Cheapest Registered Nursing Colleges in Tennessee

Tennessee State University delivers the state's most affordable nursing education at just $10,026 net cost annually, nearly $7,000 less than the next cheapest option. This price advantage becomes even more striking when compared to Christian Brothers University's $10,896 net cost, which produces the highest-earning graduates at $67,660 annually. Tennessee's healthcare market, dominated by HCA Healthcare's Nashville headquarters, creates strong demand for nursing professionals across all specialties from bedside care to administrative leadership. The state's 15 nursing programs span a wide cost spectrum, with private institutions charging up to $37,300 in tuition while public universities maintain accessible pricing. Graduates typically earn between $47,650 and $67,660, reflecting the varied career paths available in registered nursing, administration, and clinical research. The absence of state income tax means nursing professionals keep more of their earnings, making Tennessee particularly attractive for healthcare careers. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with six of the seven cheapest programs housed at state institutions, while private schools offer specialized training at premium prices.

Programs

$10,026 – $32,096

Net Price Range

$54,753

Avg. Program Earnings

52.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

31 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee	$10,026	$8,568	33.0%
2	The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, Tennessee	$10,299	$10,208	54.8%	88.4%
3	Christian Brothers University Memphis, Tennessee	$10,896	$37,300	56.0%	87.5%
4	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	$12,599	$9,506	54.0%	72.5%
5	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$12,817	$10,144	53.1%	82.7%
6	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253	$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
7	Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis, Tennessee	$13,401	$13,846	53.8%	40.9%
8	Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, Tennessee	$14,207	$10,084	54.2%	78.1%
9	Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, Tennessee	$14,459	$29,790	54.8%	70.9%
10	Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee	$14,846	$8,675	44.5%	93.8%
11	Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee	$14,879	$29,264	43.6%	60.7%
12	The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, Tennessee	$15,133	$10,506	35.7%	80.3%
13	East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee	$15,794	$9,950	49.9%	85.3%
14	South College Knoxville, Tennessee	$17,182	$17,935	36.7%
15	Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, Tennessee	$17,999	$26,150	53.9%	78.5%
16	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee	$18,109	$13,484	73.5%	68.4%
17	Cumberland University Lebanon, Tennessee	$18,292	$27,840	47.0%	66.2%
18	Strayer University-Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee	$18,466	$13,920
19	Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, Tennessee	$18,661	$34,700	46.4%	79.8%
20	Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, Tennessee	$20,082	$25,000	68.4%	91.2%
21	Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee	$20,399	$22,690	60.7%	72.6%
22	Milligan University Milligan, Tennessee	$21,131	$39,350	60.3%	66.7%
23	Bethel University McKenzie, Tennessee	$21,803	$18,168	34.9%	88.8%
24	Tusculum University Greeneville, Tennessee	$22,874	$28,500	30.5%	81.1%
25	King University Bristol, Tennessee	$23,508	$34,800	46.4%	60.8%
26	Southern Adventist University Collegedale, Tennessee	$24,334	$25,590	51.4%	65.8%
27	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$25,266		55.9%
28	Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee	$25,610	$38,824	68.7%	71.1%
29	Union University Jackson, Tennessee	$26,815	$38,450	70.9%	52.6%
30	Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus Nashville, Tennessee	$27,306	$16,400
31	Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee	$32,096	$41,320	71.7%	96.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $57,634 earnings gap between the highest and lowest-paid nursing graduates?

Christian Brothers University graduates earn $67,660 annually compared to $47,650 from The University of Tennessee Southern, reflecting differences in program focus and geographic location. Private institutions often emphasize leadership and administrative tracks that command higher salaries. The Memphis location of Christian Brothers provides access to major medical centers, while rural programs may prepare students for community hospital roles. Specialized nursing administration and research programs typically produce higher-earning graduates than general registered nursing tracks.

How do Tennessee's public nursing programs compare on debt load?

Tennessee Technological University produces graduates with the lowest debt at $15,625, while Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry $25,696 in debt despite similar net costs. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga strikes a middle ground with $18,740 in average debt and strong graduation rates at 53.1%. Public programs generally maintain debt levels between $15,000-$26,000, significantly lower than private institutions. Tennessee State University offers the best overall value with low net cost and manageable debt of $24,124.

Is Baptist Health Sciences University worth its $13,401 net cost?

Baptist Health Sciences University justifies its price through selective admissions at 40.93% acceptance rate and strong graduate earnings of $59,463 annually. The school's hospital affiliation provides direct clinical training opportunities that translate to job placement advantages. However, graduates carry $34,895 in debt, the highest among affordable options. The 53.8% graduation rate matches peers, making it a solid choice for students who can handle the competitive environment and debt load.

Does Tennessee Promise affect nursing program costs?

Tennessee Promise covers community college tuition but doesn't directly impact four-year nursing programs, which typically require upper-division coursework at universities. Students can complete prerequisites at community colleges under Tennessee Promise, then transfer to complete nursing programs. This pathway can reduce overall costs by $6,000-$8,000 for the first two years. Public universities like Tennessee State and UT-Martin already offer competitive pricing that makes the full four-year experience affordable.

Where do Tennessee nursing graduates find the best job opportunities?

Nashville and Memphis offer the highest concentration of nursing jobs, with HCA Healthcare alone employing thousands of nurses across multiple specialties. Vanderbilt University Medical Center and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital provide opportunities for clinical research and specialized nursing roles. Regional medical centers in Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Johnson City also hire significant numbers of nurses. The state's growing population and lack of income tax make Tennessee attractive for healthcare professionals, creating consistent demand across all nursing specialties.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.