As you prepare for nursing school, which West Virginia nursing school gives you the best shot at passing the NCLEX-RN on the first try? You cannot practice as a registered nurse in the state without that license, and a program's first-time pass rate is the clearest early sign of whether its graduates actually get one. Among the schools here, rates run from the high 80s to above 99 percent.
The list is ordered mainly by NCLEX-RN results, with accreditation and completion rates breaking ties, and it includes both ADN and BSN programs.
A strong pass rate still has to fit your budget, your schedule, how close you live to a campus, and nursing school requirements, and in a largely rural state those constraints often decide the choice.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 10 West Virginia Nursing Programs Ranked
West Virginia's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate came in at 86.24% in 2025, with 1,429 of 1,657 candidates passing on their first attempt. The ten schools below are the programs whose graduates have cleared that exam at the strongest rates. The order reflects NCLEX-RN first-time performance over the board's most recent three reporting years.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation rates, weighted most
- Retention and completion outcomes
- NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates
- Program accreditation status
- Program breadth and delivery options
- 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
West Virginia University
#1Morgantown, WV · ~$16,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 99.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Traditional BSN students wanting research-university resources
West Virginia University anchors the state's nursing pipeline from its Morgantown campus, pairing a large research university's resources with clinical training that includes a required rural rotation in the senior year. The CCNE-accredited BSN runs six semesters and adds two optional routes: an Expedited Summer Pathway that graduates students nine months early, and an Inside Outside community nursing track built with Johns Hopkins. Board-reported first-time NCLEX-RN results for 2025 show a 99.2% pass rate at the Morgantown campus, while the university reports all 122 of its candidates passing. The school's overall graduation rate is 65%.
- CCNE accredited, with a required rural clinical practice in the senior year
- Six-semester curriculum built on five core nursing competencies
- Expedited Summer Pathway lets students graduate nine months early
- Inside Outside community nursing track developed with Johns Hopkins
- Available on three WVU campuses with financial aid and scholarships
- State-of-the-art simulation facilities and a student laptop program
Marshall University
#2Huntington, WV · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.1% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Students choosing between BSN and ADN tracks
Marshall University carries the state's most varied nursing footprint in Huntington, combining a pre-licensure BSN with a cooperative two-year associate degree delivered through St. Mary's School of Nursing. The BSN blends nursing theory with clinical work at regional hospitals and adds optional concentrations such as critical care and pediatric nursing, and program materials cite a job placement rate near 95%. Admission requires an entrance exam and a 2.5 GPA minimum, with separate pathways for high school seniors and college students, and first-time NCLEX-RN results across the board's three most recent reporting years average about 96%. The school's overall graduation rate is 51%.
- Entrance exam required; applicants need a 2.5 GPA minimum
- Two admission pathways, one for high school seniors and one for college students
- Program materials cite a job placement rate near 95%
- Clinical rotations at regional healthcare facilities
- Classes on the Huntington and South Charleston campuses
- Graduates pursue roles as RNs, nurse managers, and clinical nurse specialists
- One of five concentration options within the BSN
- Adds specialty coursework and clinical exposure in critical care nursing
- Prerequisite courses and an entrance exam still apply
- Clinical practicum focused on pediatric nursing
- Automatic acceptance for high-achieving high school seniors
- Classes available in Huntington and South Charleston
- Two-year cooperative degree awarded through Marshall and St. Mary's School of Nursing
- Two start dates each year, in July and January
- Application deadlines fall on January 15 and July 1
- Leads to RN licensure eligibility in West Virginia
West Liberty University
#3West Liberty, WV · $15,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 95.7% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Career changers without a nursing background
West Liberty University blends classroom instruction, simulation labs, and clinical rotations at area hospitals, and its BSN keeps cohorts small with close faculty support. Beyond the traditional pre-licensure route, the university offers a 16-month BA/BS to BSN program built for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree. First-time NCLEX-RN results across the board's three most recent reporting years average about 96%. The school's overall graduation rate is 60%.
- CCNE accredited, with hands-on clinical rotations in area hospitals
- Entrance exam required; applicants need a 3.0 GPA minimum
- Small class sizes with personalized faculty support
- High-tech simulation labs used throughout the curriculum
- 16-month, 66-credit program for students who already hold a bachelor's degree
- Four semesters, including one summer term
- Full-time enrollment with a fall start each year
- Capstone required, plus clinical practice in area hospitals
- 3.0 GPA minimum and prerequisite courses required
West Virginia Northern Community College
#4Wheeling, WV · ~$5,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
West Virginia Northern Community College delivers its associate degree in nursing from the Wheeling campus, with clinical experiences split between Wheeling and Weirton. Admission is selective and requires a separate application plus the TEAS exam, and graduates can continue into an RN-to-BSN pathway through a partnership with WVU. The board's 2025 report lists a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the program's 20 first-time candidates, the strongest published result in the state that year, though the cohort is small. The school's overall graduation rate is 33%.
- ACEN accredited Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- Selective admission with a separate application and the TEAS exam
- Clinical experiences at the Wheeling and Weirton campuses
- RN-to-BSN completion pathway through a WVU partnership
- Scholarships available for nursing students
West Virginia State University
#5Institute, WV · $11,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
West Virginia State University in Institute builds its CCNE-accredited BSN around patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional collaboration, with a liberal arts foundation that supports graduate study later. The program prepares nurse generalists for hospitals, clinics, and community settings, and students explore specialties such as pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology, and psychiatry. WV State students have taken part in the WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals Aspiring Nurses program, which links classroom study to regional hiring. The school's overall graduation rate is 39%.
- CCNE accredited BSN preparing nurse generalists for hospital and community settings
- Combines liberal arts and sciences with professional nursing coursework
- Pathway toward graduate study and advanced practice nursing
- Specialty exposure in pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology, and psychiatry
- Participates in the WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals Aspiring Nurses program
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
#6Logan, WV · ~$10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Logan offers an associate degree in nursing as its route to RN licensure. First-time NCLEX-RN results across the board's three most recent reporting years average roughly 94%, and the school's overall graduation rate is 29%. Admission requirements, clinical placements, and current application deadlines are best confirmed directly with the program.
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown
#7Morgantown, WV · ~$16,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92% (3-yr weighted avg)
West Virginia Junior College's Morgantown campus runs an 18-month direct admission ADN that puts students into nursing coursework from the start, with skills labs and clinical rotations at major hospitals. Employer partnerships with Vandalia Health's Charleston Area Medical Center and Mon Health, Raleigh General Hospital, and Appalachian Regional Healthcare can bring tuition assistance tied to post-graduation employment, and a dedicated WVJC School of Nursing at CAMC opened in 2026. A 12-month online RN to BSN path lets graduates keep moving toward a bachelor's degree. The school's overall graduation rate is 71%.
- ACEN accredited 18-month direct admission program
- Skills labs plus clinical rotations at major hospitals such as WVU Medicine
- Employer partnerships with Vandalia Health, Mon Health, Raleigh General, and ARH
- Military benefits accepted, and scholarships are available
- RN to BSN pathway through WVJC Online
- New WVJC School of Nursing at CAMC opened in 2026
- 12-month, 100% online program for licensed registered nurses
- Courses in healthcare law, leadership, and management
- Evidence-based practice curriculum with multicultural communications training
- Requires an active RN license for admission
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
#8Parkersburg, WV · $2,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
West Virginia University at Parkersburg serves two different nursing audiences: an on-campus Associate of Applied Science in Nursing for students entering the field, and an online RN to BSN completion program for working nurses. Admission to the associate program requires the HESI exam, though LPNs and applicants who already hold a degree are exempt, and clinical placements run through area hospitals. The RN to BSN covers 120 credit hours and can be finished full time or part time within five years. The school's overall graduation rate is 9%.
- 100% online degree completion for working registered nurses
- 120 total credit hours, with coursework finished within five years
- Rolling admissions with full-time and part-time options
- 2.0 GPA minimum and an active, unencumbered RN license
- Prepares graduates for roles such as nurse manager, educator, or quality coordinator
- ACEN accredited Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- HESI entrance exam required, with exemptions for LPNs and degree holders
- Prerequisite courses required; 2.0 GPA minimum
- Clinical partnerships with area hospitals
- Criminal background check required before clinicals
- In-state tuition rates for West Virginia and Ohio residents
Davis & Elkins College
#9Elkins, WV · ~$18,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Davis & Elkins College in Elkins offers both a traditional four-year BSN and a two-year associate degree in nursing, with clinical learning starting early in each. BSN students complete placements at more than a dozen healthcare facilities plus a summer nurse externship after their first year, and the college points to a 100% licensure pass rate across three consecutive years in its own reporting. The associate program runs in partnership with Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center. The school's overall graduation rate is 39%.
- Four-year BSN built around QSEN competencies
- Clinical placements at more than 12 healthcare facilities
- Summer nurse externship with RN preceptors after the first year
- Preceptorship at regional hospitals in the senior year
- Program materials cite a 100% licensure pass rate and full job placement within six months
- Required membership in the Student Nurses' Association
- Two-year program with clinical learning from day one
- Partnership with Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center
- Small class sizes with a curriculum based on QSEN competencies
- Board-approved by the West Virginia RN Board
West Virginia Wesleyan College
#10Buckhannon, WV · $18,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 87.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon keeps its BSN cohorts small, with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and clinical rotations at WVU Medicine hospitals. The CCNE-accredited curriculum pairs liberal arts coursework with nursing science and evidence-based practice, and sponsorship and mentorship arrangements with Penn Highlands Healthcare plus a Bethany College partnership widen access for students. First-time NCLEX-RN results across the board's three most recent reporting years average roughly 88%. The school's overall graduation rate is 57%.
- CCNE accredited BSN with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Clinical rotations at WVU Medicine hospitals
- Penn Highlands Healthcare sponsorship worth up to $40,000
- Aspiring Nurse Program mentorship for selected students
- Bethany College partnership expands BSN access
- Small classes with a liberal arts and evidence-based practice foundation
Exam Results First: The Scoring Behind This List and Why Accreditation Still Matters
Exam results carry most of the weight here, because a nursing degree that doesn't lead to a license isn't worth much. Each program's score draws roughly three quarters of its weight from first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate data, using three years of board data weighted by test-taker volume. Accreditation status and a small completion and retention component make up the rest.
Board Approval vs. Accreditation
The two are not the same thing. Approval from the West Virginia RN Board lets a program operate and qualifies its graduates to sit for the NCLEX. ACEN or CCNE accreditation is voluntary and national. It often matters later, when you apply to graduate school, interview with employers that prefer accredited degrees, or transfer into an RN-to-BSN program.
Who Holds What
- ACEN: West Virginia Northern Community College (accredited since June 1977, last reviewed September 2023, next review Spring 2031), WVU Parkersburg (continuing accreditation), and University of Charleston for its BSN and RN-to-BSN tracks.
- CCNE: West Virginia State University's BSN, and WVU School of Nursing's baccalaureate and graduate programs, accredited through 2029.
- Newer programs: West Virginia Junior College's Morgantown and Charleston ADN programs hold initial ACEN accreditation. Its Morgantown RN-to-BSN was an ACEN candidate from 2023 to 2025, and no newer decision turned up.
CCNE generally covers baccalaureate and higher degrees, so ADN programs are normally ACEN-accredited or board-approved only.
Approval Flags
West Virginia State University's LPN-to-BSN track and the satellite lab sites of West Virginia Junior College's Charleston hybrid ADN carry provisional approval for 2026. Both schools' main nursing programs hold full approval. The board materials reviewed show no program on conditional or warning status, though that is not a statewide guarantee.
Before You Apply
Check the board's approval list and the ACEN or CCNE directory yourself. Status can change between review cycles.
ADN or BSN in West Virginia: Time, Cost, Admission, and Career Ceiling
Both degrees lead to the same NCLEX-RN exam and the same RN license, so the real choice comes down to how fast you need to start earning and how far you plan to climb. An ADN is a solid first step, not a dead end, because West Virginia University's RN-to-BSN pathway lets working nurses finish the bachelor's later.
| Factor | ADN (Community College) | BSN (Four-Year University) |
|---|---|---|
| Program length | About 2 years of nursing study, plus any prerequisites you still need | About 4 years for a traditional BSN; accelerated BSN options exist for students who already hold a degree |
| Typical cost | Generally the lower-cost route because of community college tuition and a shorter timeline | Generally higher because you pay four years of university tuition and fees |
| Admission test | TEAS is common. West Virginia Northern Community College requires a 58 or higher composite score | Varies by school. West Virginia State University uses the HESI A2 (75% composite). WVU Institute of Technology uses the ATI TEAS (80% or higher composite). West Virginia Wesleyan requires a TEAS result of Proficient or better |
| Minimum GPA | West Virginia Northern requires a 2.5 cumulative college GPA | West Virginia State University requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Direct admission at WVU and WVU Tech calls for a 3.6 or higher high school GPA |
| Prerequisite courses | Fewer up front. West Virginia Northern requires ENG 101 with a C or higher | Heavier science load: anatomy and physiology with lab, chemistry, biology, and psychology. Most schools require a C or better in each, and WVU's accelerated BSN also requires microbiology |
| NCLEX-RN eligibility | Yes, graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN | Yes, graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN |
| Job outlook | Qualifies you for bedside RN roles in hospitals, long-term care, and clinics | Same entry roles, plus a stronger position with Magnet hospitals and employers that prefer bachelor's-prepared nurses |
| Advancement path | Continue through an RN-to-BSN program. WVU's RN-to-BSN requires an active RN license and a 2.5 GPA on all college work ever attempted | Direct route to leadership roles and graduate programs, including nurse practitioner tracks |
| Best fit | Readers who need to earn an RN paycheck quickly and can finish the BSN later while working | Readers aiming for leadership, graduate school, or a Magnet hospital who can commit to four years up front |
West Virginia by City
Explore other West Virginia related topics
Accelerated Nursing Programs in West Virginia for Career Changers
An accelerated BSN (ABSN) is built for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field and can commit to full-time study without outside work. These programs compress BSN coursework, labs, and clinical rotations into roughly 16 to 18 months of continuous enrollment, including summer terms, which leaves little room for a schedule outside of school. The table below compares the West Virginia programs confirmed to be enrolling, based on information published on each school's website. Where a school has not posted a detail, such as specific start dates, the cell says so. Plan to finish every science and psychology prerequisite before you apply rather than counting on completing them along the way, since West Virginia University requires all prerequisite courses to be done with a C-minus or better before enrollment. Holding even a part-time job during an ABSN is usually unrealistic because clinical schedules shift and the pace allows little recovery time, so budget savings or loans to cover living costs for the full program.
| School | Campus Location | Program Length | Prior Bachelor's Required | Key Prerequisites | Start Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University, Accelerated BSN | Morgantown or Bridgeport, WV | 18 months of continuous enrollment | Yes, from a regionally accredited college or university, earned before enrollment | All required prerequisite courses completed with a C-minus or better before enrollment (full list on the school's site) | Not published |
| West Virginia University, Accelerated BSN (Beckley Campus) | Beckley, WV | 18 months (five full-time semesters) | Yes, a bachelor's degree in another field | Not published | Not published |
| West Liberty University, BA/BS to BSN Nursing Program | West Liberty, WV | 16 months (four semesters, including summer) | Yes, a BA or BS from an accredited college or university | General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Statistics | Fall semester, beginning in late August |
LPN Bridge, Evening, and Hybrid Routes for Working Students
WVJC's LPN-to-RN bridge program is listed as a 14-month path, though the school's catalog also references a 54-week timeline, so confirm the exact duration and schedule before enrolling.
LPNs in West Virginia who are working while in nursing school can move toward an associate or bachelor's degree while staying employed, but most options are hybrid rather than fully online because clinical hours still take place in person.
LPN-to-RN and LPN-to-BSN bridges
WVU's LPN-to-BSN bridge program at WVU Tech in Beckley and Potomac State in Keyser offers afternoon, evening, and weekend formats for working LPNs, with didactic coursework online and clinicals held in regional labs and facilities. The program awards 22 escrow credits for LPN licensure and experience; applicants need an active unencumbered LPN license, a TEAS score of at least 60%, and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 if applicable.
WVWC's LPN-to-BSN is a hybrid full-time track of two years and six semesters, with classes one weekend per month and clinicals one to two weekends per month. It starts in Buckhannon and finishes at Battler's Knob in Philippi. Tuition is $400 per credit hour plus a $684 nursing fee per term and $172 technology fee per term, with a 3.0 GPA expectation.
Eastern WV CTC runs a one-year, three-semester LPN-to-RN transition with online didactic work and in-person clinicals. WVNCC offers a summer-start LPN-to-RN bridge that begins with a 12-week course pairing one day per week of online didactic content with 45 hours of lab, simulation, and clinical work.
WVJC's nursing route
WVJC offers an LPN-to-RN bridge leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing and NCLEX-RN eligibility at Charleston, Beckley, and Bridgeport. The delivery is blended or online-hybrid, with hospital clinicals and labs in person. Students must meet an 80% or higher grade standard in all courses and complete NCLEX review before graduation. Published 2026-2027 figures list tuition and fees around $24,450, with a total cost of attendance of $40,187 for off-campus students without parent support and a $995 education resource fee.
Before you enroll
Confirm that any LPN bridge program is approved by the West Virginia RN Board and that the school's published schedule matches your employer's shift needs. One practical tip: block clinical days on your calendar as soon as the schedule posts, then request a consistent work pattern around those days before the semester begins.
Where to Study: Morgantown, Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, and the Eastern Panhandle
Geography narrows your options in West Virginia more than most applicants expect, because the strongest programs cluster in a few corridors while other parts of the state have nothing close by.
North-Central and the Northern Panhandle
Morgantown has the deepest choice. West Virginia University offers a campus BSN, and West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown runs an 18-month associate degree in a hybrid format. Farther north, West Liberty University (BSN) and West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling (associate degree) serve the Ohio Valley.
Kanawha Valley, Huntington, and the Southwest
West Virginia State University in Institute offers a campus BSN just outside Charleston. Marshall University's BSN is based in Huntington, with classes also held in South Charleston, so it reaches both cities. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Logan offers an associate degree for the southern coalfields.
Central West Virginia and Parkersburg
Davis & Elkins College in Elkins and West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon both offer private, campus-based BSN programs. In Parkersburg, West Virginia University at Parkersburg offers a fully online RN-BSN, one of the online RN to BSN programs in West Virginia.
Regions With Few Options
The rankings data list schools in Beckley, Bluefield, Martinsburg, and Shepherdstown. Students in the southern and Eastern Panhandle regions should check the board-approved listings later on this page before assuming nothing is nearby.
Rural students can use the guide to rural nursing as they weigh two flexible routes in the data. West Virginia Junior College's hybrid format cuts down on campus time for the associate degree. West Virginia University at Parkersburg's online RN-BSN works for nurses who already hold an active RN license, but it is not an entry point for first-time students. Pre-licensure clinicals still happen in person, so plan around a realistic drive.
How Long It Takes to Become an RN in West Virginia, by Pathway
If you are starting with no college degree, the fastest realistic route is an ADN, about 2 years of nursing coursework plus prerequisites. If you already hold a bachelor's degree, an accelerated BSN can get you there in roughly 12-18 months. Either way, plan for a few extra weeks after graduation for NCLEX scheduling and licensure processing.
West Virginia RN Licensing at a Glance
Other Board-Approved Nursing Programs Across West Virginia
West Virginia's nursing programs extend well beyond the schools in the ranking above. This directory groups other programs across the state by region, so you can compare location, degree level, delivery format, and reported average net price side by side. Nothing here is ranked; treat these entries as further options to weigh against the schools you are already considering.
Eastern Panhandle
- Nursing Associate Degree
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Nursing Comprehensive, B.S.N.
Potomac Highlands
- Nursing
- Nursing (LPN to BSN)
- Nursing Program: Associate in Applied Science, Nursing (A.D.N.)
North Central West Virginia
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (School Nurse Certification)
- Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
- LPN-ASN
- Weekend-Hybrid ASN
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- RN to BSN Online Program
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN)
Metro Valley
- Nursing (BSN)
- Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN)
- Nursing AAS
- Nursing
- RN to BSN
Southern West Virginia
- Nursing Associate Degree
- Associate Degree Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- RN to BSN
- Nursing, A.S.N.