Compare accredited BSN, RN-to-BSN, and ABSN programs by tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes.
The push for baccalaureate-prepared nurses has moved from recommendation to expectation in Hampton Roads. Newport News sits at the center of that shift, with Riverside Regional Medical Center and Sentara Healthcare increasingly preferring BSN candidates for staff RN roles. The local nursing school pipeline includes traditional four-year BSNs, RN-to-BSN bridge tracks for associate degree holders, and accelerated second-degree options for career changers.
Admissions cycles are competitive, and tuition can vary by tens of thousands of dollars across public and private institutions. First-time NCLEX pass rates in the area span from the mid-80s to over 95 percent, a spread that matters when jobs are often filled by graduates from nearby programs. Because most RNs who train in Newport News stay in the region, selecting a school with strong clinical placements and solid licensure outcomes (hallmarks of the best nursing schools in Virginia) has direct career consequences.
The following ranking highlights accredited nursing programs within commuting distance of Newport News, Virginia. We evaluated schools based on affordability, student outcomes, and program accessibility to help you find the right fit for your nursing career goals. All schools listed offer pathways to RN licensure, with options ranging from traditional BSN degrees to accelerated ADN and direct-entry MSN programs.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Riverside College of Health Careers | Newport News, VA | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | Newport News residents pursuing dual-degree pathway | |
Located in Newport News, Riverside College of Health Careers offers a Professional Nursing BSN with traditional and accelerated tracks, plus a 3+2 dual-degree partnership with Christopher Newport University. Students gain clinical experience through the Riverside Health System. The accredited program prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN licensure.
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| #2 | Hampton University | Hampton, VA | $25,000 – $30,000/yr | Working RNs needing accelerated online completion | |
Hampton University, an HBCU in nearby Hampton, provides an online RN-to-BSN program tailored for working registered nurses. The accelerated track can be completed in 12 months with flexible 8-week sessions. CCNE-accredited, the curriculum emphasizes leadership and community health.
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| #3 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | $13,000 – $34,000/yr | Pre-licensure students valuing high job placement | |
Old Dominion University in Norfolk offers a pre-licensure BSN with a five-semester campus-based curriculum. The program boasts a 100% job placement rate and hands-on training in a state-of-the-art simulation center and Telehealth Center. Small clinical sections and community health partnerships enrich the experience.
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| #4 | Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin, VA | $5,000 – $11,000/yr | ||
Paul D Camp Community College in Franklin, VA, offers an ACEN-accredited ADN program with traditional and LPN-to-RN advanced placement tracks. Small cohorts of 30 traditional and 10 transition students ensure personalized instruction. Graduates are eligible for NCLEX-RN licensure.
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| #5 | Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton, VA | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | ||
Virginia Peninsula Community College (formerly Thomas Nelson) in Hampton provides an A.A.S. in Professional Nursing with 500 clinical hours at local hospitals like Sentara and Riverside. The ACEN-accredited program offers an affordable pathway to RN licensure and an articulation agreement with ODU for BSN completion.
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| #6 | Tidewater Community College | Norfolk, VA | $12,000/yr | ||
Tidewater Community College’s Beazley School of Nursing in Portsmouth offers an ACEN-accredited ADN with small classes and state-of-the-art simulation labs. The curriculum includes an LPN-to-RN transition option, and graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
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| #7 | Rappahannock Community College | Glenns, VA | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
Rappahannock Community College, located in Glenns, provides a part-time ADN program spread over 13 semesters. The ACEN-accredited curriculum includes clinical rotations and an LPN-to-ADN transition path, with affordable tuition and G3 assistance available.
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| #8 | Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake, VA | |||
Sentara College of Health Sciences in Chesapeake offers a Master's Entry to Nursing Practice program, a direct-entry MSN for non-nursing graduates. The campus-based program requires 945 clinical hours and boasts high NCLEX pass rates and strong employment outcomes.
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| #9 | Norfolk State University | Norfolk, VA | $15,000/yr | ||
Norfolk State University, a public HBCU in Norfolk, provides a traditional BSN with five semesters of nursing courses and 857 clinical hours. The ACEN-accredited program features doctoral-level faculty, four simulation labs, and a 100% job placement rate within 60 days of graduation.
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| #10 | ECPI University | Virginia Beach, VA | $23,000/yr (net price) | ||
ECPI University's Virginia Beach campus offers an accelerated ADN program that can be completed in as few as 18 months. The ACEN-accredited curriculum integrates a 1:1 preceptorship and prepares students for the NCLEX-RN.
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For Newport News residents, several nearby public community colleges offer nursing programs with competitive tuition. The table below compares in-state and out-of-state tuition, net price after financial aid, and median graduate debt. Keep in mind that net price is an institution-wide average and your individual aid package may differ.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul D Camp Community College | $5,012 | $11,450 | $4,126 | $6,880 |
| Wytheville Community College | $5,007 | $11,445 | $4,622 | $7,500 |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | $5,022 | $11,460 | $4,861 | $9,182 |
| Virginia Western Community College | $5,400 | $11,838 | $4,966 | $11,000 |
| Brightpoint Community College | $5,082 | $11,520 | $5,490 | $9,500 |
| Germanna Community College | $5,257 | $11,648 | $5,541 | $8,400 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | $5,072 | $11,510 | $5,963 | $8,750 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | $5,072 | $11,510 | $6,013 | $9,750 |
| New River Community College | $4,979 | $11,417 | $6,279 | $9,000 |
| Danville Community College | $4,992 | $11,430 | $6,669 | $9,000 |
The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) for registered nurses is the standardized test that every nursing graduate must pass to obtain a license. First-time pass rates show the percentage of a program's graduates who succeed on their initial attempt, making them a strong indicator of how well a school prepares students for professional practice.
According to the Virginia Board of Nursing's 2025 annual report, the most recent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for nursing programs near Newport News are:
These figures represent the percentage of each school's graduates who passed the exam on their first try during the reporting period.
For context, Virginia's overall first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across all state programs was 88.1% for the 2024-2025 cycle.3 Nationally, the first-time pass rate for U.S.-educated candidates was 86.7% in 2025.4 Both Newport News-area programs fell modestly below the state average, though Riverside's rate nearly matches the national benchmark for domestic graduates.
Pass rates are a practical measure of program quality. Consistently high rates suggest that a curriculum aligns well with the exam's clinical reasoning and patient-safety focus. Conversely, rates that dip too low can trigger regulatory scrutiny, affect a program's accreditation status, and limit graduates' ability to enter the workforce quickly. For prospective nursing students, pass rates offer a transparent, outcome-based way to compare programs.
The decision to pursue a BSN in Newport News often hinges on whether you prefer a holistic review process that considers your full application or a program with more defined academic gateways like the TEAS exam. Each pathway has its own application rhythm and standards, so understanding them early helps you target the right fit.
CNU reviews BSN applicants holistically, looking well beyond transcripts.1 While the program is test optional, successful candidates typically present a strong academic record. The admissions committee weighs factors like essays, recommendations, and healthcare experience alongside grades. The priority deadline for fall entry is November 152, and early submission is strongly encouraged.
This collaborative BSN track blends CNU coursework with clinical training at Riverside. Admission is competitive but more formulaic. The minimum undergraduate GPA is 2.7, though a 3.0 is preferred. All applicants must take the TEAS exam.3 Specific prerequisite courses are listed below. Completion of these courses with strong grades is essential before applying by the January 1 deadline.3
Riverside's BSN program uses a straightforward set of admission requirements. Applicants need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 and must submit TEAS results. The final application deadline is January 1.3 While less emphasis is placed on holistic factors, meeting the baseline does not guarantee admission, as seats are limited.
If you already hold an RN license or a bachelor's degree in another field, admission rules shift. Accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs often require a prior degree and specific prerequisites but may waive the TEAS. RN-to-BSN tracks usually ask for an active RN license and an associate degree. Since these pathways vary, contact each school directly for the most current requirements.
What does accreditation mean for your nursing license, and where will you actually train? These two factors define the quality of any nursing program.
Nursing programs in Newport News generally pursue either CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) or ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing). Both are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and satisfy state board requirements for RN licensure. Graduating from a program without CCNE or ACEN accreditation, for example, a school only holding institutional ABHES approval, may complicate licensure, transfer credits, or admission to graduate programs. Always confirm a program’s accreditation status directly with the Virginia Board of Nursing before enrolling.
The Old Dominion University Ellmer School of Nursing holds CCNE accreditation, the national benchmark for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. Riverside College of Health Careers and the CNU-Riverside 3+2 BSN are institutionally accredited by ABHES, which is not a nursing-specific accreditor. Sentara College of Health Sciences participates in clinical training through its parent health system but publishes limited public accreditation data; contact the school for the most current status. For any program, ask if it meets Virginia’s educational requirements for licensure.
Nursing students in Newport News train inside some of the area’s most respected facilities:
These partnerships guarantee that clinical hours are earned in real patient-care environments, not just simulation labs.
All pre-licensure BSN programs, no matter how much lecture material is delivered online, require hands-on clinical rotations at approved sites. If you need maximum flexibility, RN-to-BSN completion programs are widely available in hybrid or fully online formats because they assume you have already completed the core clinical competencies during your initial ADN or diploma education. Always verify how a school balances online coursework with in-person clinicals before committing, especially if you work full-time or live at a distance from the placement sites.
Nurse salaries in Newport News reflect the broader pay landscape of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metropolitan area. Understanding both local figures and how they compare to state and national benchmarks helps you gauge your earning potential after completing a nursing program.
For the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News region, annual RN earnings are projected to fall between $72,000 and $80,000 in 2026. That range sits below the national median of $93,600 (BLS, 2024), but the cost of living in Hampton Roads is generally lower than in many higher-paying metros. Virginia’s statewide average salary for RNs is approximately $77,720, making local wages competitive within the state.
Nationally, the lowest 10 percent of registered nurses earned less than $53,410, while the top 10 percent made over $116,230, according to the BLS. Local distributions can differ, experience, clinical specialty, shift differentials, and employer type all influence exactly where a nurse falls. Critical care and emergency room roles, for example, often pay near the upper end, while entry-level medical-surgical positions align with the lower end. For a broader view of nursing pay across Virginia and other states, the salary-by-state breakdown offers additional context.
After comparing schools, costs, and career outcomes, you likely have a few final questions. Below are concise answers to the most common inquiries about nursing programs in Newport News, helping you make an informed choice.
