Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis places its nursing graduates above the state median by about $5,200—ranking in the 60th percentile among Tennessee's 29 nursing programs. With first-year earnings of $44,669 against just $14,040 in debt, graduates face a manageable debt load that represents roughly four months of earnings. While this program doesn't reach the heights of TCAT Nashville or Chattanooga College (both exceed $50,000), it delivers solid middle-of-the-pack results for Tennessee.

The debt picture deserves attention here. At $14,040, graduates carry nearly 50% more debt than the Tennessee median of $9,500, though it remains below the national median. This matters less than it might elsewhere because nursing certificates lead to immediate employment—the 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means most graduates can tackle this debt comfortably within their first year of work. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, the school serves a population where minimizing debt should be a priority, so that higher-than-state-average borrowing is worth noting.

For Memphis-area students seeking practical nursing credentials without relocating, this program offers reasonable value. You're paying slightly more than at other Tennessee schools but still earning above the state median. If keeping costs lower is critical, TCAT Hartsville or Upper Cumberland deliver similar earnings with less debt. But for local access and predictable outcomes, Memphis TCAT gets the job done.