West Virginia has two types of bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs: prelicensure programs that prepare students for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, and RN-to-BSN programs that enable existing registered nurses (RNs) to earn a bachelor's degree. While the state’s RNs earn a respectable median income of $54,000, BSN-holders often earn top-quartile pay in excess of $65,000 per year. Employers frequently preference BSN-educated nurses for hiring and promotion due to their deeper technical skills. Below we have highlighted three of the top BSN programs in West Virginia.
University of Charleston
Charleston’s BSN program is extremely unique, combining a liberal arts philosophy with technical nursing knowledge. The program boasts a 100% employment rate for some recent BSN graduating classes. Charleston’s nursing school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like technology-enhanced classrooms, and its small clinical lab sections ensure a student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1 or less.
Both high school students and existing RNs can enroll in WVU’s BSN program. High school graduates can gain their registered nursing license in four years at either the Morgantown campus or WVU’s Institute of Technology in Montgomery. Existing RNs have a more flexible option of completing the BSN requirements online through a web-based program.
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Wesleyan has a rigorous nursing program that does not hesitate to remove any student who fails to comply with safe nursing practices. Upon graduation, students can work for local employers such as Welch Community Hospital.
To help West Virginia’s aspiring nurses, we’ve compiled below a more complete list of the state’s BSN programs.