Virginia issues one RN license, and both routes to it end at the same checkpoint: the NCLEX-RN, which you can only schedule after the Virginia Board of Nursing processes your application and fingerprint-based background check. A community college associate degree and a university bachelor's degree qualify you to sit for the identical exam.
That makes first-attempt pass rates the sharpest comparison available, and it is how the programs here are ordered, not by reputation or admissions selectivity. Cost, early-career earnings, ADN vs BSN timelines, and nursing school requirements shape the decision after that.
A well-known program with a weak pass rate still leaves graduates unlicensed.
Virginia Nursing Schools Ranked by NCLEX-RN Results: 2027 List
Virginia's RN pipeline runs through two kinds of prelicensure programs, the associate degree and the bachelor's, and both appear in the list below. Programs are ordered by first-attempt NCLEX-RN performance, the exam that stands between graduation and a Virginia license. Pass rates cluster tightly near the top, so each card also notes accreditation, format, and curriculum design, the details that separate otherwise similar programs.
How we ranked these
- Institutional graduation and completion rates
- First-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rates
- Program accreditation status
- Retention and student-faculty ratio
- Recency of reported outcomes
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Longwood University
#1Farmville, VA · ~$19,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: High school seniors wanting direct BSN admission
Longwood belongs to a small group of Virginia schools that admit first-year students straight into the nursing major, so there is no second application after prerequisites. The CCNE-accredited BSN leans on patient advocacy, care coordination, and service-learning, with simulation and clinical placements spread across all four years. Institution-wide, about 61% of Longwood undergraduates graduate, a school-level figure that speaks to retention and completion rather than to the nursing program by itself.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 100% over the last three years
- 139 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- CCNE accredited and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing
- Four-year direct-admission program open to incoming freshmen
- Service-learning and community engagement built into the curriculum
- Simulation plus hands-on clinical experiences throughout
- Scholarships available
Wytheville Community College
#2Wytheville, VA · $5,000 – $11,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Career changers entering nursing through a concept-based ADN
Wytheville rebuilt its ADN around a concept-based curriculum that trades long content lectures for active learning around core nursing ideas. The five-semester, 67-credit sequence starts with anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and nursing theory, then moves into complex care and a capstone experience. Admission is selective: a 2.5 GPA minimum, TEAS scores, and a February 15 deadline.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 100% over the last three years
- 111 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- ACEN accredited
- Concept Based Curriculum using active learning strategies
- Five semesters, 67 total credit hours
- 2.5 GPA minimum with TEAS entrance exam
- February 15 admission deadline
- Nursing courses must be taken in sequence
Virginia Western Community College
#3Roanoke, VA · $5,000 – $12,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: LPNs bridging to an RN license
Virginia Western's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing runs 65 credits across four semesters, mixing classroom instruction, lab time, and clinical rotations in partner agencies. The curriculum threads client-centered care, safety, clinical judgment, quality improvement, collaboration, and pharmacology through the program and closes with a capstone. Admission is restricted with limited seats, and licensed practical nurses can enter through a separate bridge track. Institution-wide, about 40% of the college's students graduate.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 100% over the last three years
- 120 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Four semesters, 65 total credit hours
- Client-centered care, safety, and clinical judgment focus
- Pharmacology and quality improvement coursework
- Clinical rotations at partner agencies
- Capstone course required
- LPN to Nursing AAS bridge available
Shenandoah University
#4Winchester, VA · $30,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Shenandoah starts students in nursing on day one and assigns a faculty advisor immediately, which sets it apart from programs that gate the major behind a sophomore application. Juniors and seniors move through adult health, childbearing families, pediatric, and psychiatric nursing before a senior capstone and a final-semester NCLEX prep course. The 121-credit BSN is taught in small cohorts with high- and low-fidelity simulation labs, followed by clinical rotations at regional hospitals and community sites. About 67% of the university's undergraduates graduate overall.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 97.9% over the last three years
- 319 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Direct admittance as a first-year student
- Nursing faculty advisor assigned on entry
- Four years, 121 total credit hours
- TEAS required, with rolling admissions
- High- and low-fidelity simulation labs
- NCLEX prep course in the final semester
Tidewater Community College
#5Norfolk, VA · ~$12,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Tidewater's Beazley School of Nursing awards an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing through a 64-credit, four-semester program with spring and fall starts. Simulation labs and clinical placements carry the hands-on learning, and cohorts stay small with dedicated faculty. Licensed practical nurses have a separate placement route into the RN sequence, and applicants complete a mandatory information session and a separate application.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 97.6% over the last three years
- 182 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Four semesters, 64 total credit hours
- Two start dates per year, spring and fall
- State-of-the-art simulation labs
- Small class sizes with dedicated faculty
- LPN to RN placement available
- Separate application and mandatory information session
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
#6Richmond, VA · ~$5,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
Reynolds offers a 67-credit Nursing AAS across five full-time semesters, with a simulation lab built to mirror hospital settings, down to a mock maternity ward. A capstone ties the curriculum together, and graduates move into staff nurse, charge nurse, home health, and school nurse roles. The college also runs concurrent BSN options and assigns a nurse retention specialist to help students stay on track. Its institution-wide graduation rate of about 32% is in line with large community colleges.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 97.4% over the last three years
- 197 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Five full-time semesters, 67 total credit hours
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Simulation lab built around a mock maternity ward
- Clinical placements in diverse healthcare settings
- Concurrent BSN options offered
- Dedicated Nurse Retention Specialist
James Madison University
#7Harrisonburg, VA · ~$23,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
James Madison's nursing bachelor's is a campus-based program that turns out one of the larger NCLEX-RN candidate pools in Virginia. The university is among the more selective publics in the state, and about 80% of its undergraduates graduate overall, with 92% returning for a second year. Published program-level detail is thinner here than for most schools on this list, so institutional figures do more of the work.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 96.5% over the last three years
- 643 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Campus-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
Southside Virginia Community College
#8Alberta, VA · $5,000 – $11,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Southside Virginia built its Associate of Applied Science in Nursing around caring, counseling, and educating patients across a wide range of clinical settings. Students choose from several campus sites across the region and can use a weekend option, which suits people who work while they study. The 67-credit program starts in fall and spring, and applicants must attend a virtual information session before applying. The college tracks NCLEX pass rates and graduate employment as program outcomes.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 97.9% over the last three years
- 117 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- ACEN accredited
- 67 total credit hours, starting fall and spring
- Multiple campus locations in Southside Virginia
- Weekend option available
- Mandatory virtual nursing information session
- Tracks NCLEX pass rates and graduate employment
Northern Virginia Community College
#9Annandale, VA · $10,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.7% (3-yr weighted avg)
NOVA's Associate Degree in Nursing is campus-based and produces one of the larger NCLEX-RN candidate groups in the state. First-year retention runs near 76%, and institution-wide about a third of students graduate, a figure shaped by the college's open-access mission and by students who transfer before finishing. It is a practical route for commuter and working students who want an affordable start in nursing.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 96.7% over the last three years
- 352 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Campus-based Associate Degree in Nursing
Liberty University
#10Lynchburg, VA · ~$29,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Liberty's pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing is campus-based and leads to NCLEX-RN eligibility. The university admits nearly all applicants and enrolls a high share of Pell Grant recipients, which makes it a broad-access four-year option for students who want a traditional campus experience. About 65% of Liberty undergraduates graduate overall, and it fields one of the larger NCLEX-RN candidate pools in the state.
- NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rate of 96.9% over the last three years
- 595 NCLEX-RN test takers across the same window
- Campus-based pre-licensure track
Why First-Attempt NCLEX-RN Success Carries the Most Weight Here
A program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is the clearest single signal of how well it prepares students for licensure. Every graduate has to pass the same national exam to practice in Virginia, so it is the one outcome every program is measured against on equal terms. Passing on the first attempt also matters in practice, because it means you start working, and earning, sooner.
How the Ranking Is Weighted
Most competitor lists never explain how they arrived at their order. Each school's score leans heavily on NCLEX pass rate, which supplies about three quarters of the total. The remainder comes from programmatic accreditation and a small completion and retention component. Pass rate leads because it measures licensure readiness most directly, while accreditation and completion act as checks on program quality and stability.
Why Three Years Beat One
The pass rate used is a three-year figure, weighted by the number of graduates who tested each year. Small cohorts can swing wildly. A program testing 25 graduates sees its rate move four points for every single failure, so one rough year can make a solid program look weak, and one perfect year can flatter an average one. Pooling three years and giving larger testing groups more influence smooths that noise and shows the pattern you can realistically expect.
What This Ranking Leaves Out
A pass rate cannot tell you everything. It says nothing about the quality of your final clinical rotation in nursing school, the size of the cohort you would learn alongside, or the culture of the campus. Those factors shape your daily experience and can matter as much as the exam result. For those trade-offs, turn to the cost and admissions sections of this page, where price, debt, and entry requirements are laid out school by school.
First-Time NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: ADN vs. BSN Programs Side by Side
Two-year associate and four-year bachelor tracks can lead to the same Virginia RN license, but students often enter with different timelines, budgets, and prior academic records. First-attempt NCLEX-RN results are a direct check on whether a program's graduates are ready on exam day.
Side-by-Side: 2025 First-Attempt Results
Below are the most recent board-aligned first-attempt pass rates available in this section, with ADN and BSN programs labeled separately.
- New River Community College Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates (ADN): 74.14% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025. Earlier results were 86.05% in 2024 and 91.31% in 2023.
- Norfolk State University (BSN): 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025. Earlier results were 94.44% in 2024 and 85.72% in 2023.
Source: 2025 Virginia Board of Nursing first-time NCLEX-RN results. The complete statewide program-by-program table for 2025 is not visible in this section, so treat this as a snapshot rather than an exhaustive ranking.
Virginia's 80% First-Attempt Threshold
The Virginia Board of Nursing requires a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of at least 80%, calculated from cumulative results of the past four quarters of all graduates in each calendar year.1 New programs need at least 80% based on at least 20 graduates within two years for initial full approval. If a program drops below 80% for one year, it must submit a plan of correction. Two consecutive years bring conditional approval and a site visit, and three consecutive years can lead to withdrawal of approval.
ADN Programs Can Compete, but Year-to-Year Swings Matter
The 2025 results are mixed. Norfolk State's BSN cleared the 80% standard by a wide margin, while New River's ADN fell to 74.14%, which would trigger a plan-of-correction review under Board rules. Yet New River's earlier results at 86.05% and 91.31% show that a community college ADN can match or outperform many university BSN cohorts in first-attempt preparation. Several community college ADN programs have matched or exceeded university BSN first-attempt rates in recent years, which supports the ADN as a strong, affordable starting point. At the same time, the swing from 91.31% in 2023 to 74.14% in 2025 is a reminder to look at multi-year trends rather than a single cohort's results. Pair these numbers with each school's own multi-year trend, since a single year below 80% is a flag rather than a final verdict.
Cost, Debt, and Earnings: Where Virginia Nursing Students Get the Best Return
Net price for a nursing program is the average amount students actually pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted, not the sticker price you see on a tuition schedule. Framing the numbers this way matters, because the published rate and the real out-of-pocket cost can differ by thousands of dollars once financial aid for nursing students is applied.
Price After Aid Favors Public Programs
Across the schools ranked here, Virginia's community colleges and public universities are consistently the most affordable choice for in-state students. The average net price (what students pay per year after aid) runs in the low four figures at several community college ADN programs, with Patrick & Henry Community College around $4,100 and Rappahannock Community College near $4,300. The University of Virginia's BSN averages closer to $21,600 per year after aid, which still reflects its policy of meeting demonstrated need. Private programs typically land higher in a nursing school cost comparison, though aid packages vary widely from one applicant to the next. Treat every figure as an average after aid, not a quote.
Debt and Repayment Numbers
Program-level debt figures are the clearest signal of what you might owe when you finish. Median federal debt and the typical 10-year monthly payment are not published for the nursing programs on this list, so we won't attach a borrowing figure to any single program here. Where a school reports institution-wide median graduate debt, that number covers all majors, not nursing specifically, so it shouldn't be read as a nursing outcome.
Pairing Earnings With Value
Program-level earnings one year after finishing are likewise unpublished for these Virginia nursing programs, so we're not substituting a campus-wide income figure in their place. Where a school carries a return-on-investment signal, read it carefully: that ratio compares an institution's typical 10-year earnings against median graduate debt across the whole school. It describes the institution, not the nursing program, and is best used as a rough value cue rather than a nursing-specific promise.
The practical takeaway: a community college ADN keeps your upfront cost low and leads to the same RN license, while a public university BSN costs more but can lead to roles and advancement that justify the added expense over a career.
Virginia by City
Explore other Virginia related topics
Community College ADN or University BSN: Two Routes to the Same Virginia RN License
The cheapest route to becoming an RN in Virginia is typically an in-state community college ADN, and both an ADN and a BSN qualify you for the same NCLEX-RN and the same Virginia RN license. For many students, the lowest-cost way to finish with a BSN is to earn the ADN through the Virginia Community College System, pass the NCLEX-RN, and then use a transfer or articulation pathway into an RN-to-BSN program, often while already working as a nurse.
| Factor | VCCS Associate Degree (ADN) | University BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Time in school | Five semesters, about two years. At Northern Virginia and Wytheville, one prerequisite semester comes before the nursing coursework. | Typically four years, with core nursing courses concentrated in the later years |
| Prerequisite coursework | Short list, each passed with a C or better: BIO 141, ENG 111, PSY 230, and SDV 100, plus PHI 220 at Wytheville or MTH 154 at Brightpoint | Broader general education and science sequence completed before or alongside upper-division nursing courses |
| Admission screening | Competitive. Wytheville requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and Brightpoint requires a 2.5 prerequisite GPA. | Competitive. Criteria are set by each university, so confirm GPA and course requirements with each nursing school. |
| Entrance exam | ATI TEAS is common. Brightpoint requires a Proficient or Advanced result, and Southwest Virginia requires the 45th national percentile or higher within the last five years. | Varies by university. Confirm testing requirements directly with each program. |
| Typical cost | Lowest overall: about two years at in-state community college tuition | Higher: four years of university tuition and fees |
| Licensure exam and license | Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same Virginia RN license | Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same Virginia RN license |
| Hiring outlook | Qualifies for RN roles. Some hospital employers prefer a BSN or expect ADN hires to complete one. | Meets the BSN preference many hospital employers set and supports moves into leadership roles |
| Path to a BSN | RN-to-BSN after licensure. Mountain Gateway has articulation agreements with Old Dominion University (RN-to-BSN), Eastern Mennonite University, and Western Governors University. | BSN already complete. The next step can be graduate study such as an MSN or DNP. |
Same License, Same Statewide Pay Benchmark
Whichever route you choose, every new RN in Virginia is measured against the same statewide pay benchmark.
What It Takes to Get Into UVA, VCU, GMU, JMU, and ODU Nursing
Virginia's large public universities admit nursing students on different timelines. Some take you as a freshman, and others make you earn a seat after college coursework. Confirm current rules with each school's admissions office before you plan your semesters.
- University of Virginia: direct entry plus two transfer routesUVA admits nursing students directly as first-year applicants. Early Action and Early Decision are due November 1, and Regular Decision is due January 5. The 3-Year BSN Transfer program requires at least 30 credits, with deadlines of February 1 for internal applicants and March 1 for external applicants. It also requires a C or better in microbiology, chemistry, A&P I and II, growth and development, and college composition. The 2-Year Accelerated BSN requires 52 credits and is due October 1. UVA does not publish a numeric GPA minimum, and its transfer materials list no TEAS requirement.
- James Madison University: secondary applicationThe traditional BSN is a restricted major. Most students apply after their first-year coursework, with a December 1 deadline and transcripts due December 23. You need a 3.0 prerequisite GPA to apply and must keep it until you start. JMU's overall acceptance rate is about 72%. That figure covers the whole university, not the nursing program.
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversitySecondary sources report a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA and no prerequisite grade below C-. VCU has not officially confirmed these figures for 2026, so verify the pathway and deadlines directly.
- George Mason and Old DominionCurrent GPA minimums, entrance exam policies, and fall deadlines were not verified for 2026. Contact each nursing school directly.
- Common prerequisite blockAcross Virginia programs, plan on A&P I and II, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, nutrition, lifespan psychology, and English composition. Schools typically require a C or better in each course.
Virginia RN Licensure at a Glance
RN Pay Across Virginia Metro Areas, From Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads
Metro-by-metro RN wage figures for Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Roanoke, and Charlottesville are not available in our data, so the table below shows statewide Virginia benchmarks from the 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey instead. Pay in any one region can sit above or below these figures, and a higher local wage only helps if it holds up against housing and living costs there. Clinical rotations often lead to job offers near the school, so it is worth checking local hospital pay and cost of living in the area where you plan to train.
| Occupation | Area | Employment | 25th Percentile Annual Wage | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage | 75th Percentile Annual Wage | Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | Virginia (statewide) | 77,490 | $80,090 | $93,600 | $93,850 | $103,030 | BLS OEWS, 2025 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | Virginia (statewide) | 1,670 | $73,410 | $82,550 | $85,480 | $99,420 | BLS OEWS, 2025 |
More Accredited Nursing Programs Across Virginia
The programs below round out the Virginia directory with accredited associate and bachelor's degree routes to an RN license. They range from community college ADN tracks to university BSN programs, and each is worth comparing on NCLEX-RN results, total cost, and clinical placement. Follow the program link for current deadlines and admission requirements.
Hampton Roads
- Nursing, Pre-licensure (B.S.N.)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Professional Nursing - BSN
- Professional Nursing
Greater Richmond
- Traditional B.S. in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Nursing, AAS
Central Virginia and the Piedmont
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- 3-Year BSN Transfer Program
- 2-Year Accelerated BSN Transfer Program
- RN to BSN
- Accelerated BSN
- RN-BSN Program
- Associate Degree in Nursing
Shenandoah Valley
- Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing
Southwest Virginia
- Nursing (AAS)
- Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
Southside Virginia
- Associate Degree Nursing
Fredericksburg and the Middle Peninsula
- Nursing (Degree) Associate of Applied Science
- Nursing, Associate of Applied Science