For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of bachelor’s degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Tennessee’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
920 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
https://www.uthsc.edu
97.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#2: Lee University
1120 North Ocoee Street
Cleveland, TN 37311
https://www.leeuniversity.edu
97.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2017 through 2020
#3: Tennessee Tech University
One William L. Jones Drive
Cookeville, TN 38505
https://www.tntech.edu
97.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 99 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#4: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403
https://www.utc.edu
96.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 64 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#5: University of Tennessee at Martin
544 University Street
Martin, TN 38238
https://www.utm.edu
96.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 35 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#6: Austin Peay State University
601 College Street
Clarksville, TN 37044
https://www.apsu.edu
95.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 93 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#7: Lincoln Memorial University
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate, TN 37752
https://www.lmunet.edu
94.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 69 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#8: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
527 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996
https://www.utk.edu
94.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 126 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#9: Carson-Newman University
1646 South Russell Avenue
Jefferson City, TN 37760
https://www.cn.edu
94.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 41 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#10: Union University
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
https://www.uu.edu
93.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 140 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#11: Bethel University
325 Cherry Avenue
McKenzie, TN 38201
https://www.bethelu.edu
93.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 16 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#12: Freed-Hardeman University
158 East Main Street
Henderson, TN 38340
https://www.fhu.edu
92.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 28 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2013 through 2020
#13: Tennessee Wesleyan University
9845 Cogdill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
https://www.tnwesleyan.edu
91.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 55 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#14: Southern Adventist University
4881 Taylor Circle
Collegedale, TN 37315
https://www.southern.edu
90.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2020 through 2020
#15: Belmont University
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
http://www.belmont.edu
90.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 145 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#16: Middle Tennessee State University
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
https://www.mtsu.edu
90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 105 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#17: University of Memphis
3720 Alumni Avenue
Memphis, TN 38152
https://www.memphis.edu
90.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 219 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#18: Marian University - Nashville
4220 Harding Pike, Suite 500
Nashville, TN 37205
https://www.marian.edu
89.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Average of 71 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2020
#19: Baptist Health Sciences University
1003 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
https://www.baptistu.edu
89.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 135 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#20: East Tennessee State University
807 University Parkway
Johnson City, TN 37614
https://www.etsu.edu
87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 231 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#21: South College - Knoxville
400 Goody’s Lane
Knoxville, TN 37922
https://www.south.edu
86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 54 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#22: Milligan University
One Blowers Boulevard
Milligan, TN 37682
https://www.milligan.edu
86.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#23: Trevecca Nazarene University
333 Murfreesboro Road
Nashville, TN 37210
https://www.trevecca.edu
84.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 9 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#24: Cumberland University
One Cumberland Square
Lebanon, TN 37087
https://www.cumberland.edu
84.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 103 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#25: King University
1350 King College Road
Bristol, TN 37620
https://www.king.edu
83.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 40 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#26: Lipscomb University
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204
https://www.lipscomb.edu
83.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 51 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#27: Tusculum University
60 Shiloh Road
Greeneville, TN 37743
https://www.tusculum.edu
73.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 20 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2020
#28: Martin Methodist College
433 West Madison Street
Pulaski, TN 38478
https://www.martinmethodist.edu
71.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 24 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020
#29: Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37209
https://www.tnstate.edu
69.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 30 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2011 through 2020