RN to BSN in Tennessee

According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest concentrations of nursing jobs in Tennessee are clustered around Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville; the remaining areas of the state employ respectable numbers of nurses relative to the national average. Among nurse practitioners, the landscape is even better: Tennessee ranks fourth among U.S. states in hiring these professionals.

Registered nurses who aspire to career advancement and further training can choose from a wide selection of nursing schools in Tennessee that turn out successful graduates. Read on for a breakdown of 25 accredited RN-to-BSN programs in this southeastern state.

RN-to-BSN Programs in Tennessee

Here we have compiled a comprehensive listing of Tennessee’s RN to BSN programs. In the summaries below, you will find all the essential program information to help you quickly and easily narrow down your RN to BSN search.

Aquinas College
$ 9,975 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Applicants must demonstrate two years of clinical experience within four years prior to applying at Aquinas College.
  • This accelerated program delivers 32 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction.
  • The college is a private Catholic school and seeks to educate its graduates in Christ-centered nursing.
  • Classes meet once per week for 4 hours, in sessions lasting 4 to 8 weeks each.
 Campus 4210 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205

Austin Peay State University
$ 7,344 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • All classes are asynchronous to allow maximum flexibility in scheduling study times.
  • While classes are delivered online, a clinical experience is required of all students in this program. This can be arranged at an approved facility convenient to the student’s residence.
  • The nursing core curriculum is composed of nine upper-division courses totaling 30 credit hours.
 Online 601 College St
Clarksville, TN 37044

Baptist College of Health Sciences
$ 403 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

May 1st and September 1st
  • Full-time students can complete this 47-hour core nursing curriculum in four semesters. Part-time students follow a seven-semester degree plan.
  • There is no practicum component in this program.
 Hybrid and Online 1003 Monroe Ave
Memphis, TN 38104

Belmont University
$ 620 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • This full-time program is designed to be completed by working nurses in four semesters.
  • Generally, online courses require a one-time campus appearance at the beginning of the semester.
  • A clinical experience is required at an approved medical facility, during which students also meet on campus once per week.
  • A minimum of 32 credit hours must be earned at Belmont to qualify for the BSN.
 Online 1900 Belmont Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212-3757

Bethel University
$ 430 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Requires 39 credits to complete
  • A pre-licensure program is available for students who do not yet have RN licensure
  • Accepts military, professional, and life experience credits on a case-by-case basis
 Online 325 Cherry Ave
McKenzie, TN 38201

Carson-Newman University
$ 575 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Applicants must demonstrate a GPA of at least 2.75.
  • Upper-level nursing courses totaling 34 credit hours can be completed by a full-time student in one year.
  • There is no practicum requirement in this program.
 Online 1646 S Russell Ave
Jefferson City, TN 37760

Cumberland University
$ 425 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • This 36-hour program is offered entirely online; classwork is asynchronous and allows busy students to schedule study time when it is most convenient.
  • Clinical experiences and some course assignments are expected to be arranged at facilities near the student’s home.
  • Full-time students can complete this program in a year, though part-time study is also an option.
 Online 1 Cumberland Square
Lebanon, TN 37087

East Tennessee State University
$ 373 resident
$ 440 nonresident

Application Deadlines

August 1st, December 15th, and April 15th
  • Full-time students can expect to complete the BSN in three semesters, while part-time students can finish in five semesters.
  • The program delivers 32 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction entirely online.
  • While classes are conducted online, an onsite practicum is expected and can be arranged in a facility convenient to the student.
  • Students who reside outside of Tennessee must complete practicum requirements in a Tennessee facility.
 Online 1276 Gilbreath Drive
Johnson City, TN 37604

King University
$ 325 per hour online
$ 310 per hour on campus

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • Designed for working nurses, this program delivers upper-division nursing coursework over four 15-week semesters.
  • Full-time students can complete the BSN at this university in 16 months.
  • New cohorts begin in the spring, summer and fall of each year.
  • Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.
  • This program has no practicum requirement.
 Campus and Online 1350 King College Rd
Bristol, TN 37620-2699

Lee University
$ 440 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

June 1st, November 1st, and April 1st
  • The nursing core curriculum delivers 31 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction in 14 classes, including clinical practice experiences.
  • Courses are delivered two at a time in 8-week sessions throughout the year. Full-time students can earn the BSN in one year.
  • As a Christian university, Lee prepares its nursing students for Christ-centered professional nursing practice.
 Hybrid 1120 N Ocoee St
Cleveland, TN 37311

Lincoln Memorial University
$ 834 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • This program delivers 31 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction over nine months.
  • Classes meet one day per week.
  • Cohorts in Harrogate and Corbin begin in the fall; cohorts in Knoxville begin in the fall and the spring.
 Campus 6965 Cumberland Gap Pkwy
Harrogate, TN 37752-9900

Martin Methodist College
$ 300 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • The nursing core at MMC consists of eight upper-division classes totaling 25 credit hours.
  • Though all courses are conducted online, an in-person clinical experience in leadership or community health is a required degree component.
  • All nursing students are required to maintain a 2.75 GPA throughout the program.
 Online 433 West Madison Street
Pulaski, TN 38478-2799

Middle Tennessee State University
$ 337 resident
$ 481 nonresident

Application Deadlines

February 1st and October 1st
  • Transfer applicants to MTSU must have a minimum GPA of 2.8.
  • After general education and nursing prerequisites are met, a full-time student at MTSU can earn the BSN in three semesters.
  • While classes are online, clinical experiences are expected to be conducted in person and can be arranged at facilities convenient to the student’s residence.
 Online 1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Milligan College
$ 285 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

December 1st
  • In this program, the 58-hour curriculum is designed to be completed in five semesters. Full-time students can earn the BSN at Milligan in 19 months.
  • Classes that require campus participation meet only once per week.
  • Clinical experience components are required of all students during the final two semesters.
 Campus and Hybrid
, TN

Southern Adventist University
$ 19,850 per semester

Application Deadlines

June 1st
  • The nursing core curriculum at this school delivers 31 credit hours of upper-division nursing classes, and includes a clinical experience.
  • Full-time students can complete this program in 12 to 18 months.
  • The consortium option allows RNs to complete the BSN program in 2.5 years of part-time study. Classes are held at a Chattanooga partner facility from afternoon to late evening on Monday.
  • SAU is a private religious school and offers a Christian learning environment.
 Campus and Online 4881 Taylor Cir
Collegedale, TN 37315-0370

Tennessee State University
$ 335 resident
$ 875 nonresident

Application Deadlines

October 1st
  • All cohorts in this program begin in the summer.
  • Full-time students can complete this curriculum in 12 months, or three semesters.
 Campus, Online, and Hybrid 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd
Nashville, TN 37209

Tennessee Technological University
$ 8,017 resident
$ 23,017 nonresident

Application Deadlines

Students are admitted each semester and applications are due during the semester prior to enrolling.
  • In recognition that diploma-prepared and associate-degreed nurses have diverse educational backgrounds, TTU customizes a study plan for each student in this program.
  • The university’s transfer policy is quite generous, often granting credit in upper-division classes for training that RNs received during their first two years of schooling.
  • Students who opt for online classes are expected to conduct clinical practica requirements in person in their current location.
  • TTU offers the RN-BSN program on both a full-time and a part-time basis.
 Hybrid and Online 1 William L. Jones Drive
Cookeville, TN 38505

Tennessee Wesleyan College
$ 325 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • TWC was named among Best Regional Colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report.
  • In TWC’s program, 31 credit hours of professional nursing instruction are delivered over three semesters. Full-time students can complete the BSN in one year.
  • There is no clinical experience requirement in this program.
 Online 204 East College Street
Athens, TN 37303

Tusculum College
$ 342 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • All applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75.
  • Tusculum’s core curriculum is designed for working nurses to complete the BSN in 2.5 years of part-time study.
  • Three clinical experiences totaling 1235 hours are required of all students in this program.
 Campus 60 Shiloh Road
Greeneville, TN 37745

Union University
$ 450 per credit hour

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admission
  • Union is a private school that delivers a Christ-centered education.
  • A full-time student can earn the BSN at this institution in 18 months.
  • There is no clinical experience requirement in this program.
  • Applicants should demonstrate a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
 Campus and Online 1050 Union University Dr
Jackson, TN 38305-3697

University of Memphis
$ 13,144 resident
$ 14,601 nonresident

Application Deadlines

July 1st, October 1st, and April 15
  • A total of 31 credit hours of upper-level nursing instruction are delivered entirely online.
  • Students may attend classes full- or part-time; part-time students must complete the program within four years. A full-time student can complete BSN degree requirements in three semesters.
  • While classes are conducted via distance education, clinical practicum experiences are expected to be arranged at approved facilities convenient to the student’s home.
 Online Southern Avenue
Memphis, TN 38152

University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
$ 361 resident
$ 387 nonresident

Application Deadlines

June 15th and November 15th
  • This program is designed to be completed by working RNs in 14 months. Classes are delivered sequentially.
  • Eight classes, totaling 27 credit hours, are conducted entirely via distance education. Students are asked to attend a one-day orientation on campus. If this is not feasible because of distance, students may video conference in for the session.
  • The program was ranked #6 our of 400 for the best online RNtoBSN programs.
  • This program is 100% online.
 Online 615 McCallie Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37403

University of Tennessee - Knoxville
$ 440 in state
$ 1,212 out of state

Application Deadlines

June 1st and November 1st
  • Full-time students can earn the BSN at UT Knoxville in three semesters; part-time students can finish in five.
  • The nursing core curriculum at this institution is composed of 34 credit hours of upper-division nursing instruction.
  • Classwork is asynchronous, which allows working nurses to plan study times when they best suit individual schedules.
  • Though coursework is conducted via distance learning, a clinical component must be arranged at an approved facility convenient to the student’s residence.
 Online 527 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996

University of Tennessee - Martin
$ 336 resident
$ 364 nonresident

Application Deadlines

Rolling Admissions
  • The core nursing curriculum at this distinguished nursing school contains nine upper-division nursing courses, totaling 33 credit hours.
  • There is no practicum requirement for students in this program.
 Campus and Online 544 University Street
Martin, TN 38238

University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center
$ 418 per credit hour resident
$ 1,112 per credit hour nonresident

Application Deadlines

January 15th and September 1st

*Accepted students that reside outside of a 50 mile radius of Shelby County qualify for regional tuition verses out-of-state.
  • The core nursing curriculum delivers 30 hours of upper-division nursing coursework. Part-time students can complete the BSN in four semesters, and full-time students in two.
  • An internship is required of all program participants in the final semester of this program.
  • Part-time students who live in Arkansas or Mississippi, but are employed full-time as an RN in Tennessee, pay in-state tuition rates.
 Hybrid and/or Online 920 Madison Ave, 10th Floor
Memphis, TN 38163

Please contact the RN to BSN program in Tennessee that you are interested in enrolling in to confirm details and to learn more. If you run an accredited RN to BSN program in Tennessee that is not listed above; please reach out to us with program information and proof of accreditation. Thank you!

State Commitment to RN to BSN Education Paths

The Future of Nursing campaign is a nationwide effort to bring the country up to the standards of nursing as outlined in the 2010 Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. As a part of the effort, Tennessee has formed a State Action Coalition with the singular objective of achieving the goals set forth by the campaign. Having at least 80% of the nursing workforce hold a BSN degree is an integral part of this initiative and we have outlined below the ways in which Tennessee is actively progressing on this front.

  • Education
  • Leadership
  • Practice & Care
  • Interprofessional Care
  • Diversity
  • Data
Education

What is being done to increase the number of Tennessee RN’s with a BSN?

In an effort to have 80% of nurses holding a BSN by 2020, the AC conducted a statewide survey of the issues discouraging nurses from furthering their education.

Are students enrolled via identified promising models of education progression?

No specific plan announced.

Leadership

What programs are being implemented to prepare nurses to lead change to advance health?

The AC is working to increase the number of nurse leaders aged 40 and younger and increase the number of nurses on hospital boards. They aim to achieve this through identifying and supporting leaders in the field.

Practice & Care

Is the Coalition working to remove barriers to RN level of care?

Yes. The coalition maintains a Full Practice Authority Task Force that meets monthly to review and update a detailed activity plan.

Are they advancing state policy to remove barriers to care provided by APRNs?

No.

Interprofessional Care

Is the state working to improve communication, transparency, and cooperation between healthcare providers?

No specific plans announced.

Diversity

How are they improving diversity of the nursing workforce and care provided?

No specific plans announced.

Data

What steps are being taken to remove gaps in workforce and health care data?

The AC has begun to collect workforce data with its partner organizations and will use the results to promote better data policies in the future.

Contact Info

Carole R. Myers

Associate Professor
University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Nursing
Email
865.974.7626

Mark Clark

Coordinator
University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Nursing
Email
865.974.2570

Rebecca B. Kelly

Executive Director
AARP Tennessee
Email
615.726.5101

Source: Campaign for Action

For a detailed progress report and additional workgroup contact information, please see the Tennessee Action Coalition page and their Action Coalition Status Report (opens as PDF).

Tennessee Licensing

Tennessee is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If you move to another state participating in the NLC (pictured in green), you can practice without getting a new license. For licensing information, visit the Tennessee Department of Health and Human Services.

m-img-nlc-states-2x

Nursing Employment Outlook

Nursing Supply and Demand Projections

Source: "The Future of the Nursing Workforce," US HRSA, accessed June 2015.

What Nurses Make on Average in Major Cities

Source: BLS OES, May 2013. Accessed May 2014. Some data not provided.

Additional Information


Other State RNtoBSN Information

Looking for other RN-BSN information in a nearby state? We’ve got you covered:

Kentucky RNtoBSN Information
Virginia RNtoBSN Information
West Virginia RNtoBSN Information