Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing, ECPI University and Fortis College - Norfolk are the top Practical Nursing programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,355, College Scorecard. ECPI University, Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing and Medical Solutions Academy award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Virginia: 871, 307 and 133 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Virginia colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 2,320 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church Private for-profit · Certificate | $56,355 | 307 | 66% | $37,448 | $14,750 |
| 2 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit · Certificate | $51,209 | 871 | 42% | $21,909 | $25,250 |
| 3 | Fortis College - Norfolk Norfolk Private for-profit · Certificate | $50,451 | 34 | 30% | $30,881 | $20,455 |
| 4 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public · Certificate | $48,420 | 20 | 40% | — | $19,176 |
| 5 | Riverside College of Health Sciences Newport News Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $46,106 | 32 | 100% | $25,596 | $14,250 |
| 6 | Chester Career College CHESTER Private for-profit · Certificate | $42,781 | 68 | 63% | $27,399 | $26,119 |
| 7 | Centra College Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $39,611 | 21 | 100% | $24,868 | $13,084 |
| 8 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap Public · Certificate | $35,693 | 37 | 48% | — | — |
| 9 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns Public · Certificate | $33,051 | 117 | 45% | — | $9,567 |
| 10 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta Public · Certificate | $27,442 | 124 | 42% | — | $7,333 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit | 871 | $51,209 |
| 2 | Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church Private for-profit | 307 | $56,355 |
| 3 | Medical Solutions Academy Danville Private for-profit | 133 | Not reported |
| 4 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta Public | 124 | $27,442 |
| 5 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns Public | 117 | $33,051 |
| 6 | Danville Community College Danville Public | 71 | Not reported |
| 7 | Chester Career College CHESTER Private for-profit | 68 | $42,781 |
| 8 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 9 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap Public | 37 | $35,693 |
| 10 | Fortis College - Norfolk Norfolk Private for-profit | 34 | $50,451 |
ShowHide the other 23 Virginia colleges offering Practical Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
ECPI University (871 graduates a year), Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing (307 graduates a year) and Medical Solutions Academy (133 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Virginia colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing leads among Practical Nursing programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,355, College Scorecard. ECPI University and Fortis College - Norfolk follow. By degrees awarded, ECPI University is the largest, with 871 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing tops the list at $56,355. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Virginia is $42,160 (median $43,200), across about 40,580 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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