2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 23 schools in Virginia to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named ECPI University the best school in Virginia for nursing students working on their associate degree.
ECPI University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $17,479. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,838 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ECPI University does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Northern Virginia Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northern Virginia Community College is $5,565. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,648. Associate Degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College accumulate an average of $17,116 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Northern Virginia Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rappahannock Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
Students from Virginia who attend RCC full time pay an average of $4,820 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,823. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,807 in student loans.
Online courses are available at RCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Thomas Nelson Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,806 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend TNCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,809. On average, associate degree students take out $16,613 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at TNCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Germanna Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,913 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Germanna Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,916. Associate Degree recipients from Germanna Community College accumulate an average of $17,120 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Germanna Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
John Tyler Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking.
Students from Virginia who attend John Tyler Community College full time pay an average of $4,800 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,803. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,926 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at John Tyler Community College. In fact, around 61% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Southside Virginia Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Southside Virginia Community College is $4,695. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,698. Associate Degree recipients from Southside Virginia Community College accumulate an average of $9,671 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southside Virginia Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Blue Ridge Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
In-state students pay an average of $5,364 in tuition and fees if they attend BRCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,367. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,218 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at BRCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.
Virginia Highlands Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs.
In-state students pay an average of $4,710 in tuition and fees if they attend VHCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,713. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,003 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at VHCC. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, Wytheville Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,725 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,728. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,925 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that WCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,739 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lord Fairfax Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,742. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,743 in student loans.
Lord Fairfax Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking.
Students from Virginia who attend PVCC full time pay an average of $4,790 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,793. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,693 in student loans.
PVCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Dabney S Lancaster Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,710 in tuition and fees if they attend DSLCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,713. Associate Degree recipients from DSLCC accumulate an average of $12,767 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DSLCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Reynolds Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
Students from Virginia who attend Reynolds Community College full time pay an average of $3,998 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,800. Associate Degree recipients from Reynolds Community College accumulate an average of $19,545 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Reynolds Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $17,308. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,884 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $5,355 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Virginia Western Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,358. Associate Degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College accumulate an average of $17,663 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Virginia Western Community College. In 2019-2020 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Mountain Empire Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MECC is $4,710. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,713. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,145 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that MECC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Paul D Camp Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,730 in tuition and fees if they attend Paul D Camp Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,733. Associate Degree recipients from Paul D Camp Community College accumulate an average of $14,455 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Paul D Camp Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Tidewater Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs.
In-state students pay an average of $5,561 in tuition and fees if they attend Tidewater Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,564. On average, associate degree students take out $18,057 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Tidewater Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,703 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Southwest Virginia. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,706. On average, associate degree students take out $9,768 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southwest Virginia. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.
Danville Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Danville Community College is $4,725. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,728. On average, associate degree students take out $14,241 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Danville Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,720 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Patrick Henry. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,723. On average, associate degree students take out $11,469 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Patrick Henry does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #23, New River Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NRCC is $4,697. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,699. Associate Degree recipients from NRCC accumulate an average of $15,949 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NRCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
View Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.