Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chamberlain University - Virginia, Shenandoah University and Marymount University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Chamberlain University - Virginia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Liberty University, Radford University and Virginia Commonwealth University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Virginia: 628, 351 and 350 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 64 Virginia colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 7,267 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | Chamberlain University - Virginia Vienna Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,188 | 144 | 100% | — | $39,146 |
| 2 | Shenandoah University Winchester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,678 | 124 | 67% | $27,455 | $29,749 |
| 3 | Marymount University Arlington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,090 | 155 | 54% | $25,803 | $29,166 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,365 | 318 | 68% | — | $22,750 |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,527 | 285 | 46% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,490 | 289 | 80% | — | $21,347 |
| 7 | Sentara College of Health Sciences Chesapeake Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,356 | 113 | — | — | $29,250 |
| 8 | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,056 | 208 | — | — | $31,624 |
| 9 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,013 | 48 | 66% | — | $16,910 |
| 10 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,220 | 267 | 96% | — | $15,130 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southside College of Health Sciences Colonial Heights Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $75,357 | 28 | — | — | $20,609 |
| 2 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public · Associate degree | $72,905 | 121 | 33% | — | $21,000 |
| 3 | Fortis College - Norfolk Norfolk Private for-profit · Associate degree | $71,678 | 25 | 30% | $30,881 | $36,678 |
| 4 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit · Associate degree | $71,146 | 1,205 | 42% | $21,909 | $35,425 |
| 5 | Danville Community College Danville Public · Associate degree | $70,615 | 26 | 39% | — | $11,582 |
| 6 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns Public · Associate degree | $70,527 | 98 | 45% | — | $11,000 |
| 7 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave Public · Associate degree | $70,005 | 77 | 40% | — | $10,666 |
| 8 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown Public · Associate degree | $69,986 | 64 | 45% | — | $16,450 |
| 9 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $69,764 | 60 | 32% | — | $22,288 |
| 10 | Riverside College of Health Sciences Newport News Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $69,644 | 80 | 100% | $25,596 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 628 | $71,918 |
| 2 | Radford University Radford Public | 351 | $69,662 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 350 | $71,847 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 318 | $78,365 |
| 5 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 289 | $76,490 |
| 6 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 285 | $76,527 |
| 7 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 267 | $75,220 |
| 8 | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond Private not-for-profit | 208 | $76,056 |
| 9 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public | 170 | Not reported |
| 10 | Galen Health Institutes-Richmond Richmond Private for-profit | 162 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 54 Virginia colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Liberty University (628 graduates a year), Radford University (351 graduates a year) and Virginia Commonwealth University (350 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 64 Virginia colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Chamberlain University - Virginia leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Shenandoah University and Marymount University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 628 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chamberlain University - Virginia tops the list at $83,188. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Virginia is $93,850 (median $93,600), across about 77,490 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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