For our 2024 rankings of LPN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Aspiring practical nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-PN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of practical nursing programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-PN 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-PN 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 LPN programs accordingly.
#1: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Nashville
100 White Bridge Road
Nashville, TN 37209
https://www.tcatnashville.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 94.6%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 91
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#2: Tennessee Valley Regional Practical Nursing Program
1405 Madison Street
Shelbyville, TN 37160
https://www.tcatshelbyville.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 99
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020; includes both the TCAT Shelbyville and TCAT McMinnville campuses
#3: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville
1100 Liberty Street
Knoxville, TN 37919
https://www.tcatknoxville.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 93.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 96
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#4: Appalachian Regional Practical Nursing Program
355 Scott High Drive
Huntsville, TN 37756
https://www.tcatoneida.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 59
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#5: South College
400 Goody’s Lane
Knoxville, TN 37922
https://www.south.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 42
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2019 through 2020; includes both the Knoxville and Nashville campuses
#6: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Athens
1635 Vo-Tech Drive
Athens, TN 37371
https://www.tcatathens.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 92.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 33
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#7: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown
821 West Louise Avenue
Morristown, TN 37813
https://www.tcatmorristown.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.5%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 70
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#8: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton
1500 Arney Street
Elizabethton, TN 37643
https://www.tcatelizabethton.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.4%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 126
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#9: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson
740 Highway 46 South
Dickson, TN 37055
https://www.tcatdickson.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 91
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#10: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Harriman
1745 Harriman Highway
Harriman, TN 37748
https://www.tcatharriman.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 91.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 28
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2015 through 2020
#11: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Paris
312 South Wilson Street
Paris, TN 38242
https://www.tcatparis.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 57
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#12: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston
740 High Tech Drive
Livingston, TN 38570
https://www.tcatlivingston.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 75
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#13: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis
550 Alabama Avenue
Memphis, TN 38105
https://www.tcatmemphis.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 89.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 40
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#14: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald
813 West Main Street
Hohenwald, TN 38462
https://www.tcathohenwald.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 87.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 57
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#15: Jackson Regional Practical Nursing Program
2468 Technology Center Drive
Jackson, TN 38301
https://www.tcatjackson.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.9%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 116
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#16: South Central Regional Practical Nursing Program
1233 East College Street
Pulaski, TN 38478
https://www.tcatpulaski.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 86.1%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 31
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#17: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crossville
910 Miller Avenue
Crossville, TN 38555
https://www.tcatcrossville.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 41
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2015 through 2020
#18: Chattanooga State Community College
4501 Amnicola Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37406
https://www.chattanoogastate.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 67
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#19: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hartsville
716 McMurry Boulevard
Hartsville, TN 37074
https://www.tcathartsville.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 85.2%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 51
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#20: Four Rivers Regional Practical Nursing Program
127 Industrial Drive
Ripley, TN 38063
https://www.tcatripley.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.8%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 108
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2011 through 2020
#21: Chattanooga College
5600 Brainerd Road, Suite B38
Chattanooga, TN 37411
https://www.chattanoogacollege.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 84.7%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 18
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2013 through 2020
#22: Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro
1303 Old Fort Parkway
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
https://www.tcatmurfreesboro.edu
NCLEX-PN pass rate among first-time test-takers: 80.3%
Average number of LPN students graduating annually: 47
Data analyzed: Calendar years 2015 through 2020