Best colleges for Practical Nursing in West Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
New River Community and Technical College, Wood County Technical Center - Practical Nursing and Mercer County Technical Education Center are the top Practical Nursing programs in West Virginia by graduate earnings. New River Community and Technical College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,778, College Scorecard. New River Community and Technical College, Wood County Technical Center - Practical Nursing and Mercer County Technical Education Center award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in West Virginia: 38, 30 and 28 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 West Virginia colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 363 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 | New River Community and Technical College Beaver Public · Certificate | $38,778 | 38 | 36% | — | $11,750 |
| 2 | Wood County Technical Center - Practical Nursing Parkersburg Public · Certificate | $37,542 | 30 | 100% | — | $7,091 |
| 3 | Mercer County Technical Education Center Princeton Public · Certificate | $36,263 | 28 | 79% | — | $14,500 |
| 4 | Fred W Eberle Technical Center Buckhannon Public · Certificate | $34,661 | 22 | 98% | — | $8,750 |
| 5 | Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center Stollings Public · Certificate | $30,107 | 21 | 86% | — | — |
| 6 | United Technical Center Clarksburg Public · Certificate Small program | $46,221 | 9 | 100% | — | — |
| 7 | John D Rockefeller IV Career Center New Cumberland Public · Certificate Small program | $45,227 | 9 | 100% | — | $15,000 |
| 8 | Monongalia County Technical Education Center Morgantown Public · Certificate Small program | $44,589 | 19 | 68% | — | — |
| 9 | Fayette Institute of Technology Oak Hill Public · Certificate Small program | $41,617 | 17 | 92% | — | $6,548 |
| 10 | Roane-Jackson Technical Center Leroy Public · Certificate Small program | $39,990 | 13 | 91% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in West 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 | New River Community and Technical College Beaver Public | 38 | $38,778 |
| 2 | Wood County Technical Center - Practical Nursing Parkersburg Public | 30 | $37,542 |
| 3 | Mercer County Technical Education Center Princeton Public | 28 | $36,263 |
| 4 | Fred W Eberle Technical Center Buckhannon Public | 22 | $34,661 |
| 5 | Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center Stollings Public | 21 | $30,107 |
| 6 | Monongalia County Technical Education Center Morgantown Public | 19 | $44,589 |
| 7 | West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling Public | 19 | $21,062 |
| 8 | Pierpont Community and Technical College Fairmont Public | 19 | $39,018 |
| 9 | Fayette Institute of Technology Oak Hill Public | 17 | $41,617 |
| 10 | B M Spurr School of Practical Nursing Glen Dale Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 West Virginia colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph Technical Center | Elkins | Public | 15 |
| Ben Franklin Career Center | Dunbar | Public | 14 |
| Roane-Jackson Technical Center | Leroy | Public | 13 |
| Mineral County Vocational Technical Center | Keyser | Public | 13 |
| Academy of Careers and Technology | Beckley | Public | 11 |
| Cabell County Career Technology Center | Huntington | Public | 10 |
| West Virginia Junior College - Bridgeport | Bridgeport | Private for-profit | 10 |
| United Technical Center | Clarksburg | Public | 9 |
| John D Rockefeller IV Career Center | New Cumberland | Public | 9 |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston | Public | 8 |
| Mingo Extended Learning Center | Delbarton | Public | 7 |
| Boone Career and Technical Center | Foster | Public | 7 |
| Putnam Career and Technical Center | Eleanor | Public | 6 |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Parkersburg | Public | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in West Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in West Virginia.
Which West Virginia colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
New River Community and Technical College (38 graduates a year), Wood County Technical Center - Practical Nursing (30 graduates a year) and Mercer County Technical Education Center (28 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in West Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 West Virginia colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in West Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, New River Community and Technical College leads among Practical Nursing programs in West Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,778, College Scorecard. Wood County Technical Center - Practical Nursing and Mercer County Technical Education Center follow. By degrees awarded, New River Community and Technical College is the largest, with 38 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in West Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, New River Community and Technical College tops the list at $38,778. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in West Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in West Virginia is $37,490 (median $36,720), across about 9,390 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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