Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for Nashville's accredited practical nursing programs.
A licensed practical nurse in Nashville earns a median $60,290 per year, higher than any other Tennessee metro, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That wage draws from a healthcare market anchored by HCA Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which together support thousands of nursing jobs across Middle Tennessee.
Accredited LPN programs in the Nashville area range from one-year certificates to longer pathways, with costs and NCLEX-PN pass rates that diverge sharply. Students who weigh net price, completion data, and graduate earnings before enrolling can sidestep the most common financial pitfalls.
Yet even in a market with steady employer demand, schedule format, whether day, evening, or hybrid, often determines whether a working student finishes. That practical tension, not just program prestige, shapes which Nashville LPN school fits best.
The best LPN program for you depends on your budget, learning style, and career goals. In the Nashville area, several accredited schools offer practical nursing pathways with varying costs, completion times, and bridge options. This ranking highlights programs that balance affordability, graduate outcomes, and flexibility, drawing on federal data and program details. We have reordered the list to prioritize schools with a strong Nashville presence and clear advancement opportunities.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus | Nashville, TN | $27,000/yr | Nashville students seeking LPN-to-RN bridge | |
Galen Health Institutes’ Nashville Campus provides a 12-month full-time or 21-month part-time LPN pathway with hands-on labs and NCLEX-PN preparation. It is one of few Nashville programs offering a direct LPN-to-RN bridge, ideal for those aiming to continue their nursing education. Ten-year median earnings for graduates reach $61,480, though median debt of $24,166 is above average for LPN programs.
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| #2 | South College | Knoxville, TN | $18,000/yr (net price) | Tennessee students needing multi-site flexibility | |
South College’s LPN certificate is available at multiple campuses, including Nashville, and is ACEN-accredited. The 12-18 month full-time curriculum covers diverse nursing areas with simulation labs and clinical placements. Graduates earn a median of about $36,600 a decade out, with typical debt under $19,000. The institution-wide graduation rate is 42%, so prospective students should explore program-specific completion data.
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| #3 | Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville, TN | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | Career services for practical nursing grads | |
Fortis Institute-Cookeville offers a campus-based practical nursing program with strong career placement support. The curriculum covers patient care, pharmacology, and clinical rotations, leading to NCLEX-PN eligibility. With median debt of $13,000 and ten-year median earnings near $34,500, the value proposition is notable. The institution reports a 50% graduation rate.
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| #4 | Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga, TN | $5,000/yr (net price) | ||
Chattanooga State Community College’s three-semester practical nursing diploma boasts a 95% job placement rate and affordable in-state tuition. Small cohorts of 24 students ensure individual attention, and graduates report median earnings of $41,920. The net price for public students is just $5,283, though the overall graduation rate is 26%; this figure reflects the entire college, not the nursing program.
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| #5 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump | Crump, TN | |||
TCAT-Crump’s practical nursing diploma costs just $4,680 in tuition and offers full-time, part-time, and hybrid schedules. With 1,296 clock hours and intensive clinical training, graduates are NCLEX-ready. Ten-year median earnings are $30,796, and the net price is negative, reflecting generous aid. The institution reports a 63% graduation rate.
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| #6 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro | Jacksboro, TN | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
TCAT-Jacksboro delivers a rigorous 12-month, full-time practical nursing program with a diploma at completion. Tuition is $4,620, with additional costs for supplies, and the program boasts an 84% graduation rate. Ten-year median earnings reach $36,449. Admission requires passing the HESI exam.
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| #7 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville | Huntsville, TN | $16,000/yr | ||
TCAT-Oneida-Huntsville’s practical nursing program spans 12 months with day and evening classes, offering flexibility for working students. Total cost including fees and supplies is around $9,244. The student-faculty ratio is 7:1, ensuring close mentorship. Ten-year median earnings are $31,949, and the graduation rate is 74%.
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Net price is an institution-wide average after grants and scholarships; your actual cost will depend on your aid package. Among these programs, Chattanooga State Community College delivers the strongest return, pairing the lowest net price with solid ten-year median earnings that surpass its debt load. Galen Health Institutes-Nashville reports the highest earnings, though at a substantially higher net price and debt.
The return-on-investment ratio gives a snapshot of value: it measures how many times a program's total net price the typical graduate earns over a decade. Programs with higher ratios may offer the strongest financial footing. For schools reporting debt, the median borrowing amount and estimated monthly payment on a standard 10-year plan help visualize the payoff timeline, for example, Chattanooga State’s median debt of $10,419 translates to about $120 per month, while Galen’s median debt of $24,166 would mean roughly $278 monthly.
With nursing education's growing emphasis on transparency, NCLEX-PN pass rates have become a public benchmark for program quality. In Tennessee, the state board of nursing requires programs to maintain a minimum first-time pass rate to remain in good standing, making these figures a reliable early signal for prospective LPN students. A program's pass rate reflects how well its curriculum aligns with the national exam blueprint, which is updated periodically to mirror changes in entry-level practical nursing practice.
The NCLEX-PN is the final hurdle before earning a practical nursing license. First-time pass rates indicate the percentage of graduates who passed on their initial attempt, which is a strong proxy for program effectiveness. Consistently high rates suggest that faculty are teaching to the test plan, clinical placements are reinforcing key concepts, and students are receiving adequate academic support. Conversely, a pattern of low rates may point to curriculum gaps or insufficient preparation. For students deciding between multiple LPN programs in the Nashville area, this metric can be a tiebreaker.
Among Nashville nursing programs with publicly reported data, Nashville State Community College stands out with a 2025 NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate of 97.87%.1 That figure is well above the national average, which typically hovers around 80%. This high rate correlates with the college's structured practical nursing curriculum and its emphasis on hands-on labs and clinical experiences in local healthcare facilities. Not every school in the region publishes pass rate data annually or in the same format; some smaller programs may not have a graduating cohort every year. When data is not readily available online, contacting the program's nursing department directly is the surest way to get the most current numbers.
A single year's pass rate, while informative, doesn't tell the whole story. Small cohorts can produce dramatic percentage swings, so it's wise to look for multi-year trends whenever possible. The Tennessee Board of Nursing maintains historical pass rate reports, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) also publishes NCLEX pass rate data. A program that consistently exceeds the national average over three or more years demonstrates a stable track record of preparing safe, competent nurses. Additionally, consider other factors alongside pass rates: graduation rates, job placement statistics, and student support services all contribute to a complete picture of program quality.
Most practical nursing programs in Nashville follow standard LPN education requirements, requiring a high school diploma or GED and a minimum cumulative GPA. Herzing University sets a baseline of a 2.0 GPA for entry into its Nashville PN program.1 Although specific requirements vary, many schools expect applicants to complete prerequisite coursework in human anatomy, foundational math, or medical terminology. TCAT Nashville, for instance, lists a prerequisite course for its fall 2026 cohort3, ensuring students have the necessary scientific grounding before clinical training.
Some Nashville-area LPN programs use standardized entrance exams to evaluate readiness. Herzing University requires a composite score of 48 on its entrance examination1, which covers reading, math, and science fundamentals. Not all schools mandate a TEAS or similar test, but applicants should verify individual exam policies, as scores can influence admission decisions or course placement.
Because LPNs work closely with vulnerable populations, background checks and drug screenings are standard across accredited programs. South College Nashville explicitly requires a background check as part of its enrollment process.2 Most schools also require proof of immunizations, CPR certification, and a physical exam prior to beginning clinical rotations. These safeguards protect patients and ensure compliance with state regulations.
Application windows differ by institution. TCAT Nashville typically opens enrollment for its practical nursing program in September, with a structured deadline shortly thereafter. Private institutions like Herzing and South College often offer multiple start dates throughout the year, allowing for rolling admissions. Prospective students should plan to submit materials 4-6 weeks before the intended start term to secure a seat, as many programs fill quickly due to Nashville’s growing demand for licensed practical nurses.
Most licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs in the Nashville area take between 12 and 18 months to complete for full-time students. The exact timeline depends on the school’s curriculum structure, credit-hour requirements, and whether general education prerequisites are included. The 12-month figure generally applies to certificate programs at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs)1, while private career colleges like South College may stretch to 15 to 18 months3 to incorporate additional clinical hours or remedial coursework.
Though many seek a faster path, no fully accredited 6-month LPN program currently operates in the Nashville metropolitan area.1 Programs that advertise a shorter timeline typically require the student to have already completed prerequisite courses, such as anatomy and medical terminology, prior to enrollment. For those who need a slower pace, part-time and evening tracks are available at several Nashville-area schools, though these routes take longer, often 18 to 24 months until licensure eligibility.2
TCAT Nashville offers a state-funded program that condenses classroom learning and clinical rotations into roughly 12 months of full-time, daytime instruction.1 The cohort-based model limits flexibility but keeps costs low. Private institutions, such as South College, typically run on a quarter or term system with multiple start dates per year. Their programs may span 15 to 18 months3 and often blend evening and weekend sessions to accommodate working students. Private schools also tend to include more hand-holding support, such as built-in NCLEX-PN review and career services.
For students balancing jobs or family responsibilities, several Nashville LPN providers now offer hybrid formats. A hybrid plan mixes online theory classes with in-person labs and clinicals. Evening and weekend-only sections are offered at select locations, enabling students to complete the program while maintaining daytime employment. Prospective students should confirm with each school the exact schedule for the upcoming academic year, as evening availability can fluctuate based on enrollment.
Among Tennessee metro areas, Nashville offers the highest median annual wage for licensed practical nurses at $60,290. Over 4,800 LPNs work in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metro, with top earners making above $65,000. The table below compares LPN salary benchmarks across major Tennessee cities.
| Metro Area | Total Employment | Median Annual Wage | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 4820 | 60290 | 50860 | 65140 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 2860 | 55010 | 45140 | 61610 |
| Knoxville, TN | 2330 | 51040 | 44610 | 59890 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 1460 | 57540 | 47550 | 61670 |
Financial aid options in Tennessee can cover nearly the full cost of an LPN certificate for qualified Nashville students. From state-funded scholarships to federal grants, several financial aid for LPN programs exist to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
The Tennessee Promise scholarship offers last-dollar tuition coverage for recent high school graduates enrolling full-time in an eligible program at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) or community college. However, it generally does not cover practical nursing certificates.1 For LPN students, Tennessee Reconnect Tennessee Reconnect grant offers a similar tuition-free opportunity for adults 23 and older who do not already hold an associate or bachelor's degree. It covers certificate programs at TCAT and community college locations in the Nashville area.
Career changers and dislocated workers can access WIOA funding through Nashville's American Job Centers. These grants frequently pay for full tuition and required supplies for short-term training like LPN programs, as long as the program is on Tennessee's eligible training provider list. Many Nashville-area LPN schools qualify, so contacting a local job center can open a direct path to a funded education.
Federal Pell Grants provide need-based aid that does not require repayment. Among Nashville LPN programs, the share of students receiving Pell Grants is substantial. At Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus, roughly 66% of students qualify for Pell assistance, highlighting how common this funding source is for practical nursing students in the region. Completing the FAFSA is the first step to determine eligibility for Pell Grants and other federal aid.
Prospective practical nursing students in Nashville often have similar questions about program length, licensure terminology, and local job prospects. Below are clear, concise answers to the most common queries, drawing on data from Tennessee’s Board of Nursing, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and program admissions information.
How can I use my Nashville LPN license to become an RN quickly, and what does that mean for my paycheck?
Many LPNs in Nashville choose to advance their careers through LPN-to-RN bridge programs, which credit prior nursing education and clinical experience to shorten the path to an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in nursing. These programs typically take 12 to 18 months and prepare you for the NCLEX-RN exam.
In the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metropolitan area, licensed practical nurses earned a median annual wage of $52,210 as of 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses in the same region earned a median of $75,450. That difference of over $23,000 per year often justifies the additional year of study.
