DNP & PhD Programs in Tennessee
Where possible, we include NCLEX pass rates data for each campus. The average pass rates are calculated using the last 3 years of data. The average scores are then used in our annual RN/PN rankings. You can read more about it here. You can also view this year's rankings for Tennessee here.
Updated: February 5, 2026
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN
Public
4-year
Accreditations
CCNE
Southern Association of Colleg...
Programs Offered
DNP
PhD
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 88.1%
- RN test takers per year
- 368
- RN rank (2025)
- #8
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Lee University
Cleveland, TN
Private
4-year
Accreditations
CCNE
Southern Association of Colleg...
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 98.5%
- RN test takers per year
- 47
- RN rank (2025)
- #2
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Public
4-year
Accreditations
CCNE
COA
Southern Association of Colleg...
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 99.3%
- RN test takers per year
- 75
- RN rank (2025)
- #1
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN
Public
4-year
Programs Offered
DNP
BSN to DNP
PhD
BSN to PhD
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 95.8%
- RN test takers per year
- 109
- RN rank (2025)
- #4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Union University
Jackson, TN
Private
4-year
Accreditations
CCNE
COA
Southern Association of Colleg...
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 96.4%
- RN test takers per year
- 153
- RN rank (2025)
- #3
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Public
4-year
Accreditations
CCNE
COA
Southern Association of Colleg...
Programs Offered
DNP
PhD
BSN to PhD
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 97.4%
- RN test takers per year
- 175
- RN rank (2025)
- #3
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Private
4-year
Accreditations
ACEN
ACME
Southern Association of Colleg...
Programs Offered
DNP
PhD
NCLEX Stats
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- 97.4%
- RN test takers per year
- 59
- RN rank (2025)
- #3
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
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