How many colleges in Tennessee offer Practical Nursing programs?

CampusPin currently lists 63 U.S. colleges and universities in Tennessee that offer Practical Nursing programs. The list updates daily as institutions report new program offerings to IPEDS.

What's the tuition for a Practical Nursing program in Tennessee?

Among the 50 Practical Nursing programs listed in Tennessee, published in-state tuition ranges from $4,498 to $54,892 (median around $18,841). Public institutions are typically lower for in-state students than private ones. Always verify the current cost of attendance with each school before applying.

What jobs can a Practical Nursing degree lead to?

A Practical Nursing degree commonly leads to roles such as Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Home Health Nurse, Long-Term Care Nurse. Typical pay (early-career; BLS figures are occupation-wide medians): Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses median $62,340)..

Can I apply to a Practical Nursing program in Tennessee with the Common App?

Many Practical Nursing programs in Tennessee accept the Common Application. CampusPin tags each school's Common App acceptance, use the Common App filter on /results to narrow to programs you can apply to with one application.

Practical Nursing · Tennessee

Practical Nursing colleges in Tennessee

CampusPin lists 63 U.S. colleges in Tennessee that offer Practical Nursing programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Practical Nursing trains you to deliver bedside nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse or physician and to sit for the practical nurse licensure exam.

Schools in Tennessee that offer Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing programs in Tennessee: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 63 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

Public / private

18 / 32

Universities / 2-year

35 / 15

Cities represented

In-state tuition range

$4,498–$54,892

Median in-state tuition

$18,841

Lowest published in-state tuition

Nashville State Community College

$4,498

Most selective

Omega Graduate School

40% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Middle Tennessee State University

18,630 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Practical Nursing program

Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
Fundamentals of nursing and patient-care skills
Taking and recording vital signs and reporting changes
Basic pharmacology and safe medication administration
Sterile technique, dressing changes, and basic wound care
Infection control, aseptic technique, and patient safety
Patient and family health education
Assisting with examinations, treatments, and specimen collection
Supervised clinical rotations in real care settings

Where a Practical Nursing degree can lead

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Home Health Nurse
Long-Term Care Nurse
Clinic Nurse
Nursing Care Coordinator

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses median $62,340).

A Practical Nursing program prepares you to provide hands-on, general nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist. Coursework grounds you in anatomy and physiology, basic pharmacology and safe medication administration, infection control, and the fundamentals of nursing practice, then puts those skills to work in supervised clinical settings. You learn to take and record vital signs, apply sterile dressings and perform basic wound care, collect specimens, assist with examinations and treatments, monitor patients and document changes in their condition, and reinforce patient and family health education. Where a Registered Nursing program centers on independent assessment, care planning, and broader clinical decision-making, Practical Nursing focuses on delivering direct, supportive bedside care within a defined scope under an RN's or physician's direction.

Most students enter through a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program offered by a community college, technical school, or hospital, completing classroom instruction together with supervised clinical hours before graduating. Graduates are typically eligible to sit for the national licensure examination for practical nurses and must meet their state board's requirements to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse; titles, scope of practice, and rules vary from state to state, so verify them before you enroll. Many graduates work in nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, physician offices, home health, and clinics, and some later bridge into a registered nursing program to advance their practice. A program is preparation for the licensure exam and supervised practice, not a guaranteed job, and pay and demand vary by employer, region, setting, and experience.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $62,340 and projects employment to grow about 2.6% from 2024 to 2034; a postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Practical Nursing in other states

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Find more Practical Nursing schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 63+ Practical Nursing programs in Tennessee by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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