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Best Trade Programs in Tennessee (2026)

Top 100 of 367 programs in Tennessee · Updated 2026

The best trade school programs in Tennessee, ranked by overall value. We scored 367 programs across Tennessee trade schools on earnings, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $47,228/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in TN

367

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$47,228/yr

Avg TSW Score

69/100

#1 Program

Truck Driving & CDL

Chattanooga State Community College

Top Trade Programs in Tennessee

Top 100 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	TSW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Truck Driving & CDL Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	87 86–87	$48,579/yr	107.6x
2	Business Administration Cleveland State Community College · Cleveland, TN	81 76–83	$50,301/yr	47.6x
3	Nursing Dyersburg State Community College · Dyersburg, TN	85 80–85	$74,386/yr	75.9x
4	Nursing Southwest Tennessee Community College · Memphis, TN	85 79–85	$72,913/yr	77.9x
5	Nursing Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	82 77–83	$64,950/yr	76.9x
6	Nursing Cleveland State Community College · Cleveland, TN	84 78–84	$69,229/yr	71.0x
7	Nursing Columbia State Community College · Columbia, TN	81 76–81	$65,077/yr	66.9x
8	Nursing Jackson State Community College · Jackson, TN	83 78–83	$66,385/yr	68.8x
9	Nursing Motlow State Community College · Tullahoma, TN	83 78–83	$66,609/yr	75.7x
10	Nursing Northeast State Community College · Blountville, TN	82 77–83	$65,160/yr	70.2x
11	Truck Driving & CDL Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
12	Practical Nursing Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers · Chattanooga, TN	72 72–73	$50,437/yr	46.2x
13	Nursing Nashville State Community College · Nashville, TN	83 76–83	$63,235/yr	81.9x
14	Criminal Justice Walters State Community College · Morristown, TN	83 79–84	$44,624/yr	107.7x
15	Criminal Justice Cleveland State Community College · Cleveland, TN	81 77–83	$41,488/yr	109.3x
16	Nursing Roane State Community College · Harriman, TN	80 73–81	$56,446/yr	70.5x
17	Nursing Pellissippi State Community College · Knoxville, TN	80 73–80	$55,217/yr	70.0x
18	Nursing Walters State Community College · Morristown, TN	79 74–80	$57,329/yr	67.2x
19	Business Administration Cleveland State Community College · Cleveland, TN	81 76–83	$38,864/yr	86.0x
20	Business Administration Volunteer State Community College · Gallatin, TN	76 70–78	$40,513/yr	49.5x
21	Nursing Concorde Career College-Memphis · Memphis, TN	74 67–74	$76,276/yr	—
22	Health Administration Nashville State Community College · Nashville, TN	72 66–74	$40,023/yr	49.1x
23	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville · Nashville, TN	68 66–69	$51,085/yr	—
24	Electrical Installation Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	77 72–78	$41,936/yr	127.9x
25	Medical Assisting Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	69 66–70	$45,112/yr	52.5x
26	Practical Nursing Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	75 71–76	$36,350/yr	108.5x
27	Business Administration Nashville State Community College · Nashville, TN	72 65–74	$34,306/yr	48.3x
28	Medical Assisting Southwest Tennessee Community College · Memphis, TN	69 66–69	$44,955/yr	48.4x
29	Medical Assisting Volunteer State Community College · Gallatin, TN	70 67–70	$45,598/yr	53.0x
30	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens · Athens, TN	67 64–67	$46,871/yr	—
31	Heavy Equipment Technology Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	73 71–73	$54,588/yr	146.8x
32	Welding & Metalworking Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	66 65–67	$39,664/yr	98.8x
33	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville · Hartsville, TN	67 64–67	$46,390/yr	—
34	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville · Crossville, TN	66 64–67	$44,915/yr	—
35	Information Sciences Pellissippi State Community College · Knoxville, TN	74 64–76	$44,224/yr	58.1x
36	Practical Nursing Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	66 64–67	$45,301/yr	—
37	Nursing Fortis Institute-Nashville · Nashville, TN	71 65–71	$66,276/yr	24.6x
38	Nursing Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus · Nashville, TN	71 65–71	$68,114/yr	22.9x
39	Information Sciences Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	73 63–76	$41,400/yr	58.9x
40	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson · Dickson, TN	65 63–66	$42,651/yr	—
41	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald · Hohenwald, TN	65 63–66	$42,694/yr	—
42	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis · Memphis, TN	66 64–67	$44,669/yr	—
43	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro, TN	66 63–66	$44,555/yr	—
44	Medical Assisting Nashville State Community College · Nashville, TN	68 63–68	$40,411/yr	54.2x
45	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump · Crump, TN	66 63–66	$44,134/yr	—
46	Truck Driving & CDL Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson · Jackson, TN	64 62–65	$31,124/yr	—
47	Truck Driving & CDL Fortis Institute-Cookeville · Cookeville, TN	64 60–65	$30,416/yr	32.1x
48	Business Administration Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	71 67–73	$36,486/yr	35.1x
49	Allied Health Professions Columbia State Community College · Columbia, TN	68 65–68	$58,188/yr	57.3x
50	Business Administration Columbia State Community College · Columbia, TN	69 62–71	$31,640/yr	44.0x
51	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro · Jacksboro, TN	65 62–65	$42,300/yr	—
52	Medical Assisting Jackson State Community College · Jackson, TN	67 62–67	$38,867/yr	52.2x
53	Information Sciences Nashville State Community College · Nashville, TN	71 63–73	$42,160/yr	45.9x
54	Business Administration Pellissippi State Community College · Knoxville, TN	69 63–71	$32,529/yr	42.6x
55	Vehicle Repair Technology North Central Institute · Clarksville, TN	62 60–62	$47,144/yr	—
56	Business Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	69 62–71	$44,154/yr	19.1x
57	Vehicle Repair Technology Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	68 66–68	$35,028/yr	90.3x
58	Health Administration Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	67 63–70	$36,204/yr	39.5x
59	Allied Health Professions Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	74 70–74	$53,180/yr	89.1x
60	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown · Morristown, TN	63 61–64	$39,477/yr	—
61	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll · Paris, TN	63 61–64	$39,112/yr	—
62	Electrical Installation Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski · Pulaski, TN	64 61–65	$46,832/yr	—
63	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville · Shelbyville, TN	64 61–64	$40,179/yr	—
64	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson · Jackson, TN	63 61–64	$39,078/yr	—
65	Allied Health Professions Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	67 63–68	$50,848/yr	65.0x
66	Business Operations Support Chattanooga State Community College · Chattanooga, TN	70 64–73	$32,603/yr	70.7x
67	Allied Health Professions Columbia State Community College · Columbia, TN	72 69–73	$51,093/yr	110.4x
68	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman · Harriman, TN	63 60–63	$37,837/yr	—
69	Allied Health Professions Jackson State Community College · Jackson, TN	65 62–65	$48,919/yr	53.2x
70	Vehicle Repair Technology Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis · Memphis, TN	59 57–60	$41,268/yr	—
71	Welding & Metalworking Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro, TN	55 54–56	$42,688/yr	—
72	Vehicle Repair Technology Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville · Nashville, TN	60 58–60	$42,896/yr	—
73	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest · Newbern, TN	62 60–63	$37,350/yr	—
74	Business Administration Southwest Tennessee Community College · Memphis, TN	68 64–69	$32,879/yr	35.1x
75	Business Operations Support Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville · Shelbyville, TN	64 58–68	$41,217/yr	—
76	Welding & Metalworking Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson · Jackson, TN	56 54–56	$43,864/yr	—
77	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	63 60–63	$38,388/yr	—
78	Medical Assisting Walters State Community College · Morristown, TN	64 59–65	$35,173/yr	51.2x
79	IT Management Strayer University-Tennessee · Memphis, TN	68 61–71	$61,810/yr	20.1x
80	Heavy Equipment Technology Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro, TN	58 56–58	$57,632/yr	—
81	Heavy Equipment Technology Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville · Nashville, TN	58 57–59	$60,052/yr	—
82	Business Administration Roane State Community College · Harriman, TN	67 60–69	$29,823/yr	41.1x
83	Allied Health Professions Southwest Tennessee Community College · Memphis, TN	72 68–72	$48,290/yr	105.1x
84	Welding & Metalworking Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville · Shelbyville, TN	54 53–55	$40,605/yr	—
85	Nursing Southern Adventist University · Collegedale, TN	66 60–67	$61,225/yr	13.1x
86	Allied Health Professions Volunteer State Community College · Gallatin, TN	66 61–67	$47,716/yr	65.3x
87	Allied Health Professions Walters State Community College · Morristown, TN	65 61–65	$47,280/yr	57.6x
88	Allied Health Professions Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting · Nashville, TN	63 59–64	$75,955/yr	—
89	Clinical Laboratory Science Columbia State Community College · Columbia, TN	61 59–62	$48,168/yr	48.1x
90	Heavy Equipment Technology Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson · Dickson, TN	57 56–58	$54,320/yr	—
91	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton · Elizabethton, TN	60 58–61	$33,692/yr	—
92	Practical Nursing South College · Knoxville, TN	61 60–61	$39,238/yr	20.9x
93	Nursing Lincoln Memorial University · Harrogate, TN	65 58–65	$54,468/yr	11.3x
94	Heavy Equipment Technology Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest · Newbern, TN	57 55–57	$53,226/yr	—
95	Welding & Metalworking Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski · Pulaski, TN	53 51–53	$38,268/yr	—
96	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski · Pulaski, TN	61 58–61	$34,623/yr	—
97	Allied Health Professions Southwest Tennessee Community College · Memphis, TN	64 59–65	$43,958/yr	61.2x
98	Heavy Equipment Technology Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville · Shelbyville, TN	57 55–57	$52,115/yr	—
99	Heavy Equipment Technology Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville · McMinnville, TN	57 56–57	$53,760/yr	—
100	Practical Nursing Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville · McMinnville, TN	60 58–61	$34,294/yr	—

About This Ranking

What we ranked

Best Trades in Tennessee ranks 100 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.

Data sources

Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.

How to read the table

Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.

Caveats & limitations

Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 trade programs at Tennessee schools, drawn from 367 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade program in Tennessee?

By TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Truck Driving & CDL at Chattanooga State Community College ranks #1 in Tennessee with a score of 87/100 and graduate earnings of $48,579/yr.

How many trade programs are in Tennessee?

Our database includes 367 trade programs across Tennessee schools with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2025.