Virginia has a large and varied healthcare sector, from major academic medical centres to military hospitals and rural clinics in the mountains. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.
Imagine starting your career in a teaching hospital in Charlottesville or Richmond, with the option of moving to the coast, the mountains or the Washington suburbs later without ever leaving the state. Virginia gives nurses that kind of choice.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Virginia that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
Virginia nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville | Public | 94% | 153 | $80,235 | $22,431 |
| 2 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Public | 80% | 274 | $83,905 | $14,620 |
| 3 | Riverside College of Health Sciences | Newport News | Private nonprofit | 75% | 29 | n/a | $16,100 |
| 4 | Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private nonprofit | 74% | 27 | n/a | $50,950 |
| 5 | George Mason University | Fairfax | Public | 66% | 205 | $83,303 | $14,316 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 65% | 203 | $80,739 | $17,490 |
| 7 | University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 65% | 37 | $88,970 | $15,304 |
| 8 | Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private nonprofit | 64% | 240 | $76,136 | $23,171 |
| 9 | Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private nonprofit | 63% | 108 | $84,869 | $37,860 |
| 10 | Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 62% | 55 | $79,428 | $16,538 |
| 11 | Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private nonprofit | 60% | 56 | $79,380 | $45,650 |
| 12 | University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private nonprofit | 59% | 40 | $81,535 | $38,150 |
| 13 | Marymount University | Arlington | Private nonprofit | 55% | 105 | $87,632 | $42,986 |
| 14 | Radford University | Radford | Public | 48% | 259 | $75,542 | $12,952 |
| 15 | Averett University | Danville | Private nonprofit | 45% | 78 | $79,347 | $39,670 |
| 16 | University of Virginia’s College at Wise | Wise | Public | 44% | 28 | $72,352 | $11,780 |
| 17 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | 43% | 184 | $81,327 | $13,250 |
| 18 | Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 35% | 24 | n/a | $10,456 |
Also offering a BSN in Virginia (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | Vienna | Private for-profit | 0% | 217 | $89,974 | $20,845 |
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach | Private for-profit | 41% | 205 | $84,416 | $18,484 |
| Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | Richmond | Private nonprofit | n/a | 137 | $82,867 | n/a |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake | Private nonprofit | n/a | 81 | $76,069 | n/a |
| South University-Richmond | Glen Allen | Private for-profit | 0% | 30 | $79,957 | $18,145 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private for-profit | 17% | 28 | $79,957 | $18,145 |
Top Virginia nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Virginia-Main Campus
The University of Virginia in Charlottesville has a highly regarded School of Nursing and the highest graduation rate on our Virginia list. Students train alongside UVA Health, an academic medical centre.
- Graduation rate: 94%, number 1 in Virginia on our list
- Programme size: about 153 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $80,235 one year after graduating
- Cost: $22,431 in-state tuition ($61,457 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 17%
2. James Madison University
James Madison University in Harrisonburg is a large public university in the Shenandoah Valley, with one of the bigger BSN programmes in the state and strong earnings for its nursing graduates.
- Graduation rate: 80%, number 2 in Virginia on our list
- Programme size: about 274 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, the largest BSN programme in Virginia
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $83,905 one year after graduating
- Cost: $14,620 in-state tuition ($32,230 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 72%
3. Riverside College of Health Sciences
Riverside College of Health Sciences in Newport News is a specialised health sciences college linked to Riverside Health System, giving students close connections to hospital practice in the Hampton Roads area.
- Graduation rate: 75%, number 3 in Virginia on our list
- Programme size: about 29 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: not reported for nursing graduates
- Cost: $16,100 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 13%
4. Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College in Ashland is a private liberal arts college near Richmond with a relatively new nursing programme and small classes.
- Graduation rate: 74%, number 4 in Virginia on our list
- Programme size: about 27 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: not reported for nursing graduates
- Cost: $50,950 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 87%
5. George Mason University
George Mason University in Fairfax is a large public research university in Northern Virginia. Its nursing graduates benefit from the region’s many hospitals and health systems around Washington, DC.
- Graduation rate: 66%, number 5 in Virginia on our list
- Programme size: about 205 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $83,303 one year after graduating
- Cost: $14,316 in-state tuition ($39,312 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 87%
Studying nursing in Virginia: what to know
Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, and nurses are licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing. The state has a large community college system offering associate degree nursing programmes, with agreements that help graduates move on to BSN study. Pay and cost of living vary a lot between Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads and rural areas, so consider where you want to work as well as where you study.
Ways to become a registered nurse in Virginia
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Virginia offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 24 colleges in Virginia produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 2,803 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which Virginia nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
University of Virginia-Main Campus has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 94%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in Virginia?
James Madison University produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 274 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in Virginia?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $72,352 to $89,974, with a typical (median) figure of about $80,739. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in Virginia?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $10,456 to $22,431 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the Virginia Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the Virginia Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Virginia Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
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