Best Registered Nurse programs in Tennessee, ranked by enrollment
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients.
48 schools in Tennessee run programs that feed this job, graduating 6,304 people a year. The job pays a median of $81,500 in Tennessee across about 72,200 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Tennessee that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
13 programs in Tennessee that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Tennessee (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Tennessee page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nursemain feeder CIP 51.3801In Tennessee → | 5,063 | 80.3% | 47 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 2 | Family Practice Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3805In Tennessee → | 548 | 8.7% | 15 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 3 | Nursing Practicemain feeder CIP 51.3818In Tennessee → | 301 | 4.8% | 14 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 4 | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3810In Tennessee → | 141 | 2.2% | 9 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 5 | Pediatric Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3809In Tennessee → | 73 | 1.2% | 3 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 6 | Women's Health Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3822In Tennessee → | 35 | 0.6% | 3 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 7 | Critical Care Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3814In Tennessee → | 33 | 0.5% | 2 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 8 | Emergency Room/Trauma Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3816In Tennessee → | 30 | 0.5% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 9 | CIP 51.3806In Tennessee → | 21 | 0.3% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 10 | Nursing Sciencemain feeder CIP 51.3808In Tennessee → | 21 | 0.3% | 5 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 11 | Nursing Administrationmain feeder CIP 51.3802In Tennessee → | 19 | 0.3% | 7 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 12 | Adult Health Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3803In Tennessee → | 17 | 0.3% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 13 | CIP 51.3812In Tennessee → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
Top 25 schools in Tennessee
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 42 of the 48 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South College Knoxville, TN Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 958 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $65,109 | 42% | $20,346 | — |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 12 feeder programs | 433 | Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | — | 94% | $14,854 | 6% |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN Public · 5 feeder programs | 430 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $64,459 | 53% | — | 86% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · 6 feeder programs | 395 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $65,298 | 74% | — | 42% |
| 5 | University of Memphis Memphis, TN Public · 3 feeder programs | 363 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $73,680 | 51% | — | 72% |
| 6 | Galen Health Institutes - Nashville Campus Nashville, TN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 238 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,114 | — | $26,370 | — |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, TN Public · 7 feeder programs | 237 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $70,619 | — | — | — |
| 8 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 223 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $54,468 | 50% | $18,981 | 63% |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Public · 3 feeder programs | 198 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $65,273 | 50% | — | 81% |
| 10 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 182 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $66,005 | 49% | $24,187 | 65% |
| 11 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · 4 feeder programs | 179 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $61,379 | 58% | — | 76% |
| 12 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 178 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,235 | 40% | — | 96% |
| 13 | Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 173 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $64,950 | 26% | — | — |
| 14 | Belmont University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 147 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $67,072 | 71% | $29,246 | 95% |
| 15 | Carson - Newman University Jefferson City, TN Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 145 | Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | $56,509 | 53% | $19,537 | 90% |
| 16 | Union University Jackson, TN Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 124 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,399 | 66% | $25,882 | 60% |
| 17 | Walters State Community College Morristown, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 120 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $57,329 | 33% | — | — |
| 18 | Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 107 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $74,386 | 34% | — | — |
| 19 | Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis, TN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 106 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $74,962 | 40% | $13,938 | 82% |
| 20 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 99 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $65,839 | 54% | — | 69% |
| 21 | King University Bristol, TN Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 92 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,012 | 48% | $23,546 | 100% |
| 22 | Roane State Community College Harriman, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 83 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $56,446 | 36% | — | — |
| 23 | Southwest Tennessee Community College Memphis, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 83 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $72,913 | 19% | — | — |
| 24 | Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 79 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | — | 48% | $14,614 | 69% |
| 25 | Columbia State Community College Columbia, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 77 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $65,077 | 30% | — | — |
All 48 schools in Tennessee
Every school in Tennessee with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South College | Knoxville | Private for-profit | 958 | 3 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 433 | 12 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Public | 430 | 5 |
| The University of Tennessee - Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | 395 | 6 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Public | 363 | 3 |
| Galen Health Institutes - Nashville Campus | Nashville | Private for-profit | 238 | 1 |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Public | 237 | 7 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 223 | 5 |
| The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Public | 198 | 3 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 182 | 5 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Public | 179 | 4 |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Public | 178 | 1 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | 173 | 1 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 147 | 2 |
| Carson - Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 145 | 3 |
What registered nurses earn in Tennessee
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $97,550. Tennessee pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Tennessee
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Registered Nurses page.
How to become a Registered Nurse
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Tennessee
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 21 majors mapped to Registered Nurses21 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 51.3801Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- 51.3802Nursing Administration
- 51.3803Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3805Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3806Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3808Nursing Science
- 51.3809Pediatric Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3810Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3811Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3812Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3813Clinical Nurse Specialist
- 51.3814Critical Care Nursing
- 51.3815Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing
- 51.3816Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing
- 51.3818Nursing Practice
- 51.3819Palliative Care Nursing
- 51.3820Clinical Nurse Leader
- 51.3821Geriatric Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3822Women's Health Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3824Forensic Nursing
- 51.3899Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other
Common questions
Answers for people weighing registered nurses programs in Tennessee.
What degree do you need to become a Registered Nurse?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which awarded 5,063 degrees in Tennessee in 2024-25, 80.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Registered Nurse?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Registered Nursing. Together they graduate about 6,304 people a year in Tennessee.
How much do registered nurses earn in Tennessee?+
The median is $81,500 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 16.5% below the U.S. median of $97,550. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for registered nurses growing?+
BLS projects a +4.9% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 189,100 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Tennessee?+
48 institutions in Tennessee reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do registered nurses work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, APN (Advanced Practice Nurse), CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 29-1141.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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