Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, program length, and outcomes for every Tennessee LPN school
LPN programs in Tennessee fall into two camps: public Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) and community colleges that keep LPN program costs under $7,000, and private institutions that often charge three to four times as much. At TCAT Crump, in-state students pay just $4,680 for the 12-month program; Chattanooga State’s total cost is $7,105, and graduates report a median salary of $41,920.
However, the low price tag comes with high demand: most TCATs admit only 24 students per cohort, and admission hinges on passing the HESI entrance exam. The combination of rapid entry and solid starting wages, with LPNs across Tennessee earning a median of $52,660, makes these programs a pragmatic career move.
Tennessee offers LPN programs through both low-cost public TCATs and private institutions, with costs ranging from under $5,000 to over $18,000 annually. The following 2026 rankings highlight programs that balance affordability, graduation rates, and long-term earning potential to help you find the best fit for your career goals.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South College | Knoxville, TN | $18,000/yr (net price) | Military-friendly students wanting campus choice | |
South College offers an ACEN-accredited LPN certificate across multiple Tennessee campuses, with full-time completion in 12-18 months. The curriculum combines simulation labs and clinical rotations covering diverse nursing specialties. Students benefit from financial aid and military benefits, while the school reports an overall graduation rate of 42% and a net price of $17,858. Ten-year median earnings for former students are $36,642.
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| #2 | Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville, TN | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | Hands-on learners near Cookeville | |
Fortis Institute-Cookeville's campus-based Practical Nursing program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN through a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experiences. The curriculum emphasizes patient care, pharmacology, and emergency skills. The institution's overall graduation rate is 50%, with a net price of $23,582 and median graduate debt of $13,000. Ten-year median earnings for graduates are $34,509.
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| #3 | Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga, TN | $5,000/yr (net price) | Job placement-focused nursing students | |
Chattanooga State Community College delivers a three-semester Practical Nursing diploma with a 95% job placement rate and average annual earnings of $41,920 for completers. With a cohort limited to 24 students, the program costs $7,105 total for in-state learners and includes 1,357 clock hours of training. The college's overall graduation rate is 26%, but its LPN graduates benefit from strong career outcomes and an LPN-to-RN transition pathway.
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| #4 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus | Nashville, TN | $27,000/yr | ||
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus provides a fast-track Practical/Vocational Nursing program with 12-month full-time and 21-month part-time options, and no entrance exam requirement. Students train in modern simulation labs and benefit from multiple annual start dates. The school reports a net price of $27,267 and a 10-year median earnings of $61,480 for former students, the highest among ranked programs. Note: the earnings figure reflects all students at this institution, not only LPN completers.
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| #5 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump | Crump, TN | |||
TCAT Crump's Practical Nursing diploma is one of the state's most affordable, with tuition just $4,680 and a net price that can fall below zero after aid. The program offers full-time 12-month and hybrid 16-month options, all with 1,296 clock hours of clinical and classroom training. The school has a strong 63% institutional graduation rate and a 10-year median earnings of $30,796 for former students.
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| #6 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro | Jacksboro, TN | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
TCAT Jacksboro offers a full-time 12-month Practical Nursing diploma with tuition set at $4,620. The campus-based program emphasizes clinical rotations in medical-surgical, obstetric, and pediatric care. The school boasts an 84% institutional graduation rate, the highest among ranked institutions, and a net price of around $12,746. Ten-year median earnings for former students are $36,449.
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| #7 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville | Huntsville, TN | $16,000/yr | ||
TCAT Oneida-Huntsville's Practical Nursing program combines day or evening classes to accommodate working students, with a total cost of $9,244 covering tuition and supplies. The school maintains a 74% institutional graduation rate and a low 7:1 student-faculty ratio. With a net price of $15,875, it prepares students for the NCLEX-PN in 12 months. Ten-year median earnings are $31,949.
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Public TCATs and community colleges offer Tennessee’s most affordable LPN training, with in-state tuition often under $5,000. Grants like the federal Pell program and the state’s TN Reconnect award, a last-dollar grant covering up to $5,000 per year for eligible adults, can slash out-of-pocket costs significantly. The table below lists published tuition, net price after aid, and Pell recipient rates for the state’s top LPN schools.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Pell Grant Recipients (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga State Community College | $4,772 | $17,756 | $5,283 | 82.5% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro | N/A | N/A | $12,746 | N/A |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville | N/A | N/A | $15,875 | N/A |
| South College | $18,535 | $18,535 | $17,858 | 68.1% |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville | $15,120 | $15,120 | $23,582 | 84.7% |
| Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus | $17,048 | $17,048 | $27,267 | 66.3% |
Most LPN programs in Tennessee, like the one at Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Harriman, take 12 months of full-time study to complete. That timeline assumes you enroll in a day program and move through the 1,296 clock hours without interruption. However, your actual path to a Diploma in Practical Nursing may be shorter or longer depending on prerequisites, schedule format, and program availability.
At TCATs across the state, including Knoxville, Crump, and Oneida/Huntsville, the core practical nursing curriculum spans 12 months for full-time students. Community colleges offering LPN tracks sometimes stretch to 15-18 months because they may integrate general education courses or operate on a semester calendar with longer breaks. Part-time and evening options often run 15-18 months as well, spreading the same clock hours over more weeks.
All Tennessee LPN programs require a high school diploma or GED, and most ask for a passing score on an entrance exam such as the HESI or TEAS. If you haven’t taken anatomy, medical math, or other foundational courses, many schools require them as prerequisites before you begin the nursing core. Completing these can add a full semester. For example, TCAT Knoxville lists a minimum score of 60-70 on the HESI, so preparing for and retaking that test could also add weeks. Check each school’s prerequisite list carefully, what’s covered in orientation or as a co-requisite varies.
Popular TCAT programs routinely have waitlists. Even if the nursing coursework itself is 12 months, the time from your first application to the start of classes can stretch six months or more. At TCAT Crump, the application deadline falls in June for a fall start, but competitive seats fill quickly. TCAT Knoxville’s deadline for 2026 was March 17. Applying early, often a semester or more before the intended start, is critical if you want to lock in a seat and avoid an extra year of waiting.
Your choice of schedule directly affects total calendar time. Day programs at TCAT Harriman and TCAT Morristown are full-time and finish in about 12 months. Evening tracks, such as at TCAT Morristown and TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, run Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., stretching the program to roughly 15-18 months while covering the same competencies. TCAT Oneida/Huntsville also offers part-time options, and TCAT Crump provides a hybrid, part-time format, ideal if you are balancing work or family but willing to extend your timeline. Before committing, confirm whether the schedule you want will allow you to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam immediately after graduation, as some part-time tracks require a full-time clinical capstone.
The NCLEX-PN pass rate is one of the most reliable signals of how well a program prepares students for licensure and entry-level practice. It reflects the percentage of graduates who pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses on their first attempt. For prospective LPN students, a program’s pass rate can indicate curriculum quality, faculty support, and overall student readiness for the real-world demands of nursing.
A high pass rate suggests that a program’s coursework and clinical training align closely with the exam’s content and that students receive strong academic support. Conversely, a consistently low or declining pass rate may signal gaps in instruction, outdated materials, or insufficient hands-on practice. While no single metric can capture every aspect of program quality, the NCLEX-PN pass rate is unique because it ties directly to the licensing requirement every practical nurse must meet.
Keep in mind that pass rates are reported for first-time test-takers, which provides a clearer picture of program effectiveness than all-attempt rates. Boards of nursing and accrediting bodies often set minimum pass rate thresholds, and programs that fall below them may face sanctions or closure, making this a critical quality indicator.
Tennessee LPN graduates consistently outperform the national average. According to NCSBN data, the national NCLEX-PN pass rate for first-time, U.S.-educated test-takers was 77.3% in 20251. In contrast, Tennessee’s overall pass rate for the same period reached 90.94%, with 3,974 of 4,370 test-takers passing1. This difference highlights the strength of LPN programs across the state.
Many individual Tennessee programs post pass rates well above the state average, often exceeding 95% year after year. While specific school-level data changes annually and should be verified through the Tennessee Board of Nursing, applicants can take confidence in a state where the collective outcome is so robust.
When evaluating a program, avoid placing too much weight on a single year’s pass rate. A small cohort size can make a program’s rate swing dramatically just because a few students passed or failed. Instead, look for consistent performance across two or three years. A pattern of pass rates at or above 85, 90% suggests a stable, effective program.
Conversely, a program that shows a sharp drop in one year but otherwise strong results might be responding to a curriculum change or an unusual student cohort. Checking multi-year data helps you distinguish between a temporary blip and a meaningful decline. The Tennessee Board of Nursing publishes annual pass rate reports that often include multi-year comparisons, making it easier to identify programs with sustained excellence.
The Tennessee Board of Nursing website is the best source for verified, up-to-date NCLEX-PN pass rate data by school. Reports typically include the number of graduates who tested, the number who passed, and the corresponding percentage. When reviewing these reports, look for programs that also disclose how many students completed the program on time, as this can affect overall outcomes.
Many nursing schools also highlight their pass rates on their own websites, though you should cross-reference with official board data for accuracy. Taking the time to research pass rates now can pay off when you sit for the exam and begin your nursing career.
For aspiring LPNs in Tennessee, admission barriers vary widely, some schools use competitive point systems while others eliminate entrance exams altogether.
Most Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) campuses are open-admission institutions, meaning no minimum GPA or entrance exam is required for general admission. However, the practical nursing program often adds health-specific prerequisites. For example, TCAT Knoxville uses a competitive point system and requires HESI A2 scores of at least 60 in Math and 70 in Reading. TCAT Jackson also uses a competitive point system with the HESI. Even among TCATs, selectivity can be high when seats are limited.
A few schools make entry easier by reducing test requirements. Galen College of Nursing’s Nashville campus does not require an entrance exam for its Practical/Vocational Nursing program. TCAT Elizabethton allows applicants to substitute an Associate’s degree or an ACT score of 19 or higher for the HESI, and permits three attempts at the exam at $50 each. TCAT Upper Cumberland admits on a first-come, first-served basis after passing the HESI, rather than using a competitive points system. These options can significantly improve an applicant’s odds.
Remember that meeting the minimum HESI scores (often 60–70 in Math and Reading) is just the starting point; programs like TCAT Dickson and Knoxville expect these benchmarks. Focusing on a few well-chosen applications and strengthening your exam performance can turn a competitive process into a manageable one.
Finding a fully online LPN program is rare because state licensing boards require in-person clinical hours. In Tennessee, several schools offer hybrid options that blend online coursework with on-campus labs and clinical rotations, giving you more scheduling flexibility without sacrificing hands-on training.
Licensed Practical Nurses in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of $52,660 in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages vary by metro area: Nashville-area LPNs earn a median of $54,350, while Memphis and Knoxville medians are $48,840 and $52,220 respectively. Program-level earnings for recent LPN graduates are not yet available in federal data, so these figures represent all LPNs regardless of experience. National projections show LPN employment growing 3% through 2034, and pay can differ significantly by work setting, with hospitals and home health agencies often paying above the state median.
For aspiring LPNs in Tennessee, the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) offer a near-unbeatable value: low tuition, open-door enrollment, and solid starting wages. This combination delivers a rapid return on investment, making TCATs a top choice for career changers and first-time nursing students.
Tennessee’s LPN licensing process is efficient and well-defined, with clear steps from graduation to practice, and the state’s full membership in the Nurse Licensure Compact makes it easy for nurses licensed elsewhere to get started quickly.
To become a licensed practical nurse in Tennessee, you need to complete a board-approved practical nursing program. Schools like the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville offer 12-month diploma programs that meet state requirements. Once you graduate, you must apply for licensure through the Tennessee Board of Nursing’s online Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS). The application includes paying a fee, submitting transcripts, and authorizing a state and federal fingerprint-based background check. After your application is reviewed and approved, you will receive an Authorization to Test for the NCLEX-PN. The typical timeline from application submission to license issuance ranges from four to eight weeks, though processing times can vary.
Tennessee is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which means LPNs who hold a valid multistate license from another compact state can practice in Tennessee without obtaining a new license. If you hold a single-state license from a non-compact state, you can apply for licensure by endorsement. The endorsement application fee is $115, and you must still complete the fingerprint-based background check and provide verification of your original license. Once approved, you can upgrade to a Tennessee multistate license if you meet residency requirements.
Earning your LPN credential is just the beginning. Many Tennessee community colleges and some TCATs offer LPN-to-RN bridge programs that allow you to build on your practical nursing education and qualify for registered nurse licensure. These programs typically award an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN) and take around one year of full-time study to complete, though part-time options are available. Graduates are then eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. Some institutions also offer direct-entry BSN pathways that credit your LPN experience, providing a faster route to a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Tennessee LPN licenses must be renewed every two years. The renewal fee is $100, and you must complete five to ten hours of continuing education, depending on Board requirements. License expiration falls on the last day of your birth month. If your license lapses, you can apply for reinstatement with a $200 fee and documentation of competence, which requires at least two types of evidence as specified by the Board. Staying current ensures you can continue practicing without interruption.
Prospective LPN students in Tennessee often have similar questions about program costs, duration, and career outlook. Below we address the most frequently asked questions, referencing data and insights from the detailed sections above.
