 | 0.37x |
| 20 | [Rhodes College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rhodes-college) | Memphis, TN | 83% | $66,651 | $28,585 | $21,761 | 0.33x |
| 21 | [University of Memphis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-memphis) | Memphis, TN | 50% | $48,458 | $12,397 | $23,300 | 0.48x |
| 22 | [Cumberland University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cumberland-university) | Lebanon, TN | 46% | $57,687 | $18,759 | $17,952 | 0.31x |
| 23 | [Middle Tennessee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/middle-tennessee-state-university) | Murfreesboro, TN | 54% | $48,541 | $13,359 | $20,000 | 0.41x |
| 24 | [Northeast State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-state-community-college) | Blountville, TN | 33% | $34,553 | $6,864 | $6,827 | 0.2x |
| 25 | [Maryville College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maryville-college) | Maryville, TN | 49% | $49,279 | $19,360 | $25,375 | 0.51x |
| 26 | [Tennessee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tennessee-state-university) | Nashville, TN | 33% | $42,730 | $15,796 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 27 | [Bethel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethel-university-tn) | McKenzie, TN | 35% | $47,482 | $12,595 | $27,249 | 0.57x |
| 28 | [Walters State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/walters-state-community-college) | Morristown, TN | 35% | $37,085 | $5,387 | N/A | N/A |
| 29 | [Milligan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/milligan-university) | Milligan, TN | 62% | $46,641 | $21,365 | $25,219 | 0.54x |
| 30 | [Pellissippi State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pellissippi-state-community-college) | Knoxville, TN | 30% | $38,440 | $4,983 | $8,725 | 0.23x |
| 31 | [Nashville State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nashville-state-community-college) | Nashville, TN | 18% | $38,519 | $6,777 | $9,595 | 0.25x |
| 32 | [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville) | Knoxville, TN | 74% | $60,249 | $18,976 | $20,500 | 0.34x |
| 33 | [Motlow State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/motlow-state-community-college) | Tullahoma, TN | 31% | $40,397 | $15,742 | N/A | N/A |
| 34 | [Tusculum University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tusculum-university) | Greeneville, TN | 28% | $44,367 | $21,131 | $23,250 | 0.52x |
| 35 | [Jackson State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jackson-state-community-college) | Jackson, TN | 23% | $35,224 | $6,236 | N/A | N/A |
| 36 | [The University of Tennessee Southern](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-southern) | Pulaski, TN | 36% | $38,924 | $12,798 | $21,500 | 0.55x |
| 37 | [Freed-Hardeman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/freed-hardeman-university) | Henderson, TN | 70% | $47,485 | $21,574 | $21,500 | 0.45x |
| 38 | [Carson-Newman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carson-newman-university) | Jefferson City, TN | 50% | $48,382 | $20,251 | $21,500 | 0.44x |
| 39 | [The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga) | Chattanooga, TN | 52% | $51,151 | $14,265 | $19,500 | 0.38x |
| 40 | [The University of Tennessee-Martin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-martin) | Martin, TN | 54% | $44,213 | $10,701 | $21,024 | 0.48x |
| 41 | [Southwest Tennessee Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwest-tennessee-community-college) | Memphis, TN | 19% | $34,071 | $4,754 | N/A | N/A |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Nursing Colleges in Tennessee." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-tennessee

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.