Accredited nursing programs in Tennessee
44 schools in Tennessee have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 28 BSN, 18 ADN, 1 LPN, 15 MSN programs. 2 hold both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 22 of 28 listings are CCNE and 6 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 28
- 6 ACEN, 22 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 18
- 18 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 1
- 1 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 15
- 4 ACEN, 11 CCNE
Accredited schools in Tennessee
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Public | CCNE | – | – | ACEN |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | Memphis | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Cleveland State Community College | Cleveland | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Dyersburg State Community College | Dyersburg | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fortis Institute-Nashville | Nashville | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Jackson State Community College | Jackson | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| King University | Bristol | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| South College | Knoxville | For-profit | CCNE | ACEN | ACEN | CCNE |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin | Public | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Union University | Jackson | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Private | – | – | – | CCNE |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Southwest Tennessee Community College, ADN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Tennessee
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Tennessee board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 28. For bachelor’s degrees, 28 of 30 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (93%).
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Tennessee are accredited?
We matched 44 Tennessee schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 28 BSN, 18 ADN, 1 LPN, 15 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Tennessee?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Tennessee bachelor’s programs accredited?
28 of the 30 Tennessee schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.