Nursing Programs in Charleston, WV
A career in nursing is a rewarding career path with a variety of specialties and work environments to choose from. With an aging population nationwide, nursing as a profession is expected to grow over the next several years providing nurses with a bright career outlook. If you are interested in starting a career in nursing, or if you're an experienced nurse who wants to expand your skill set, there are accredited nursing programs available to you in the Charleston area as well as online to turn your dreams of nursing into a reality.
To get started in nursing or to advance your nursing career, check out our accredited program listings sections below:
2027 Best Nursing Schools in Charleston
Yearly Pass Rate Trends in Charleston
Pass rates in Charleston demonstrated strong performance, with a slight decline from 2023 to 2024. The number of students remained consistent across both years.
- 2023: 100% average pass rate (17 students)
- 2024: 94.12% average pass rate (17 students)
Yearly Nursing Graduates in Charleston
The annual number of nursing graduates remained stable over the two-year period.
- 2023: 17 graduates
- 2024: 17 graduates
Top Performing Nursing Schools in Charleston
West Virginia State University leads with a consistently high average pass rate across two years of data.
- West Virginia State University: 97.06% average pass rate (34 students over 2 years)
Pass Rate by Program Size
The program included in this analysis is classified as small, with fewer than 50 students per year, and demonstrates a strong pass rate.
- Small (<50 students/year): 94.12% average pass rate (17 students)
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV - Public 4-Year - wvstateu.edu
Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
West Virginia State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares you as a nurse generalist ready to care for diverse populations in hospitals, clinics, and community settings. The curriculum blends traditional classroom learning with modern technology, combining liberal arts and sciences with professional nursing courses. You'll build skills in patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and ethical decision-making. The program opens doors to specialized fields like pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology, and psychiatry, and provides a strong foundation for graduate education or advanced practice roles. With a focus on health promotion and disease prevention, this BSN equips you for lifelong learning and career growth in the evolving healthcare landscape.
- Prepares nurse generalist for diverse settings
- Traditional classroom with state-of-the-art technology
- Liberal arts and science foundation
- Opportunities in pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology
- Pathway to advanced practice nursing
- Career advancement platform
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
South Charleston, WV - Public 2-Year - bridgevalley.edu
Associate - Nursing AAS
Campus Based - Visit Website
The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at BridgeValley Community & Technical College is a two-year program that blends nursing theory, general education, and clinical practice. Students gain hands-on experience through partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare providers. The program prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam and careers as registered nurses in diverse healthcare settings. Multiple pathways accommodate different backgrounds, including a 16-month accelerated option, advanced placement for LPNs and paramedics, and a VoTech-RN track. Accredited by ACEN, the program maintains high standards. Admission requires a high school diploma or equivalent, a minimum GPA, and a TEAS VII score of 60% or higher. With fall and spring start dates, the program offers flexibility for students seeking a rewarding nursing career.
- ACEN, West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses accredited
- 6 concentration options
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 2-Year program
- Starts fall/spring
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- 16-Month Accelerated Option available
- LPN and Paramedic advanced placement
- ACEN accredited since 2007
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV - Private 4-year - ucwv.edu
Bachelor's - Nursing (BSN)
Campus Based - Visit Website
The University of Charleston's traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program offers a comprehensive foundation in nursing science and practice. Students study health assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, medical-surgical nursing, maternal and child health, mental health nursing, and community-based care. The curriculum emphasizes clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision making. Clinical rotations take place at premier facilities including the state's only Level I trauma center and a free-standing women's and children's hospital, all within minutes of campus. With a low faculty-to-student ratio and over 50 years of experience, the program prepares graduates to excel as registered professional nurses and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. The program is accredited by ACEN and holds a top ranking in West Virginia.
- ACEN accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 4-Year program
- 96% licensure pass rate
- 2.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Clinical experiences at Level I trauma center
- Over 50 years of nursing education
Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Charleston, WV
The place to begin your career as a registered nurse is an entry-level program. There are several entry-level program types to choose from, including LPN to RN programs, which are designed for licensed practical nurses who wish to become registered nurses, as well as Associate’s Degree in Nursing programs (ADN) and of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. All three of these program types prepare students for the NCLEX licensing exam and for their first jobs are RNs, though there are some differences in curriculum and outcomes.
LPN to RN Programs
For experienced LPNs who would like to advance their careers in nursing and earn a higher salary, an LPN to RN program may be a good fit. LPN to RN “bridge” programs take into account previous LPN coursework and professional experience and provide a streamlined pathway to either an ADN or BSN degree for students. Bridge Valley Community & Technical College offers an advanced placement LPN to ADN program that prepares students for the licensing exam and for entry-level RN positions in a variety of settings.
ADN Programs
ADN programs provide students with a solid foundation of nursing principles and clinical practice skills, generally over the course of two years of study. Bridge Valley Community & Technical College offers an ADN program with a combination of general education courses with nursing major courses, such as health assessment and diagnostics, nursing pharmacology, drug and dosage calculations, and professional nursing and health system concepts.
Direct-Entry BSN Programs
Increasingly, healthcare employers are looking for entry level nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. As such, BSN programs are rising in popularity as entry-level nursing education programs. BSN programs, such as the one offered at the University of Charleston, are generally four-year full-time programs, and provide additional curriculum not typically included in ADN programs, such as mental health care, nursing research, pediatrics, medical/surgical and preventative care.
Find out more about West Virginia Accelerated BSN Programs.
RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Charleston, WV
RN to BSN Programs in Charleston, WV
Many nurses with their ADN degree are interested in going back to school to earn their BSN in order to secure a higher paying job or move into a more advanced role in their organization. These nurses would benefit from specially designed RN to BSN “bridge programs,” which provide an accelerated pathway to a BSN degree for experienced RNs.
RN to BSN Programs
While there are no traditional on-campus RN to BSN programs in the Charleston area, there are a number of online options, which provide students with the flexibility to take classes and complete assignments whenever it is convenient for them. This flexibility is especially valuable to working nurses who need to fit in schoolwork around their busy work schedules, which may include nights and/or weekend hours. The University of Charleston offers an online RN to BSN program that includes 8 week-long courses, with a combination of core, foundational and nursing courses that may be completed in one year (3 semesters) of study.
Find out more about West Virginia RN to BSN Programs.
List of RN to BSN/MSN Programs
Charleston, WV
University of Charleston
- RN to BSN - Nursing (RN-BSN)
Online Learning - Website
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
- 3-Semester program
- Complete in As quickly as three semesters of full-time study
- 2.0 GPA minimum
- Fully online with no residency requirement
- 50 credit hours awarded for RN license
- Ranked in 2019 Best Online Colleges
- Ranked #2 nursing program in WV
APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Charleston, WV
List of APRN (MSN, DNP, & NP) Programs in Charleston
Charleston, WV
University of Charleston
- BSN to MSN - Master of Science in Nursing
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner - Online Learning - Website
- 5 semesters full-time
- 42 credits required
- Online format
- 750 clinical hours
- Two annual starts
- Spring and fall terms
- 7 semesters part-time
- Designed for working RNs
Comprehensive List of Nursing Schools Near Charleston, WV
Charleston, WV
University of Charleston
- Bachelor's - Nursing (BSN)
Campus Based - Website
- ACEN accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 4-Year program
- 96% licensure pass rate
- 2.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Institute, WV
West Virginia State University
- Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- Prepares nurse generalist for diverse settings
- Traditional classroom with state-of-the-art technology
- Liberal arts and science foundation
- Opportunities in pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology
- Pathway to advanced practice nursing
- Career advancement platform
South Charleston, WV
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
- Associate - Nursing AAS
Campus Based - Website
- ACEN, West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses accredited
- 6 concentration options
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- 2-Year program
- Starts fall/spring
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- 16-Month Accelerated Option available