Nursing Schools in Virginia (2026)

76 accredited nursing programs found

76
Nursing Schools
38 / 38
Public / Private
$8,045
Avg Public Tuition
53.1%
Avg Grad Rate

Virginia has 76 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with 38 public and 38 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $16,659, with public schools averaging $8,045 and private schools averaging $29,221. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,944 to $21,222. The cheapest tracked program is New River Community College at $4,835 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is Liberty University at about 50,059, reflecting a substantial online and distance-learning presence.

Across Virginia programs the average graduation rate is 53.1 percent and the average retention rate is 70.5 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $44,666 and median federal debt at graduation averages $17,719. The Virginia Community College System supplies the largest portion of the licensure pipeline, complemented by the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and a number of private institutions, feeding into a healthcare market anchored by Inova, Sentara, and the academic-medical-center networks.

Registered Nurse Market in Virginia

BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses

+6% projected growth
10th Percentile
$57,680
Median
$80,310
90th Percentile
$110,420
Employment
68,630
Openings
193,100

Registered Nurse Salary in Virginia

Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Median Salary
$80,310
Mean Salary
$82,800
Entry Level (10th %)
$57,680
Experienced (90th %)
$110,420
RNs Employed: 68,630
vs National Median: -14% (below $93,600)
Job Growth (2023-2033): +6%
Average Tuition
$16,659
$0

Matches the Virginia average of $16,659.

Graduation Rate
53.1%
0.0%

Matches the Virginia average of 53.1%.

Median Earnings
$44,666
$0

Matches the Virginia median of $44,666.

Tuition Overview

Avg Public Tuition$8,045
Lowest Tuition$4,835
Highest Tuition$62,600
Avg Private Tuition$29,221

Student Outcomes

Avg Graduation Rate53.1%
Avg Earnings After Grad$48,269
Avg Student Debt$17,719
Total Enrollment343,340

All Nursing Schools in Virginia

Institution City Type Tuition (In-State) Enrollment
Liberty University Lynchburg Private $21,222 50,059
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public $5,703 31,737
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public $15,478 30,435
George Mason University Fairfax Public $13,815 27,083
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public $16,458 20,797
James Madison University Harrisonburg Public $13,576 20,497
Old Dominion University Norfolk Public $12,262 17,521
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville Public $20,986 17,315
Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public $5,714 11,797
ECPI University Virginia Beach For-Profit $18,484 11,270
Radford University Radford Public $12,286 5,609
Brightpoint Community College Chester Public $4,938 5,548
Norfolk State University Norfolk Public $9,910 5,495
Germanna Community College Locust Grove Public $5,066 5,469
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public $5,136 5,284
Virginia State University Petersburg Public $9,755 4,787
Regent University Virginia Beach Private $20,686 4,282
Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Public $4,944 3,901
Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public $5,256 3,777
University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public $14,559 3,504
Hampton University Hampton Private $29,162 3,254
Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown Public $4,928 3,167
Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville Public $4,928 3,032
University of Richmond University of Richmond Private $62,600 3,002
Longwood University Farmville Public $15,200 2,957
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave Public $5,502 2,677
Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public $4,998 2,144
Shenandoah University Winchester Private $36,028 2,127
New River Community College Dublin Public $4,835 1,917
Southside Virginia Community College Alberta Public $4,848 1,835
Roanoke College Salem Private $36,774 1,801
Marymount University Arlington Private $39,050 1,795
Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff Public $4,901 1,600
University of Lynchburg Lynchburg Private $35,540 1,599
Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private $48,002 1,489
Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville Public $4,858 1,411
Danville Community College Danville Public $4,848 1,371
Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon Public $4,863 1,335
Rappahannock Community College Glenns Public $4,958 1,318
Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach Private $36,960 1,243
Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap Public $4,863 1,240
Wytheville Community College Wytheville Public $4,863 1,229
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise Public $11,656 1,214
Mary Baldwin University Staunton Private $33,157 1,188
Averett University Danville Private $38,550 1,162
Virginia Union University Richmond Private $14,880 1,153
Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg Private $41,860 800
Ferrum College Ferrum Private $38,320 745
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church For-Profit N/A 719
Bluefield University Bluefield Private $29,696 683
Hollins University Roanoke Private $42,260 673
American National University Salem For-Profit $10,735 643
Paul D Camp Community College Franklin Public $4,868 605
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond Private N/A 527
Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge Public $4,878 457
Eastern Shore Community College Melfa Public $4,938 433
Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News Private $14,875 325
University of Management and Technology Arlington For-Profit $9,450 322
Sentara College of Health Sciences Chesapeake Private N/A 239
Columbia College Vienna For-Profit N/A 239
Eastern Virginia Career College Fredericksburg For-Profit N/A 217
Centra College Lynchburg Private $12,263 212
Lotus Professional College Richmond For-Profit N/A 157
Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy Lynchburg For-Profit N/A 153
Chester Career College CHESTER For-Profit N/A 147
Medical Solutions Academy Danville For-Profit $14,115 106
American Massage & Bodywork Institute Vienna For-Profit N/A 105
Southside College of Health Sciences Colonial Heights Private N/A 91
Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage Falls Church For-Profit N/A 87
Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing Richmond Public N/A 79
Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing Virginia Beach Public N/A 41
Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging Richmond Private N/A 31
Cayce/Reilly School of Massage Virginia Beach Private N/A 25
Central School of Practical Nursing Norfolk Public N/A 24
Sovah School of Health Professions Danville For-Profit N/A 20
Centura College-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach For-Profit $16,637 8

Nursing Guides & Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nursing schools are in Virginia?
There are 76 nursing schools in Virginia, including 38 public and 38 private institutions.
What is the average nursing school tuition in Virginia?
Average in-state tuition across nursing schools in Virginia is $16,659. Tuition ranges from $4,835 to $62,600 where data is available.
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Virginia?
The average graduation rate is 53.1%, with Centra College reporting the highest rate at 100.0%.
What is the average retention rate in Virginia?
The average retention rate across nursing schools in Virginia is 70.5%.
What do graduates from nursing schools in Virginia earn?
The median schoolwide earnings figure among these institutions is $44,666 10 years after entry. This is institution-level outcomes data rather than nursing-only wage data.
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Virginia?
Average median debt among nursing schools in Virginia is $17,719.
How much do registered nurses earn in Virginia?
Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $80,310, with the 10th percentile at $57,680 and the 90th percentile at $110,420.
What is the RN job outlook for Virginia?
The RN occupation shows projected growth of 6% in this state, with 68,630 registered nurses employed in the latest BLS wage data.

Virginia Nursing Market Context

BLS data for Virginia shows an RN median annual wage of $80,310 and a mean of $82,800. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $57,680 to $110,420. Statewide RN employment is approximately 68,630 and the projected growth rate is 6 percent.

Median program debt of $17,719 against an $80,310 RN median wage produces a comfortable payback profile, particularly for graduates of the public-university and community-college routes. The 90th-percentile figure of $110,420 reflects what experienced Virginia RNs can reach in the Northern Virginia and Richmond academic medical centers, where federal-employee benefits packages and DC-area specialty pay influence the wage curve. Wages are highest in the DC-adjacent counties and compress meaningfully in southwestern and rural Virginia, so the choice of practice region has a material effect on after-tax take-home for new graduates.