Best Registered Nurse programs in Virginia, ranked by enrollment
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients.
64 schools in Virginia run programs that feed this job, graduating 7,209 people a year. The job pays a median of $93,600 in Virginia across about 77,490 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Virginia that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
12 programs in Virginia that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Virginia (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Virginia page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nursemain feeder CIP 51.3801In Virginia → | 6,409 | 88.9% | 64 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 2 | Nursing Practicemain feeder CIP 51.3818In Virginia → | 225 | 3.1% | 10 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 3 | Nursing Administrationmain feeder CIP 51.3802In Virginia → | 205 | 2.8% | 4 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 4 | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3810In Virginia → | 201 | 2.8% | 8 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 5 | Family Practice Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3805In Virginia → | 69 | 1.0% | 6 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 6 | CIP 51.3899In Virginia → | 59 | 0.8% | 3 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 7 | Adult Health Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3803In Virginia → | 16 | 0.2% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 8 | Nursing Sciencemain feeder CIP 51.3808In Virginia → | 11 | 0.2% | 3 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 9 | Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3811In Virginia → | 6 | 0.1% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 10 | Critical Care Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3814In Virginia → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 11 | Clinical Nurse Leadermain feeder CIP 51.3820In Virginia → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
| 12 | Geriatric Nurse/Nursingmain feeder CIP 51.3821In Virginia → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
Top 25 schools in Virginia
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 49 of the 64 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 1,205 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $71,146 | 42% | $21,909 | 75% |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 628 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $71,918 | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 3 | Radford University Radford, VA Public · 5 feeder programs | 351 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $69,662 | 49% | — | 90% |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · 4 feeder programs | 318 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $78,365 | 68% | — | 87% |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · 5 feeder programs | 300 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $71,847 | 63% | — | 93% |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 289 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $76,490 | 80% | — | 72% |
| 7 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Public · 5 feeder programs | 285 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $76,527 | 46% | — | 90% |
| 8 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA Public · 6 feeder programs | 267 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $75,220 | 96% | — | 17% |
| 9 | Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 222 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,983 | 24% | $12,786 | — |
| 10 | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 208 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $76,056 | — | — | — |
| 11 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 196 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $67,779 | 46% | — | — |
| 12 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 170 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | — | 45% | — | — |
| 13 | Galen Health Institutes - Richmond Richmond, VA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 162 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | — | — | $39,326 | — |
| 14 | Marymount University Arlington, VA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 155 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $80,090 | 54% | $25,803 | 93% |
| 15 | Chamberlain University - Virginia Vienna, VA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 144 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $83,188 | 100% | — | 90% |
| 16 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 121 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $72,905 | 33% | — | — |
| 17 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 116 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $81,678 | 67% | $27,455 | 77% |
| 18 | Sentara College of Health Sciences Chesapeake, VA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 113 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $76,356 | — | — | — |
| 19 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 112 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,587 | 38% | — | — |
| 20 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 98 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $70,527 | 45% | — | — |
| 21 | Centra College Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 87 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $68,582 | 100% | $24,868 | 100% |
| 22 | Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing Falls Church, VA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 85 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | — | 66% | $37,448 | 28% |
| 23 | Riverside College of Health Sciences Newport News, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 80 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $69,644 | 100% | $25,596 | 13% |
| 24 | Averett University Danville, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 77 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $63,961 | 48% | $23,171 | 57% |
| 25 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 77 | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | $70,005 | 40% | — | — |
All 64 schools in Virginia
Every school in Virginia with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach | Private for-profit | 1,205 | 2 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 628 | 4 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 351 | 5 |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | Public | 318 | 4 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 300 | 5 |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Public | 289 | 3 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | 285 | 5 |
| University of Virginia - Main Campus | Charlottesville | Public | 267 | 6 |
| Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 222 | 1 |
| Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 208 | 1 |
| Germanna Community College | Locust Grove | Public | 196 | 1 |
| Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Public | 170 | 1 |
| Galen Health Institutes - Richmond | Richmond | Private for-profit | 162 | 1 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 155 | 3 |
| Chamberlain University - Virginia | Vienna | Private for-profit | 144 | 1 |
What registered nurses earn in Virginia
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $97,550. Virginia pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Virginia
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Registered Nurses page.
How to become a Registered Nurse
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Virginia
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 21 majors mapped to Registered Nurses21 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 51.3801Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- 51.3802Nursing Administration
- 51.3803Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3805Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3806Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3808Nursing Science
- 51.3809Pediatric Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3810Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3811Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3812Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3813Clinical Nurse Specialist
- 51.3814Critical Care Nursing
- 51.3815Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing
- 51.3816Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing
- 51.3818Nursing Practice
- 51.3819Palliative Care Nursing
- 51.3820Clinical Nurse Leader
- 51.3821Geriatric Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3822Women's Health Nurse/Nursing
- 51.3824Forensic Nursing
- 51.3899Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other
Common questions
Answers for people weighing registered nurses programs in Virginia.
What degree do you need to become a Registered Nurse?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which awarded 6,409 degrees in Virginia in 2024-25, 88.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Registered Nurse?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 12 programs to this occupation. The largest are Registered Nursing. Together they graduate about 7,209 people a year in Virginia.
How much do registered nurses earn in Virginia?+
The median is $93,600 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 4.0% below the U.S. median of $97,550. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for registered nurses growing?+
BLS projects a +4.9% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 189,100 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Virginia?+
64 institutions in Virginia reported graduates from at least one of the 12 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do registered nurses work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, APN (Advanced Practice Nurse), CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 29-1141.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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