West Virginia’s healthcare workforce contains well over 30,000 nurses, including more than 18,000 registered nurses (RNs), 6,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and 7,000 certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Aspiring nurses can select from a broad range of nursing schools, including large public universities with extensive resources and private colleges with small class sizes. We profile below a few of the best nursing schools in West Virginia from largest to smallest.
West Virginia University
WVU is the state’s largest public university with 29,707 enrolled students. It offers three nursing tracks for prospective students: bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), master of science in nursing (MSN), or doctoral programs in nursing science and practice. The university boasts very prestigious faculty. The West Virginia University School of Nursing Alumni Association has provided a strong alumni network since its founding in 1964.
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling Jesuit is the largest post-secondary private institution in West Virginia, with a total enrollment of 1,180 undergraduate students. Because of this smaller student body size, the university maintains an impressive 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio which facilitates a closer-knit learning environment.
West Virginia Northern Community College
This community college offers an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) program and a CNA certificate program. Though a small institution by nature, Northern’s student body has grown consistently over the past 15 years. The school is thus currently undergoing a year-long expansion and remodeling effort at its Wheeling campus.
To provide a more comprehensive view, we’ve listed below all of West Virginia’s prelicensure nursing programs from the largest to the smallest.