We've organized a comprehensive list of Virginia nursing schools. Below you'll find information on specific nursing programs such as LPN certificates and ADN, BSN, and MSN degrees. You'll also find a profile of nursing education and careers in each major Virginia city.
Virginia is home to over one hundred accredited nursing schools. To help aspiring nurses organize the large number of choices, we have profiled below the duration, cost, and level of education required for each major nursing role.
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
St. Mary's Hospital, Supplemental Health Care, Riverside Health System – all are major healthcare providers in the DC suburbs of Virginia, and all are currently looking for experienced nurses. More than 70,000 nurses are employed in the DC metro area. Recent advances in the healthcare industry, coupled with an aging U.S. population, will ensure that this talent pool continues to grow.
Overview of nursing programs
For our 2024 rankings of LPN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Aspiring practical nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-PN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of practical nursing programs.
Virginia’s healthcare providers value competence, confidence, and well-rounded experience in their nurses. A quality education places aspiring nurses in good standing to meet these demands. Students should therefore not be deterred by the costs of a nursing degree or certificate program, but rather thoroughly explore their options.
Aspiring nurses who want an intimate and personalized education should strongly consider Virginia’s private colleges and universities. Over 30 private schools have Virginia campuses with nursing programs, including prestigious institutions like George Washington University, Hampton University, Marymount University, and Shenandoah University. The state’s private schools offer a breadth of nursing programs to prepare certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
Virginia’s public colleges and universities are a cost-effective option for state residents to pursue nursing education. Since public institutions are funded by the state government, students receive top-notch instruction, often in state-of-the-art facilities. Nursing students who live in Virginia need not worry about taking out hefty loans, because tuition is subsidized for state residents.
Virginia is home to over one hundred accredited nursing schools. To help aspiring nurses organize the large number of choices, we have profiled below the duration, cost, and level of education required for each major nursing role.
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)