Tennessee · Practical Nursing

Best Practical Nursing institutions in Tennessee, ranked by earnings

The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…

Institutions
30
offering CIP 51.39
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,660
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$44,669
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
23
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,048
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
68%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Nursing Assistants
$37,040
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville
Nashville Public · Certificate degree
$51,0855070%$19,966
2Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
Chattanooga Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$50,43711212%$28,740$20,029
3TCAT Athens
Athens Public · Certificate degree
$46,8714995%$9,925
4Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hartsville
Hartsville Public · Certificate degree
$46,3904482%$5,846
5Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Upper Cumberland
Crossville Public · Certificate degree
$44,9153584%$6,398
6Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis
Memphis Public · Certificate degree
$44,6697855%$14,040
7Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro Public · Certificate degree
$44,5551676%$10,723
8Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crump
Crump Public · Certificate degree
$44,1344263%$6,000
9Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald
Hohenwald Public · Certificate degree
$42,6943065%$6,500
10Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson
Dickson Public · Certificate degree
$42,6516274%$11,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~204,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$39,530
typically Postsecondary nondegree award

Top skills

Active ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Nursing Assistants earn in Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
23,030
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$37,040
median $36,750
Best-paying metro
$40,190
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Related careers

Nursing Assistants
$37,040 avg · 23,030 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$53,490 avg · 19,140 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Tennessee.

Which Practical Nursing program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville tops the list at $51,085. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Tennessee?+

The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Tennessee is $37,040 (median $36,750), across about 23,030 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+

The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+

The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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