Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
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Online programs--
Best Online Nursing Programs in Columbia, TN (2026)
Columbia, Tennessee has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Columbia has a population of about 43,971. Median household income is $61,204 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $211,450 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Columbia
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Columbia. Distances are calculated from Columbia city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Columbia. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald
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Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson
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Online programs--
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
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Online programs--
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
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Online programs--
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Columbia
Columbia is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN metro area (BLS area code 34980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,040 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $87,269 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $61,940 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $64,320 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $211,450 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $219,574 |
| Nurse Midwife | $117,010 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $121,506 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,320 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $127,020 |
| Nursing Assistant | $39,510 | Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $41,028 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Columbia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,971 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $61,204 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Maury County | 1,054 workers, 31 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Columbia-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Spring Hill, TN – 11.3 mi away (40,552 pop)
- Franklin, TN – 23.4 mi away (74,794 pop)
- Brentwood, TN – 29.7 mi away (42,517 pop)
- Shelbyville, TN – 34.6 mi away (21,083 pop)
- Smyrna, TN – 38.1 mi away (48,596 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Columbia, TN?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Columbia. The closest is Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski in Pulaski, TN (29.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro (38.8 miles).
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Columbia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Columbia are: Nurse Anesthetist ($211,450), Nurse Practitioner ($122,320), Nurse Midwife ($117,010). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Spring Hill instead of Columbia?
Spring Hill, TN is 11.3 miles from Columbia and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Columbia an affordable place to study nursing?
Columbia’s median household income of $61,204 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Tennessee
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Columbia
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbia:
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.