2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in Tennessee
[Nursing Administration](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing administration students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Administration Schools
Tennessee Technological University earned the #1 spot for value among nursing administration schools in Tennessee. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $18,349. Nursing Administration graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $25,091 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Tennessee Wesleyan College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Located in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,814. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the nursing administration program here. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $58,859. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in nursing administration will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Set against $23,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Lincoln Memorial University one of the best values for nursing administration. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. Students from in state pay about $26,938 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $24,375. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $70,403. That is a strong return on a $24,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Cumberland University earned the #6 position for value in nursing administration this year. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Students from in state pay about $27,840 in tuition and fees. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $29,250 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Cumberland University earn a median of $47,696 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,250 median debt. Cumberland University admits about 67% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University placed #7 among the best values for nursing administration. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $125,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Carson Newman College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. Students from in state pay about $34,700 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $48,797. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Lee University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $25,300. Nursing Administration graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. Set against $25,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
King College earned the #10 position for value in nursing administration this year. Located in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,397. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $25,000. Nursing Administration graduates of King College earn a median of $49,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Southern Adventist University landed the #11 spot for nursing administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $26,596 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $77,467. That is a strong return on a $26,596 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Union University came in at #12 for value in nursing administration this year. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $29,127 in student loans. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $118,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
More Nursing Administration Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
