University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
On the Memphis medical campus, UTHSC offers a Traditional BSN, a 12-month Accelerated BSN (second degree), a broad DNP portfolio, a PhD in nursing science, and post-graduate certificates. This guide uses the Tennessee Board’s published NCLEX tables and UTHSC’s Bursar fee schedules—confirm every detail with the college before you apply.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
UTHSC anchors nursing education to a century-old Memphis program, NLN Center of Excellence designation, and an urban academic health center where BSN students learn in Dedicated Education Units—use that clinical depth if you want a rigorous, research-active environment rather than a small liberal-arts setting.
Overview & Why Students Choose UTHSC Nursing
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, headquartered on Union Avenue in Memphis, describes roots dating to 1898 as Tennessee’s first college of nursing. Today it pairs pre-licensure BSN tracks with a wide DNP portfolio, PhD training through the College of Graduate Health Sciences, and certificates for APRNs—positioned intentionally on an academic medical campus with the research-intensive culture many future advance-practice nurses want.
UTHSC publicly highlights National League for Nursing Center of Excellence recognition, competitive U.S. News & World Report standings for both BSN and DNP among public universities, and partnership enrollment pathways with institutions such as Rhodes College and Southwest Tennessee Community College—signals that access and reputation both figure in how the college markets itself.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health nursing education NCLEX tables, UTHSC’s first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 85% in 2025 (107 of 126 candidates) under the row labeled “University of TN Health Science Center.” Separately, UTHSC’s BSN page reports a 92.5% average first-time pass rate over the last four years (school-reported, methodology not identical to the state table). Confirm cohort-year definitions with the Tennessee Board and the college.
Reasons students choose UTHSC College of Nursing
Urban academic health campus
Students learn where major hospitals, research institutes, and specialty centers cluster—useful for complex clinical exposure and networking across the Mid-South.
Two distinct BSN entry points
A four-semester Traditional BSN after prerequisites and an intensive 12-month Accelerated BSN (second degree) let different learner timelines meet the same NCLEX-eligible outcome.
Broad DNP and dual options
Nine advertised DNP concentrations—covering AGACNP, FNP, PMHNP, nurse anesthesia, midwifery, pediatrics, neonatal, nurse executive, and dual tracks—support nurses aiming for doctoral practice credentials.
Research ladder through PhD
A PhD in nursing science plus a DNP/PhD dual pathway appeals to students who want nurse-scientist or faculty trajectories alongside clinical depth.
Financial levers beyond sticker price
UTHSC cites UT Promise eligibility for Traditional BSN qualifiers, regional tuition relief for qualifying out-of-state BSN students near Memphis, and specialized funding programs—each governed by separate rules worth checking early.
Nursing Programs Offered
The lists below mirror UTHSC’s own “Academic Programs” and BSN pages: separate pre-licensure tracks, doctoral practice, research doctorate, and certificates. UTHSC does not list a standalone MSN on the academic-programs index we reviewed; APRN preparation is organized around the DNP and certificates.
Pre-licensure (NCLEX-RN eligibility)
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Four-semester, concept-based BSN after completing 60 credits of general education and prerequisites; admits fall and spring with NursingCAS deadlines published on the BSN page.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)—UTHSC titles this the “Accelerated 2nd-Degree BSN Program,” a 12-month option for applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and meet science GPA rules.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
UTHSC advertises multiple DNP concentrations (including nurse anesthesia and nurse-midwifery), dual concentrations, an Executive DNP online track, and DNP dual-degree links with the PhD—confirm delivery mode, campus residency expectations, and accreditation status for the concentration you want.
DNP concentrations
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Family NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Nurse Anesthesiology, Nurse-Midwifery, Pediatric Primary Care NP, Pediatric Acute Care NP, Neonatal NP, Nurse Executive, plus listed dual concentrations.
Executive / online DNP
UTHSC’s Bursar lists separate fee lines for “Executive DNP – Online” and general “Doctor of Nursing Practice – Online,” indicating distinct billing structures from campus-intensive tracks.
PhD and dual degrees
PhD in Nursing Science
Offered through the College of Graduate Health Sciences with nursing faculty mentorship—designed for research careers rather than initial RN licensure.
DNP/PhD dual degree
Listed on UTHSC nursing academic pages for students seeking both practice doctorate and research doctorate preparation; admission is highly individualized.
Certificates
Post-graduate APRN certificates
Includes a Post-Master’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certificate and multiple Post-DNP certificates (PMHNP, FNP, pediatric tracks) per UTHSC.
RNFA & Forensic Nursing
Registered Nurse First Assistant and Forensic Nursing certificates serve RNs expanding perioperative or forensic roles; verify eligibility and clinical requirements on each certificate page.
UTHSC states some post-graduate certificates are seeking accreditation—confirm current status with the program director before enrolling if accreditation timing affects your employer or board requirements.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Tennessee Department of Health publication Tennessee National Council Licensure Examination Results by Year and School (first-time candidates, baccalaureate degree and higher), the row labeled University of TN Health Science Center shows 107 of 126 first-time candidates passing in 2025—a 85% pass rate. In the same report, the Tennessee subtotal for all baccalaureate first-time candidates was 91% in 2025 (2,259 of 2,485), and the national first-time pass rate for the comparable aggregate line was about 87%—benchmarks drawn from the same PDF so comparisons stay consistent.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate (UTHSC) | 85% (107 of 126 first-time candidates, 2025) |
| Tennessee baccalaureate aggregate (same report) | 91% (2025 subtotal row) |
| Source | Tennessee Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates PDF (BSN/MSN). Confirm the latest cohort with the Board and UTHSC. |
Board tables can lag exam administrations, definitions may differ from school marketing averages, and small cohort swings move percentages quickly. Always verify the newest file on the Tennessee Board site and cross-check with UTHSC outcomes disclosures.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
UTHSC posts state authorization reminders for online learners and students seeking clinical placements outside Tennessee; international applicants should expect transcript evaluation, English proficiency, and visa constraints that interact with clinical coursework. Use this list as a starting point only—it is not legal or immigration advice.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm TOEFL, IELTS, or DUOLINGO thresholds with UTHSC Admissions and your specific program.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Follow the evaluator list your program requires; internationally educated nurses may also need CGFNS or Board-specified steps.
- Tennessee Board of Nursing: For RN licensure by examination or endorsement, confirm documentation and NCLEX eligibility directly with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Determine whether your pathway supports F-1 study, how clinicals satisfy immigration rules, and whether distance rotations require extra state authorizations.
UTHSC’s Future Students page links regulatory authorization resources; requirements change, so verify with the college’s international office and the Tennessee Board.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
All BSN applicants route through NursingCAS. UTHSC evaluates cumulative GPA, science prerequisite GPA (with repeat rules), recommendation letters, and the NursingCAS personal statement; meeting minimums does not guarantee an interview or seat. Accelerated and Traditional pathways differ on degree prerequisites but share the same holistic review philosophy.
Application timeline (BSN — from UTHSC BSN page)
| Entry Term | Priority deadline | Final deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall BSN | February 1 | April 1 (applications open August 15) |
| Spring BSN | July 15 | September 15 (applications open May 15) |
UTHSC encourages applying at least four weeks before deadlines; materials are due in NursingCAS within 10 days after the posted deadline. Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD deadlines vary by concentration—check each program page (in spring 2026 messaging the college noted April 1 extensions for many DNP tracks and PhD).
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA (Traditional BSN) | Cumulative 3.0 (or 3.0 on last 60 credits); science prerequisites ≥2.67 with C or better |
| Minimum GPA (Accelerated BSN) | Cumulative 3.0 or ≥3.2 on most recent degree; science prerequisites ≥2.67 per published rules |
| TEAS / HESI | Not listed on the BSN admission requirements page we reviewed; confirm your cycle via NursingCAS |
| Science recency | Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology must typically be completed within 5 years of entry |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
UTHSC bills nursing students on college-specific fee schedules. The numbers below come directly from the College of Nursing summary on the Bursar “Fee Information (2025–2026)” page and reflect one semester of charges before housing, food, transportation, or loan fees. Part-time students pay per credit hour with a two-hour minimum per UTHSC documentation.
| Program (Fall 2025 summary) | In-state total | Out-of-state total |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing – Traditional BSN (undergraduate) | $9,023 | $25,715 |
| Nursing – Accelerated BSN | $13,535 | $38,571 |
| Nursing – Graduate (online DNP) | $12,206 | $13,282 |
| Nursing – DNP Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA) | $19,723 | $45,474 |
| Source | UTHSC Bursar – College of Nursing fee summary and detailed Fall 2025 nursing fee PDF. Confirm amounts with the Bursar; board-approved rates can change. | |
UTHSC also advertises a regional tuition discount for qualifying out-of-state BSN students living within 250 miles of Memphis (75% reduction on the out-of-state differential). UT Promise may apply to eligible Traditional BSN students per UTHSC’s BSN page—verify income and service-hour requirements on the statewide UT Promise site.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
UTHSC’s public materials emphasize strong board performance and national rankings, but you should still read outcomes through the lens of licensure data and your own career goals rather than rankings alone.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (UTHSC, board-reported) | 85% in 2025 (107/126) per Tennessee Board PDF cited above |
| NCLEX narrative (school-reported) | UTHSC’s BSN page states graduates averaged a 92.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the prior four years—confirm methodology and cohort years with the college |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed on the pages summarized here; check UTHSC career services or consumer information if published |
Is UTHSC College of Nursing the Right Fit for You?
Choose UTHSC if an urban, graduate-health-sciences culture and Tennessee public-system pricing (plus potential regional discounts) align with your goals; reconsider if you need a traditional residential undergrad experience far from clinical intensity or if the 2025 board-reported NCLEX dip gives you pause without further conversations with the program.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want a BSN anchored to an academic medical center with room to continue into DNP or PhD study without changing institutions.
- Thrive in accelerated timelines (12-month ABSN) or concise four-semester traditional progression after prerequisites.
- Value nationally visible nursing research faculty and NLN Center of Excellence recognition.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Prefer a small-town or strictly undergraduate campus rather than Memphis’s major-city clinical environment.
- Cannot relocate near Memphis for intensive face-to-face clinical blocks—or cannot meet multi-state authorization rules for online/APRN tracks.
- Expect the lowest total cost among all Tennessee programs without exploring discounts, residency, or community-college partnership routes.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Memphis anchors one of the largest healthcare labor markets in the Mid-South. UTHSC emphasizes Dedicated Education Units and partnerships across the region; common rotation sites historically include major tertiary systems such as Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Regional One Health, pediatric quaternary care at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for specialized pediatric exposure, and the adjacent Veterans’ health campus—always confirm your exact clinical placement list with the college because contracts evolve.
| Facility / system | Relevance to learners |
|---|---|
| Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare | Large multi-hospital system in Memphis offering broad med-surg, specialty, and critical care learning environments. |
| Regional One Health | Major safety-net and trauma-oriented teaching hospital experience for high-acuity exposure. |
| Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital / St. Jude | Pediatric specialty and research-adjacent experiences valuable for peds-focused students (access varies by cohort). |
| Memphis VA Medical Center | Federal healthcare system rotations supporting interprofessional and chronic-disease management competencies. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
UTHSC’s College of Nursing Student Affairs team sits at 874 Union Avenue with dedicated admissions and recruitment staff; NursingCAS webinars, scholarship pages, and student success offices supplement classroom work. Student life differs from a sprawling undergraduate campus—expect a professional health-sciences tempo, simulation and skills labs tied to concept-based curricula, and student organizations aligned with nursing leadership and service. Explore housing through UTHSC off-campus resources if you are relocating from partnership schools or neighboring counties.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Memphis, TN
- Address
- 874 Union Avenue, Suite 140, Memphis, TN 38163, US
- Admissions phone
- 901-448-8002 (Nursing Admissions Coordinator, Future Students page)
- Contact email
- DCooper@uthsc.edu
- Website
- uthsc.edu/nursing
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Create or update your NursingCAS profile for the correct UTHSC BSN term.
- Compare UTHSC prerequisite tables to your transcripts, including science recency and repeat policies.
- Review the Fall 2025 nursing fee PDF for your pathway’s semester totals.
- Download the Tennessee Board NCLEX PDF in References to see statewide context.
- Email the pathway coordinator listed on the Future Students page with specific, researched questions.
- If out-of-state, read the regional tuition discount rules (250-mile Memphis radius).
- Set calendar alerts for priority versus final NursingCAS deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UTHSC College of Nursing a strong choice for a Memphis-area BSN?
It can be—UTHSC advertises CCNE-accredited BSN pathways, NLN Center of Excellence status, and nationally ranked BSN/DNP standings. Tennessee’s 2025 board table shows an 85% first-time NCLEX rate (107/126) for “University of TN Health Science Center,” while UTHSC separately reports a 92.5% rolling four-year average—definitions differ, so confirm both with UTHSC and the Tennessee Board.
How do I apply to the UTHSC Traditional or Accelerated BSN?
Submit everything through NursingCAS. UTHSC lists fall priority/final deadlines (February 1 / April 1) and spring deadlines (July 15 / September 15) on the BSN page, encourages early submission, and requires supporting documents shortly after deadlines.
What GPA thresholds does UTHSC publish for BSN applicants?
Traditional applicants need a cumulative 3.0 (or 3.0 on the last 60 hours) and science prerequisites at 2.67 or higher with C or better. Accelerated applicants need cumulative 3.0—or 3.2 on the most recent degree—and the same science GPA rules; see the official admission requirements page for repeat limits.
Does UTHSC require TEAS or HESI for the BSN?
Those exams are not highlighted on the BSN admission requirements page we reviewed, which instead emphasizes GPA, prerequisites, recommendations, and the NursingCAS narrative. Always re-check NursingCAS each cycle in case policies change.
What is the latest Tennessee Board–reported NCLEX rate for UTHSC?
The 2025 column in the Tennessee BSN/MSN NCLEX PDF shows a 85% first-time pass rate with 126 testers for “University of TN Health Science Center.” Download the same PDF for earlier-year comparisons.
How much does one semester cost for UTHSC nursing undergraduates?
UTHSC’s 2025–2026 fee summary lists $9,023 in-state for Traditional BSN and $13,535 in-state for Accelerated BSN per semester (before living expenses). Out-of-state totals are higher, but regional discounts may apply within 250 miles of Memphis.
What DNP tracks can I pursue at UTHSC?
UTHSC advertises nine practice concentrations—including AGACNP, FNP, PMHNP, nurse anesthesia, midwifery, pediatric primary and acute care, neonatal, and nurse executive—plus dual-concentration options and executive online formats. Verify accreditation, residency, and clinical hour expectations for your track.
Where is the PhD housed if I want nursing research training?
The PhD in Nursing Science is offered through UTHSC’s College of Graduate Health Sciences with nursing faculty mentors, distinct from the DNP practice doctorate.
Can partnership-school students still earn the UTHSC BSN?
Yes—UTHSC lists Partnership Enrollment Programs for students from institutions such as Southwest Tennessee Community College, Rhodes College, UT Southern, Lane College, and others; read the partnership page for eligibility and advising.
References
- University Tennessee Health Science Center — College of Nursinguthsc.edu/nursing
- UTHSC — BSN programs, deadlines, NCLEX narrativeuthsc.edu/nursing/bsn.php
- UTHSC — BSN admission requirementsuthsc.edu/nursing/bsn-admission-requirements.php
- UTHSC — Academic programs (DNP, PhD, certificates)uthsc.edu/nursing/academic-programs.php
- UTHSC Bursar — College of Nursing fee summary (2025–2026)uthsc.edu/finance/bursar/colleges-fee-information
- UTHSC Bursar — Nursing Fall 2025 fee PDFnursing-fall-2025.pdf
- Tennessee Department of Health — BSN/MSN NCLEX pass rates PDFBSN-MSN NCLEX Pass Rates.pdf
- Tennessee Board of Nursing (department hub)tn.gov nursing board
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment with UTHSC’s public nursing pages, the UTHSC Bursar fee tables (Fall 2025), and the Tennessee Department of Health NCLEX pass-rate PDF (2025 column for University of TN Health Science Center).
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy