Campus & online schools
Nursing Schools in Virginia: Campus & Online Programs (2026)
30 nursing schools have campuses in Virginia, plus accredited online programs open to residents. Compare programs accepting applications below.
- Campus schools
- 30
- Located in Virginia
- Online schools
- 46
- Enroll residents
- Average RN salary
- $90,930
- BLS
Programs accepting applications
Virginia programs accepting applications
Programs currently enrolling Virginia residents. Our own ranking of Virginia schools follows below.
Sponsored · Advertiser disclosure
Virginia has 30 campus-based nursing schools plus 46 accredited online programs open to residents (2026). Liberty University leads the in-state list with a 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate. Registered nurses in Virginia earn about $90,930/year (BLS). Verify each program's ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling.
Key takeaways — nursing schools in Virginia
- Virginia has 30 campus-based nursing schools and 46 accredited online programs available to residents.
- Liberty University leads the in-state list, with a 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate.
- Registered nurses in Virginia earn an average of $90,930 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Verify each program's ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling — it is the baseline for federal financial aid, NCLEX eligibility, and graduate nursing study.
- Online pre-licensure programs must hold Virginia Board of Nursing approval and arrange in-state clinical placements — verify both before enrolling.
Campus-Based Nursing Schools in Virginia
Nursing schools with a campus in Virginia, ranked by NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and program quality.
Find Virginia nursing schools near you
Narrow this list to programs near your ZIP, the degree you want, and your start date.
We don’t ask for your name, email, or phone. Leave ZIP blank and we’ll use your approximate location. Results include sponsored partner listings, labeled as such.
Online Nursing Programs Available to Virginia Residents
These accredited schools are based outside Virginia but enroll Virginia residents online. Confirm clinical-placement and Virginia Board of Nursing approval before enrolling in any pre-licensure RN program.
How We Evaluate Nursing Schools in Virginia
We separate schools with a physical campus in Virginia from accredited online programs that enroll Virginia residents, because the two answer different questions — one is about studying locally, the other about studying from Virginia. Within each group we weight NCLEX first-time pass rate most heavily; it is the strongest available predictor of how well a program prepares graduates for licensure.
Accreditation is non-negotiable: we only include schools accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or regionally accredited programs with state board approval. We also consider acceptance rate (program selectivity), program variety across degree levels (LPN through doctoral), and value relative to regional salary expectations. Where a school has not yet reported outcome data, we show it without inventing a number.
What to Look for in a Virginia Nursing School
The most important factor is NCLEX pass rate. The national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for U.S.-educated candidates was 86.7% in 2025 (NCSBN), down from 91.2% in 2024. Programs consistently above 90% have demonstrated they effectively prepare students for licensure. Ask schools for their three-year average pass rate — a single good year can be an anomaly.
Accreditation matters for several reasons beyond quality assurance. CCNE- or ACEN-accredited programs make you eligible for federal financial aid, qualify you for military service, and meet the requirements for most graduate nursing programs if you plan to advance your career later.
Consider clinical placement. Hospitals in Virginia often have affiliation agreements with specific nursing schools, giving graduates an inside track to jobs. If you are considering an online program based outside Virginia, confirm that it arranges clinical placements within Virginia and is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing for pre-licensure study.
Nursing Career Outlook in Virginia
Registered nurses in Virginia earn an average of $90,930 annually. The BLS projects nursing employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average for all occupations — driven by an aging population and expanded access to healthcare. Virginia is expected to see strong demand in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and home health settings.
BSN-prepared nurses command higher salaries and have access to broader roles. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that 80% of nursing positions now prefer or require a BSN. If you currently hold an ADN, many schools serving Virginiaoffer flexible RN-to-BSN completion programs you can complete while working.