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.
Top Nursing Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Virginia - Main Campus the best school in Virginia for nursing students working on their degree. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the large public school awarded 9,615 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $37,812 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $490 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.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.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Virginia Commonwealth University is a great place for nursing students. VCU is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,707 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from VCU accumulate an average of $41,101 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 $280. Once they receive their degree, VCU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,786 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 37 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, James Madison University landed the # 3 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 5,530 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,949 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $449 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from JMU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,195 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Old Dominion University is a great place for nursing students. Old Dominion University is a large public school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 5,241 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,162 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $272, assuming you 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. Shenandoah is located in Winchester, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,292 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $62,079 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $683. During the early years of their career, Shenandoah graduates make an average of $50,739 annually.
Eastern Mennonite University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 463 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Eastern Mennonite accumulate an average of $41,504 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Eastern Mennonite, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,655 during the early years of their career.
Radford University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,248 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,234 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $287, assuming you 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.
ECPI University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list. This fairly large private for-profit school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 4,022 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from ECPI University accumulate an average of $23,661 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 $151 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, ECPI University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,263 during the early year of their career.
George Mason University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. GMU is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 10,335 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from GMU accumulate an average of $32,680 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 $453 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from GMU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,435 during the early years of their career.
Marymount University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Marymount is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Arlington, Virginia. It awarded 974 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $49,556 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $617, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Marymount graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,717 during the early year of their career.
Mary Baldwin University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking. Mary Baldwin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Staunton, Virginia. It awarded 587 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $55,010 in student loans. 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 landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Bluefield College is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Bluefield, Virginia. It awarded 327 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,709 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Bluefield College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,219 during the early year of their career.
Blue Ridge Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list. Located in Weyers Cave, Virginia, the small public school awarded 1,266 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from BRCC accumulate an average of $12,973 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from BRCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,198 during the early years of their career.
Thomas Nelson Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. TNCC is a public institution located in Hampton, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,186 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from TNCC accumulate an average of $15,759 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, TNCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,974 during the early year of their career.
John Tyler Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Chester, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,557 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,270 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, John Tyler Community College graduates make an average of $34,207 annually.
South University, Virginia Beach landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. South University, Virginia Beach is a very small private for-profit school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 114 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $43,422 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $231 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. 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 landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 25,513 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,774 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $519 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Liberty University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,489 during the early years of their career.
Southside Virginia Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Alberta, Virginia, the small public school awarded 952 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Southside Virginia Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,091 during the early year of their career.
Hampton University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Hampton, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 836 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Hampton accumulate an average of $56,251 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $1,018, 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 ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list. This medium-sized public school is located in Locust Grove, Virginia, and it awarded 2,211 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,889 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 ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list. PVCC is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,061 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,463 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, PVCC graduates make an average of $39,528 annually.
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. WCC is located in Wytheville, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 473 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from WCC accumulate an average of $10,992 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 landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Clifton Forge, Virginia, the very small public school awarded 331 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from DSLCC accumulate an average of $13,571 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, DSLCC graduates make an average of $39,149 annually.
Virginia Highlands Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Virginia list. This small public school is located in Abingdon, Virginia, and it awarded 704 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, VHCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,072 during the early year of their career.
Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Virginia ranking. Lord Fairfax Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Middletown, Virginia that handed out 1,392 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,835 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Lord Fairfax Community College graduates make an average of $30,686 annually.
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.
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