Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Baptist Health Sciences University, University of Memphis and The University of Tennessee-Martin are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Baptist Health Sciences University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,962, College Scorecard. South College, Vanderbilt University and East Tennessee State University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Tennessee: 992, 463 and 430 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 49 Tennessee colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 6,485 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,962 | 106 | 40% | $13,938 | $47,500 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,680 | 363 | 51% | — | $27,168 |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,727 | 47 | 53% | — | $25,231 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,619 | 237 | — | — | $29,537 |
| 5 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,399 | 150 | 66% | $25,882 | $29,127 |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,235 | 178 | 40% | — | $27,576 |
| 7 | King University Bristol Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,012 | 92 | 48% | $23,546 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,930 | 39 | 63% | $18,918 | $25,300 |
| 9 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,094 | 46 | 46% | $19,206 | $29,250 |
| 10 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,072 | 147 | 71% | $29,246 | $25,625 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concorde Career College - Memphis Memphis Private for-profit · Associate degree | $76,276 | 30 | 55% | $23,740 | $34,875 |
| 2 | Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg Public · Associate degree | $74,386 | 107 | 34% | — | $13,500 |
| 3 | Cleveland State Community College Cleveland Public · Associate degree | $69,229 | 56 | 37% | — | — |
| 4 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Nashville Private for-profit · Associate degree | $68,114 | 238 | — | $26,370 | — |
| 5 | Motlow State Community College Tullahoma Public · Associate degree | $66,609 | 40 | 34% | — | $7,086 |
| 6 | Northeast State Community College Blountville Public · Associate degree | $65,160 | 69 | 33% | — | $6,511 |
| 7 | Columbia State Community College Columbia Public · Associate degree | $65,077 | 77 | 30% | — | $18,841 |
| 8 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $61,225 | 182 | 49% | $24,187 | $25,000 |
| 9 | Walters State Community College Morristown Public · Associate degree | $57,329 | 120 | 33% | — | $8,429 |
| 10 | Roane State Community College Harriman Public · Associate degree | $56,446 | 83 | 36% | — | $11,518 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South College Knoxville Private for-profit | 992 | $65,109 |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 463 | Not reported |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 430 | $64,459 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 395 | $65,298 |
| 5 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 363 | $73,680 |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis Public | 237 | $70,619 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 198 | $65,273 |
| 8 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 179 | $61,379 |
| 9 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 178 | $68,235 |
| 10 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 150 | $68,399 |
ShowHide the other 39 Tennessee colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
South College (992 graduates a year), Vanderbilt University (463 graduates a year) and East Tennessee State University (430 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 49 Tennessee colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Baptist Health Sciences University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,962, College Scorecard. University of Memphis and The University of Tennessee-Martin follow. By degrees awarded, South College is the largest, with 992 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Baptist Health Sciences University tops the list at $74,962. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Tennessee is $85,390 (median $81,500), across about 72,200 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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