Vanderbilt University
CCNE AccreditedVanderbilt University School of Nursing offers a range of accredited nursing programs designed to meet the needs of aspiring nurses. With CCNE accreditation, you can choose from on-campus or hybrid learning formats, ensuring flexibility and convenience. The school is known for its strong emphasis on clinical practice and innovative education.
Vanderbilt University at a glance
- Vanderbilt University's most recent NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is 96% on 146 candidates (2025) — held steady (+0 pts since 2020).
- Across 6 reported years (2020–2025), the candidate-weighted average is 96.2% over 864 total candidates.
- Opportunity Score: 80/100 — our weighted composite of NCLEX outcomes, tuition, clinical partnerships, and state job-market strength. Strongest components: Clinical partnerships and NCLEX pass rate.
- Clinical placement access scores 97/100, based on the hospital systems this school places students into.
- Listed program tuition ranges from $54,000 to $120,000 total across 6 programs.
- 12 nursing programs listed — BSN, DNP, MSN, PhD offered on campus / hybrid.
- Programmatic accreditation: CCNE.
96%
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (2025, 146 candidates)
Source: State board of nursing
96.2%
Candidate-weighted average, 2020–2025
Source: State board of nursing
80/100
Opportunity Score
Source: MyNursingSchools methodology
97/100
Clinical placement access
Source: School-published clinical partners
- Programs Offered
- 12
- NCLEX Pass Rate
- 96%
- Clinical Access
- 97/100
Sources: NCSBN, school-reported data. Methodology.
NCLEX-RN pass rates by year
Board-reported first-time pass rates for Vanderbilt University, each shown with the cohort size it was calculated from. Candidate-weighted average across 6 years: 96.2% over 864 candidates.
Vanderbilt University's latest reported year is 2025, and that 96% — from a cohort of 146 first-time candidates — is 9.3 points above the 86.7% national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate NCSBN reported for 2025.
| Exam year | First-time pass rate | Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 96% | 146 |
| 2024 | 97% | 153 |
| 2023 | 97% | 135 |
| 2022 | 96% | 140 |
| 2021 | 95% | 139 |
| 2020 | 96.03% | 151 |
Source: state board of nursing publications, transcribed per cohort. Cohorts under 10 candidates are suppressed rather than shown. Full NCLEX detail for Vanderbilt University.
Nursing Programs at Vanderbilt University(12)
Sponsored · Disclosure
Explore Similar Nursing Programs
Comparing options beyond Vanderbilt University? These accredited schools actively enroll nursing students — view their programs to request tuition and admissions details.
Vanderbilt Universityoverall score
Strengths
- Clinical partnerships
- NCLEX pass rate
- Graduation rate
Watch-outs
- Tuition affordability
Score breakdown
- NCLEX pass rate96
- Job market strength62
- Graduation rate96
- Online flexibility51
- Tuition affordability36
- Clinical partnerships97
The Opportunity Score blends NCLEX pass rate, tuition affordability, graduation outcomes, schedule flexibility, hospital clinical partnerships, and state job-market strength. Missing inputs are excluded and remaining weights are redistributed proportionally. How we calculate this.
Vanderbilt Universityclinical access
- VUSN coordinates all clinical placements for students.
- Clinical experiences primarily arranged within Greater Middle Tennessee Area.
- State-of-the-art Simulation and Skills Lab with advanced technology.
- Designated as a Laerdal Center of Excellence for simulation-based education.
Named hospital & health-system partners
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Sources: nursing.vanderbilt.edu, nursing.vanderbilt.edu, nursing.vanderbilt.edu. How we score this
Admissions at Vanderbilt University
- •No overall acceptance or admission rate (percentage) is published for the School of Nursing across its programs. Source: general admissions overview on nursing.vanderbilt.edu
- •For graduate‑level nursing programs, applicants must hold a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, with the average admitted GPA around 3.5. Source: Pre‑Nursing Handbook—Application Process
- •Specific Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program track requirements include:
- •Advanced Clinical Practice Track: recommended minimum GPA of 3.5, though 3.0 is the official minimum. Source: DNP Admissions
- •Advanced Systems Practice Track: minimum GPA of 3.0, with 3.5 recommended; additionally, applicants must have completed a statistics course. Source: DNP Admissions
- •BSN to DNP Track: minimum GPA of 3.0; RN license and accredited BSN required. Source: DNP Admissions
- •No information is given on TEAS or HESI exam requirements for any Vanderbilt nursing programs—these exams are not mentioned in the official admissions materials. Source: Admission materials reviewed (Admissions Overview, Pre‑Nursing Handbook, DNP Admissions)
- •For the Nurse‑Midwifery specialty, additional admissions details include:
- •No intervi
Based on publicly available information. Source
Schedule & Format Flexibility at Vanderbilt University
- •Online, Hybrid, or On-Campus Delivery
- •The MSN program offers most specialties in an online/hybrid format with some brief on‑campus sessions; Nursing Informatics is fully online.
- •The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty is delivered in a hybrid format: online coursework along with required in‑person simulations, skills labs, and immersive sessions.
- •The Adult‑Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) specialty uses a modified distance learning model: asynchronous online lectures combined with on‑campus block intensives for simulation and immersive clinical training.
- •The Women’s Health/Gender‑Related NP + Adult‑Gerontology Primary Care NP (dual) specialty uses a hybrid/online format with several required in‑person sessions.
- •The FNP/Nurse‑Midwifery (FNP/NM) seamless specialty combines online/hybrid FNP coursework and in‑person/hybrid NM instruction: in‑person classes during the first part of the NM program and clinical practicum across the U.S. thereafter.
Based on publicly available information. Source
Program-Specific Details
DNP
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Primarily online with required on-campus intensives.
MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Hybrid format with online coursework and in-person simulations.
MSN — Nurse-Midwifery
Minimum GPA: 3.0
No interviews conducted; admissions decisions based on application materials.
Hybrid format with online coursework and in-person sessions.
MSN — Psychiatric Mental Health NP
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Hybrid format with online coursework and in-person sessions.
Explore More
How to evaluate a nursing school
Frequently Asked Questions About Vanderbilt University
What nursing programs does Vanderbilt University offer?
Is Vanderbilt University accredited?
Does Vanderbilt University offer online nursing programs?
How do I apply to Vanderbilt University's nursing programs?
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN); CCNE; ACEN.