2023 Best Nursing 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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking. This report analyzed 37 schools in Virginia to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Virginia - Main Campus to be the best school for nursing students in Virginia.
Degree recipients from University of Virginia accumulate an average of $18,266 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $383.After graduating from University of Virginia, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,809 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at Virginia Commonwealth University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Virginia.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,106 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $227 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from VCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,786 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at James Madison University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Virginia.
Degree recipients from JMU accumulate an average of $20,564 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $394 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, JMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,195 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Old Dominion University is a great place for nursing students.
On average, students take out $26,724 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $199 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Old Dominion graduates make an average of $46,278 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Shenandoah University is a great place for nursing students.
Degree recipients from Shenandoah accumulate an average of $26,751 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $544, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Shenandoah graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,739 during the early year of their career.
Eastern Mennonite University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list.
On average, students take out $24,351 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Eastern Mennonite graduates make an average of $51,655 annually.
Radford University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,711 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $240 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Radford graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,099 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #8, ECPI University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,707 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $125 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ECPI University graduates make an average of $41,263 annually.
George Mason University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list.
Degree recipients from GMU accumulate an average of $22,883 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $355, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, GMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,435 during the early year of their career.
Marymount University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking.
On average, students take out $28,439 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $541. During the early years of their career, Marymount graduates make an average of $54,717 annually.
Mary Baldwin University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $31,645 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Mary Baldwin graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,482 during the early year of their career.
Bluefield College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking.
Degree recipients from Bluefield College accumulate an average of $23,910 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Bluefield College graduates make an average of $45,219 annually.
With a ranking of #13, Blue Ridge Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,354 in student loans. During the early years of their career, BRCC graduates make an average of $33,198 annually.
Thomas Nelson Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list.
Degree recipients from TNCC accumulate an average of $17,937 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from TNCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,974 during the early years of their career.
John Tyler Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list.
Degree recipients from John Tyler Community College accumulate an average of $17,478 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from John Tyler Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,207 during the early years of their career.
South University, Virginia Beach did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list.
Degree recipients from South University, Virginia Beach accumulate an average of $43,863 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $208. Once they receive their degree, South University, Virginia Beach graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,331 during the early year of their career.
Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,497 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $420 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Liberty University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,489 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #18, Southside Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $10,264 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Southside Virginia Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,091 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, Hampton University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,260 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $825, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Hampton graduates make an average of $43,239 annually.
Germanna Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $15,696 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Germanna Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,592 during the early year of their career.
Piedmont Virginia Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,419 in student loans.After graduating from PVCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,528 during the early years of their career.
Wytheville Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list.
Degree recipients from WCC accumulate an average of $12,186 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, WCC graduates make an average of $34,872 annually.
Dabney S Lancaster Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list.
On average, students take out $13,751 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, DSLCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,149 during the early year of their career.
Virginia Highlands Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking.
Degree recipients from VHCC accumulate an average of $10,224 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, VHCC graduates make an average of $30,072 annually.
Lord Fairfax Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list.
On average, students take out $15,242 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Lord Fairfax Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,686 during the early year of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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.