2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in Tennessee
[Nursing Science](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing science students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Science Schools
University Of Memphis tops our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,168 to complete the nursing science program here. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $86,186. That is a strong return on a $27,168 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $25,091. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $89,640. Set against $25,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for nursing science. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Nursing Science graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $97,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nursing science will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $125,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.
