Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and schedules for Norfolk-area practical nursing programs
How much should an LPN program near Norfolk cost, and which schools deliver strong NCLEX-PN pass rates? Norfolk's healthcare infrastructure (Sentara, the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, and military retiree communities) creates steady demand, but not all programs prepare graduates equally.
Net prices range from roughly $4,100 to over $35,000 per year. First-time NCLEX pass rates range from below the state average to near-perfect. That gap can mean extra exam attempts, lost wages, or avoidable debt.
Employers in Hampton Roads consistently value clinical readiness and licensure success over institutional prestige. The programs ranked here earn their spot through outcomes, not marketing.
Your choice among Norfolk-area practical nursing programs can shape your entire nursing career. The programs below are evaluated on quality, cost, and graduate outcomes, with special attention to flexibility and regional strength. ECPI University’s Virginia Beach campus is a standout for local students, particularly those with military ties.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ECPI University | Virginia Beach, VA | $23,000/yr (net price) | Hampton Roads military families | |
ECPI University’s Practical Nursing diploma is an accelerated, campus-based program in Virginia Beach that routinely earns recognition as a top LPN option for Norfolk residents. With a military-friendly approach, it offers year-round enrollment and multiple Hampton Roads locations, making it especially convenient for active-duty families. The 15-month curriculum emphasizes hands-on clinical training and NCLEX-PN preparation, and graduates benefit from relatively strong earnings outcomes.
| |||||
| #2 | Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing | Falls Church, VA | $36,000/yr | Part-time learners wanting hybrid flexibility | |
Standard Healthcare Services–College of Nursing offers a hybrid Practical Nursing Program that blends online and in-person learning, ideal for students who need flexibility. The 14-month full-time or 18-month part-time tracks include extensive lab and clinical components, and admission requires no entrance exam. Located in Falls Church, it draws students from across Virginia, with a focus on diverse patient care.
| |||||
| #3 | Rappahannock Community College | Glenns, VA | $0 – $5,000/yr | Campus learners focused on job placement | |
Rappahannock Community College’s Practical Nursing Certificate is a three-semester program with a remarkable track record: a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate in 2023 and 100% job placement. Offered at the Glenns and Warsaw campuses, it prepares students through traditional classroom and clinical instruction. While its primary service region is the Middle Peninsula, its strong outcomes make it worth considering for Norfolk-area students who can commute or relocate.
| |||||
| #4 | Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville, VA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
Piedmont Virginia Community College’s hybrid Practical Nursing certificate integrates online coursework with over 400 clinical hours near Charlottesville. The 37-credit program has achieved a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate and is fully approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Through the G3 initiative, eligible students may receive free tuition, making it a highly affordable option for Virginians willing to train outside the Norfolk area.
| |||||
| #5 | Wytheville Community College | Wytheville, VA | $5,000 – $11,000/yr | ||
Wytheville Community College’s Practical Nursing program runs five semesters and meets at the Crossroads Institute in Galax, serving far southwest Virginia. It requires high school biology and algebra, and graduates have posted NCLEX pass rates between 80–100%. Criminal background checks and drug screenings are mandatory. The program includes a dual-credit option for high school seniors.
| |||||
| #6 | Patrick & Henry Community College | Martinsville, VA | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
Patrick & Henry Community College’s Practical Nursing Certificate is a three-semester, cohort-based program in Martinsville with a consistent 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate over the last four years. Admission requires the ATI TEAS exam and a mandatory information session. While not nationally accredited, it holds full Virginia Board of Nursing approval and is among the most affordable options in the state.
| |||||
| #7 | Germanna Community College | Locust Grove, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr | ||
Germanna Community College’s one-year Practical Nursing Certificate is an accessible, no-exam-entry pathway centered in north-central Virginia. With an estimated total cost of $6,700, it is among the most affordable LPN programs in the state. Graduates are prepared for the NCLEX-PN and employment in a variety of healthcare settings.
| |||||
Net price, a key factor in our ranking, is the average annual cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time undergraduates. We combine this metric with institution-wide graduation rates, median student debt, return-on-investment (ROI) ratios, and early-career earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. The factors are:
We draw only on public data from IPEDS and College Scorecard, and we consider every practical nursing program within a 75-mile radius of Norfolk that reports sufficient data. Because graduation rates and net price are institution-wide averages, they are useful signals but not program-specific promises. Our ranking does not assess clinical placement rates, NCLEX pass rates, faculty quality, or campus culture. Use it as a foundation for your research, not the final word.
The sticker price of a practical nursing program is only part of the story. Net price, what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, ranges dramatically across Norfolk-area schools, from just over $4,000 to more than $35,000 per year. Keep in mind that these figures are institution-wide averages; your actual cost will depend on your financial aid eligibility and personal expenses.
NCLEX-PN pass rates are the most transparent indicator of a practical nursing program's quality, and Norfolk-area students can access this data through several official channels. Knowing where to look helps you compare programs like Central School of Practical Nursing, Fortis College Norfolk, and Tidewater Community College consistently.
The growing demand for flexible nursing education has not yet reshaped program schedules in the Norfolk area. Most approved LPN programs still run on traditional daytime timetables, though a few hints of hybrid delivery are emerging. Students who need evening or weekend classes should plan carefully and verify any schedule claims before applying.
Central School of Practical Nursing and Tidewater Community College both follow full-time day formats. Central School operates Level I instruction every other day from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., then shifts to a Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. schedule in Level II. Tidewater runs a three-semester daytime program starting each spring. Neither offers an evening or weekend track.
Fortis College Norfolk describes its practical nursing program as hybrid, with some online coursework, but does not publish a specific evening or weekend class schedule. Clinical rotations there are in-person at local healthcare facilities, regardless of delivery mode.
A full-time LPN program in Norfolk typically takes about 12 to 18 months. Central School spans 18 months split into two nine-month levels. Tidewater completes within three semesters. Part-time or evening tracks, when offered elsewhere, often extend to 16 to 18 months, but no Norfolk-area school currently advertises a dedicated part-time option. Fortis’ hybrid model may offer some scheduling flexibility, though the clinical component remains fixed.
Admissions timelines and course formats can shift from term to term. Always contact each program’s admissions office directly to confirm current class schedules, clinical hour requirements, and whether any evening or weekend sections are in pilot. A phone call can save months of misaligned planning.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical nurses across the country earned a median annual wage of $59,730 in 2023, which translates to $28.72 per hour. Wages span a wide range: the lowest 10% earned below $45,670, while the top 10% exceeded $77,870. While 2023 MSA-level data for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area is not detailed in this publication, state-level figures from the BLS indicate that Virginia LPNs tend to earn slightly above the national median, and the Norfolk metro’s concentration of major healthcare employers often pushes salaries toward the upper end of the scale. Program-level earnings from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard are not yet available for Norfolk-area LPN programs, but graduates can expect to start near the lower percentiles and quickly advance with experience.
Nationally, employment of LPNs is projected to grow 3% through 2034, resulting in about 54,000 annual openings when retirements and turnover are included. In Norfolk, demand stays strong thanks to a cluster of major healthcare facilities:
These employers and the area’s nursing homes and home health agencies create a steady pipeline of job opportunities for new LPN graduates.
The financial equation for Norfolk LPN students is favorable. Many practical nursing programs carry low tuition and fees, and median debt at area schools is often well below $10,000. For instance, Germanna Community College reports a median debt of $8,400, Wytheville Community College’s is $7,500, and Piedmont Virginia Community College’s is $8,750. Even the higher-priced ECPI University shows median debt of $20,000. With an annual salary benchmark of $59,730, graduates from the most affordable programs can recover their educational investment within months. This strong return on investment makes LPN training an accessible path to a stable healthcare career in Norfolk.
Find answers to common questions about practical nursing programs in the Norfolk area, from bridge pathways to licensure resources.
