2023 Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 20 schools in Virginia to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Liberty University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Virginia. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 10,391 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,850 in student loans. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Liberty University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 97% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 2,404 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $46,902 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at University of Virginia. In fact, around 29% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Virginia Commonwealth University is a great place for nursing students working on their master’s degree. This large public school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 1,415 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from VCU accumulate an average of $48,999 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
VCU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 56% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Old Dominion University is a great place for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, the large public school awarded 1,016 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $34,733 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Old Dominion does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 72% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent master’s degree programs at George Mason University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in Virginia. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 2,835 students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from GMU accumulate an average of $40,203 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at GMU. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
ECPI University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. ECPI University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 130 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from ECPI University accumulate an average of $23,427 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 42% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at ECPI University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
James Madison University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree nursing programs. James Madison University is a large public school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 748 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $33,223 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
JMU 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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 46% took at least some of their classes online.
Shenandoah University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree nursing programs. Shenandoah is located in Winchester, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 341 master’s degrees to qualified students.
On average, master’s degree students take out $51,190 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.
Shenandoah 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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Marymount University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree nursing programs. Located in Arlington, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 382 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $56,560 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Marymount. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.
Radford University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Radford is a public institution located in Radford, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 440 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $41,054 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Radford. In fact, around 79% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Eastern Mennonite University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 105 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $58,450 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Eastern Mennonite. During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #11, Sentara College of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Sentara College of Health Sciences is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Chesapeake, Virginia. It awarded 28 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.
Since the graduate programs at Sentara College of Health Sciences are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Bluefield College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Bluefield, Virginia, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 130 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Bluefield College accumulate an average of $36,314 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Bluefield College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
South University, Virginia Beach came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. This very small private for-profit school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 31 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from South University, Virginia Beach accumulate an average of $54,431 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 77% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that South University, Virginia Beach does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 22% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
South University, Richmond did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Glen Allen, Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 56 students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from South University, Richmond accumulate an average of $67,495 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at South University, Richmond, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 12% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Mary Baldwin University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree nursing programs. Staunton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 194 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $54,070 in student loans. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Mary Baldwin. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Regent University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Regent is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,137 master’s degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $46,793 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Regent. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
American National University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. American National University is located in Salem, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 43 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Master’s Degree recipients from American National University accumulate an average of $41,771 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, American National University is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
Hampton University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Hampton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hampton, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 83 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $44,933 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 73% were women.
Hampton 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 2020-2021 year, about 46% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of Lynchburg ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. University of Lynchburg is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 168 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $54,039 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Lynchburg 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 2020-2021 year, about 67% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Most Popular Nursing Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 20 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.
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