Find Nursing Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

15 Schools Ranked
$22,111 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in Virginia to see which master's degree programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
27 Total Awards
$29,746 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found James Madison University to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Virginia. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the large public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.

JMU graduate students pay an average of $29,746 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since JMU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 68% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

JMU did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list.

Read More…

#2

Radford University

Radford, Virginia
16 Total Awards
$21,508 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Radford University is a great place for nursing students working on their master’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Radford are $21,508 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Radford does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 87% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Radford also made our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list, coming in at #5.

Full Radford University Report

#3

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
222 Total Awards
$8,360 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent master’s degree programs at Liberty University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Virginia. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 222 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Liberty University graduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that Liberty University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 97% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Liberty University

#4

Bluefield College

Bluefield, Virginia
12 Total Awards
$9,234 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bluefield College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Bluefield College is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Bluefield, Virginia that handed out 12 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Bluefield College are $9,234 a year.

Bluefield College does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 58% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Bluefield College Report

#5

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, Virginia
49 Total Awards
$33,288 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Old Dominion University is a great place for nursing students working on their master’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, the large public school awarded 49 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Old Dominion are $33,288 per year.

Old Dominion does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Old Dominion University

#6

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia
103 Total Awards
$29,546 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 103 master’s degrees to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at VCU are $29,546 per year.

VCU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, VCU is ranked #4 for overall quality in Virginia.

Read More…

#7

Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
15 Total Awards
$15,270 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Eastern Mennonite University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Eastern Mennonite is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Eastern Mennonite are $15,270 a year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Eastern Mennonite. During the 2019-2020 year, about 82% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Eastern Mennonite University

#8

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
139 Total Awards
$33,520 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree nursing programs. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large public school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 139 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at University of Virginia are $33,520 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Virginia does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 75% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

University of Virginia also took the #1 spot in our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia rankings.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Report

#9

Mary Baldwin University

Staunton, Virginia
3 Total Awards
$13,170 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Mary Baldwin University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Staunton, Virginia, and it awarded 3 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mary Baldwin graduate students pay an average of $13,170 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Mary Baldwin. During the 2019-2020 year, about 51% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Mary Baldwin University Report

#10

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, Virginia
28 Total Awards
$12,960 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, ECPI University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. ECPI University is a fairly large private for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 28 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

ECPI University graduate students pay an average of $12,960 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at ECPI University. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full ECPI University Report

#11

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
42 Total Awards
$37,956 Average Tuition & Fees

George Mason University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the large public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at GMU are $37,956 a year.

Online graduate courses are available at GMU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 87% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full George Mason University Report

#12

Shenandoah University

Winchester, Virginia
25 Total Awards
$23,430 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Shenandoah University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Winchester, Virginia, and it awarded 25 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Shenandoah are $23,430 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Shenandoah. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Shenandoah also took the #3 spot in our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia rankings.

Full Shenandoah University Report

#13

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia
18 Total Awards
$21,016 Average Tuition & Fees

Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Arlington, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Marymount graduate students pay an average of $21,016 in tuition and fees each year.

Marymount does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Marymount University

#14

South University, Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach, Virginia
6 Total Awards
$16,320 Average Tuition & Fees

South University, Virginia Beach landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree nursing programs. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at South University, Virginia Beach are $16,320 per year.

Online graduate courses are available at South University, Virginia Beach, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 24% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#15

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia
3 Total Awards
$17,190 Average Tuition & Fees

Regent University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Regent are $17,190 a year.

Regent does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 94% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

View Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.

References

  • 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.

Featured Schools

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Our free matching tool for schools matches students with nursing schools across the U.S.