RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Nursing declared that approximately 79,025 registered nurses have current Tennessee licenses. Those who want to establish a steady career in nursing have a lot to think about as the country needs about 800,000 more RNs till the year 2020. 

Tennessee is one of the states that have been foreseen to have a severe shortage of RNs in the coming years. Though this is the case, major nursing schools are forced to drive away qualified applicants to nursing programs. The Tennessee Center for Nursing states that there is an immediate need for faculty and funding in order to accommodate the growing need for nurses. 

If you want to have more opportunities in the future, it is wise to consider an RN to BSN bridge program soon. 

Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences 

Located in Memphis, this school offers an RN to BSN degree that is flexible. Classes are presented in a hybrid model which is inclusive of web-based options. Full-time students can complete the said bridge class in just 12 months but this can be stretched to 24 months if the student’s schedule cannot accommodate a full load. Requirements are one lab and two clinical courses.

 Austin Peay State University 

APSU in Clarksville offers majority of its RN to BSN classes online. Full-time students can complete this program in just three semesters while part-timers can further stretch their schedule. Included in the clinical hours are clinical integration and community and public health nursing. 

Tennessee State University 

TSU in Nashville offers the RN to BSN program in many flexible classes. The entire program can be accomplished in as little as 12 months. The classes are a fusion of traditional classroom, online, web-enhanced, and live video settings. Transfer credits may be awarded, provided the student takes 30 hours of nursing credits at the TSU. 

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: March 12, 2026
Freed-Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
98.8%
RN test takers per year
43
RN rank (2025)
#1
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
King University

King University

Bristol, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
98.7%
RN test takers per year
11
RN rank (2025)
#1
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
99.3%
RN test takers per year
75
RN rank (2025)
#1
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

ACEN Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
97.8%
RN test takers per year
102
RN rank (2025)
#2
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
97.0%
RN test takers per year
133
RN rank (2025)
#3
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Union University

Union University

Jackson, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

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

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
97.4%
RN test takers per year
175
RN rank (2025)
#3
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Belmont University

Belmont University

Nashville, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
95.3%
RN test takers per year
182
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Cumberland University

Cumberland University

Lebanon, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

ACEN CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
95.8%
RN test takers per year
68
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Lincoln Memorial University

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

ACEN COA Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
95.0%
RN test takers per year
95
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
95.2%
RN test takers per year
81
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
The University of Tennessee Southern

The University of Tennessee Southern

Pulaski, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
94.9%
RN test takers per year
13
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Baptist Health Sciences University

Baptist Health Sciences University

Memphis, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
94.5%
RN test takers per year
100
RN rank (2025)
#5
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Carson-Newman University

Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
94.6%
RN test takers per year
42
RN rank (2025)
#5
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
88.1%
RN test takers per year
368
RN rank (2025)
#8
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
University of Memphis

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
87.9%
RN test takers per year
262
RN rank (2025)
#8
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Aquinas College

Aquinas College

Nashville, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

ACEN Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
75.0%
RN test takers per year
44
Tennessee Wesleyan University

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, TN
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE Southern Association of Colleg...

Programs Offered

RN to BSN

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
97.0%
RN test takers per year
31