Compare tuition, NCLEX outcomes, and program formats at Virginia's top-ranked nursing schools.
Virginia's 29+ ranked nursing programs span public research universities, private colleges, and community colleges, with net prices ranging from about $4,600 to over $23,000 after aid.
That spread means cost-conscious students can find affordable ADN pathways that feed into RN-to-BSN programs, while those targeting top hospitals can invest in four-year programs with strong clinical pipelines.
Program-level earnings data is still limited, but institution-wide medians hint at the range: from roughly $60,000 for some private and community college graduates to over $86,000 for University of Virginia alumni. With licensing hinging on first-time NCLEX pass rates, choosing a program with a strong track record remains a make-or-break decision.
These rankings weigh net price, graduation rates, and long-term earnings to highlight Virginia nursing programs that balance affordability with strong student outcomes. Each card lists the school’s net price and institution-wide graduation rate (not program-specific) to give a snapshot of overall student success, along with key program formats to help you quickly compare options.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Centra College | Lynchburg, VA | $13,000/yr | Working RNs seeking employer-aligned online BSN | |
Centra College, based in Lynchburg and owned by Centra Health, offers a 100% online RN-BSN program built for working registered nurses. The curriculum can be completed full-time in 12 months or part-time in two years, with tuition support often available for employees within the Centra system. With a perfect institution-wide graduation rate and low median debt of $15,250, the program provides a streamlined, employer-connected path to a bachelor's degree.
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| #2 | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | $22,000/yr (net price) | Virginia residents pursuing flagship BSN pathways | |
The University of Virginia’s School of Nursing provides a range of BSN pathways on its Charlottesville campus, including a traditional four-year, a three-year transfer, and a two-year accelerated second-degree option. Clinical experiences span UVA Health and rural communities, and graduates see median earnings of $86,863 at 10 years. The school also offers a direct-entry MSN for career changers, known for over 840 clinical hours and NCLEX pass rates above 96%.
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| #3 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | $23,000/yr | Virginia community college transfers into BSN | |
James Madison University’s BSN program in Harrisonburg is accredited by the CCNE and emphasizes low student-faculty ratios, hands-on clinical training, and preparation for the NCLEX-RN. The curriculum blends classroom learning with real-life scenarios, and graduates benefit from strong career advancement in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and beyond. With a net price of $23,322 and a 79.7% institution-wide graduation rate, it offers solid value for in-state students.
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| #4 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
George Mason University in Fairfax offers a traditional four-year BSN and a 12-month accelerated second-degree BSN for students who already hold a bachelor’s. Clinical placements leverage Northern Virginia’s major health systems, providing experience in high-acuity settings. The university’s net price is $17,915, and graduates earn a median of $76,343 at 10 years, making it a cost-effective choice for in-state residents.
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| #5 | Riverside College of Health Careers | Newport News, VA | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Riverside College of Health Careers, part of the Riverside Health System in Newport News, offers a 3.5-year Professional Nursing BSN with traditional and accelerated tracks. Day classes and intensive hands-on training prepare students for the NCLEX-RN, and strong employment ties to Riverside facilities create a direct pipeline to nursing jobs on the Virginia Peninsula. The institution reports a 100% graduation rate and low median debt of $14,787.
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| #6 | University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg, VA | $21,000/yr (net price) | ||
The University of Mary Washington’s RN-to-BSN completion program in Fredericksburg is a hybrid offering for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma. Designed for working professionals, it can be completed in one year full-time or at a student’s own pace part-time, focusing on leadership and graduate school preparation. Students benefit from a liberal arts foundation and mentorships from local healthcare leaders in central Virginia.
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| #7 | Wytheville Community College | Wytheville, VA | $5,000 – $11,000/yr | ||
Wytheville Community College’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing is a five-semester campus program in Southwest Virginia that prepares students for entry-level RN practice. With a net price of $4,622 and median graduate debt of $7,500, it’s one of the most affordable pathways to the NCLEX-RN in the state. Graduates often transfer to in-state BSN programs to continue their education.
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| #8 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | $23,000/yr | ||
Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond offers a traditional three-year BSN that integrates intensive clinical training at VCU Health, a major academic medical center and safety-net hospital. Ranked among the top 6% of undergraduate nursing programs by U.S. News, it emphasizes clinical reasoning and technical skills. The net price for in-state students is $23,433, and graduates are prepared for immediate RN licensure.
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| #9 | New River Community College | Dublin, VA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
New River Community College in Dublin provides an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing, with a focus on hands-on learning on campus. The program’s low net price of $6,279 and median debt of $9,000 make it accessible, and graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN. It serves as a strong foundation for transferring to a four-year RN-to-BSN program.
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| #10 | Germanna Community College | Locust Grove, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr | ||
Germanna Community College’s Nursing Associate Degree in Locust Grove is a two-year, campus-based program that prepares students for RN licensure with an estimated total cost of $11,260. The curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care, nursing judgment, and hands-on lab experiences. With a net price of $5,541, it’s an affordable entry point into central Virginia’s healthcare workforce.
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Our rankings give you a quick, data-backed way to compare Virginia nursing schools on the practical outcomes that shape your career and finances. Instead of relying on reputation or selectivity alone, we look at how each school performs on a mix of affordability, student success, and early-career earnings.
These numbers are averages and school-wide snapshots, not personal guarantees. Net price varies by family income and aid eligibility; your own cost may differ. The graduation rate reflects the entire institution, so a nursing program with small cohorts could have different outcomes. Use the figures as comparisons, not precise predictions.
We do not factor in NCLEX pass rates because those are tracked and published separately by the Virginia Board of Nursing. You can find detailed NCLEX data in the dedicated section below. Additionally, reputation surveys, acceptance rates, and subjective reviews are never part of the score.
Every school listed on this page holds recognized nursing accreditation from either the CCNE or ACEN. Accreditation is a baseline requirement, not a ranking weight, because all programs must meet it to sit for licensure. If a program isn’t accredited, it won’t appear here at all.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs in Virginia vary widely in cost, from public universities offering in-state tuition under $12,000 to higher out-of-state rates. Net price, which accounts for financial aid, often paints a more realistic picture of affordability, while median graduate debt and early-career earnings help evaluate return on investment.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt | Median 10-Year Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | $11,780 | $28,010 | $9,210 | $16,750 | $45,325 |
| Radford University | $12,548 | $25,633 | $14,578 | $24,000 | $53,739 |
| Old Dominion University | $12,750 | $33,780 | $14,638 | $24,000 | $54,914 |
| George Mason University | $14,220 | $38,688 | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 |
Choosing a nursing program is a balancing act between admission requirements, location, and cost, but NCLEX first-time pass rates cut straight to whether a program prepares graduates to become licensed nurses on their first attempt. A strong pass rate signals that the curriculum aligns with the national licensing exam, while a weaker one can delay your entry into the workforce and add stress.
In 2024, Virginia BSN programs posted an aggregate first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91.67% across 2,005 test takers. When all RN program types are combined (including associate degree and diploma programs), Virginia’s pass rate edged up to 92.32% from 4,907 test takers. For comparison, the national first-time pass rate for 2025 sat at 86.7%, meaning Virginia’s BSN graduates consistently outperform the national benchmark by roughly 5 percentage points. This gap reflects the strength of the state’s nursing education pipeline.
Several Virginia BSN programs have built reputations for exceptional first-time NCLEX success. While school-specific pass rates fluctuate year to year, publicly available data from the Virginia Board of Nursing regularly show a cluster of programs surpassing 95%. Institutions like the University of Virginia, James Madison University, and Virginia Commonwealth University are frequently recognized for preparing students who pass on the first attempt at rates well above state and national averages. Prospective students should verify the most recent school-level data directly through the Virginia Board of Nursing, as a program’s multi-year trend matters more than a single year’s snapshot.
Not every program can sustain a 95%+ pass rate. Southside College of Health Sciences, for example, reported a 2024 first-time pass rate of 90.48%, slightly below Virginia’s BSN average of 91.67%. While still above the national average of 86.7%, the gap suggests some students may need additional preparation resources. When evaluating a school, look beyond the headline number: investigate whether the program offers structured remediation, NCLEX review courses, or academic support for at-risk students. A lower rate alone is not a red flag if the school demonstrates a plan to close the gap.
Earnings after a nursing degree measure the median income of graduates, giving a practical picture of how quickly a program pays for itself. Return on investment (ROI) compares those earnings to total student debt; the higher the ratio, the better the value for students balancing cost and career goals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses in Virginia earn a median annual wage of $88,820, with the lowest 10 percent at $62,310 and the highest 10 percent at $139,770.1 Earnings peak in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, where RNs bring home a median of $92,800 per year, or $44.61 per hour.2 These figures reflect working RNs specifically, capturing the salary landscape for those who remain in the profession.
Federal College Scorecard data tracks earnings for all graduates, not just those who stay in nursing, offering a different lens on value. Among Virginia nursing schools, the best debt-to-earnings ratios appear at programs that keep costs low while producing solid workforce results. The median graduate earnings (10 years after entry) and median debt tell a clear story.
These ratios show that even when earnings appear modest, the low debt burden at community college programs delivers excellent ROI. Remember, Scorecard earnings include graduates who left nursing, so actual RN-specific salaries may be higher. For a direct look at working nurse pay, the BLS statewide median of $88,820 remains the benchmark.1
Choosing between an online and an on-campus BSN program in Virginia depends on your schedule, location, and learning style. Of the 29 ranked schools, the majority offer traditional campus-based instruction, while two programs are fully online and three use a hybrid model, giving you a range of options.
Accreditation is a seal of quality that confirms a nursing program meets national standards for education and training. In Virginia, two agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to grant that seal: the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Both are reliable, but they serve slightly different slices of nursing education.
CCNE focuses on baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs, and it is the most common accreditor for four-year BSN programs at universities.1 ACEN accredits all levels, from practical nursing diplomas through clinical doctorates, and is often seen at community colleges and some RN-to-BSN completion tracks.2 Both are equally valid for licensure and employment, but program culture and transfer pathways can differ.
A current search of the CCNE directory shows that the majority of Virginia’s BSN programs hold CCNE accreditation, including offerings at large public universities like the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, as well as private institutions such as Liberty University.1 Virginia State University’s online RN-to-BSN received CCNE accreditation effective October 2023 through 2028, a recent addition for working nurses.3 ACEN-accredited BSN programs are fewer but present, especially at colleges that also offer associate-degree nursing.2 Keep in mind that accreditation status can change. In 2026, CCNE withdrew accreditation from Averett University’s master’s and post-graduate APRN programs, a reminder to verify any school’s current standing before applying.4 The accompanying tuition table and NCLEX pass rate summaries on this page reflect only programs with active CCNE or ACEN approval.
Choosing an accredited program opens doors that a non-accredited program cannot:
Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows RNs to hold one multistate license and practice in any of the 40+ compact states, including telemedicine roles. This gives graduates of Virginia’s accredited BSN programs immediate flexibility to work across state lines without additional paperwork. While individual state requirements can still vary, the compact significantly eases career mobility for new nurses.
Choosing a nursing school in Virginia means balancing program quality with practical concerns like cost, location, and clinical access. The right fit depends on your career goals and personal circumstances. Use the following criteria to narrow your options.
Total program cost varies widely, but published net price figures are institutional averages, not personalized estimates. Request a net price calculator from each school to see projected out-of-pocket costs based on your financial situation. Also compare what’s included: some schools bundle exam fees, uniforms, and technology costs into tuition, while others charge separately.
Strong clinical partnerships are essential. Ask which hospitals and healthcare systems the program uses for rotations, as these sites often lead to job offers. Online options can add flexibility but may limit hands-on practice, so verify how clinical hours are arranged. Check each school’s NCLEX pass rate over several years and confirm the program holds CCNE or ACEN accreditation. The Virginia Board of Nursing maintains an up-to-date list of approved prelicensure programs, which also outlines the licensure application process.
Virginia BSN programs commonly require prerequisite courses in Anatomy & Physiology I/II, Microbiology, English Composition, Statistics, Psychology, and Nutrition. Minimum GPA thresholds range from 2.5 at less selective schools to 3.0 at more competitive programs like UVA, VCU, and George Mason. Many schools also require the HESI A2 exam with a minimum composite score of 75%, though UVA does not require an entrance exam. Application deadlines vary: UVA’s is November 1, while many other programs set a March 1 deadline for fall admission. Always confirm current requirements on the program’s website before applying.
Find quick answers to common questions about nursing education in Virginia. From choosing the best school to understanding costs and licensure, these FAQs cover essential points for aspiring nurses.
Beyond the top-ranked programs, Virginia offers many other accredited nursing schools worth exploring. The following directory includes additional BSN and ADN programs across the state, organized by region, with details on format, highlights, and net price.
