Best colleges for nursing in Virginia
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for nursing in Virginia33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 2
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- 3
Chamberlain University-Virginia
Vienna, VA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 4
- 5
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 6
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 7
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 8
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 9
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 10
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 11
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 12Tie
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 12Tie
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 14
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 15
Longwood University
Farmville, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B
- 16
American National University
Salem, VA · Private for-profitTop 14% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 17
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 18
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 19
Hampton University
Hampton, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 20
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 21
South University-Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 22
Emory & Henry University
Emory, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 23
Averett University
Danville, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 24
Radford University
Radford, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 25
Marymount University
Arlington, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia | $21,565 | $17,500 | $86,863 | 96% |
| Riverside College of Health Careers | $20,744 | $14,787 | $66,072 | 100% |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | $33,199 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Centra College | — | $15,250 | $60,122 | 100% |
| James Madison University | $23,322 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| University of Mary Washington | $20,667 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| Regent University | $19,923 | $24,534 | $44,498 | 57% |
| Randolph-Macon College | $27,866 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | $9,210 | $16,750 | $45,325 | 47% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Shenandoah University | $30,298 | $25,000 | $58,433 | 67% |
| University of Lynchburg | $22,235 | $27,000 | $56,380 | 57% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Longwood University | $19,066 | $25,000 | $52,347 | 61% |
| American National University | $18,036 | $12,814 | $26,370 | 33% |
| Liberty University | $29,357 | $24,500 | $44,813 | 65% |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach | $12,038 | $21,549 | $32,568 | 24% |
| Hampton University | $25,319 | $25,442 | $59,159 | 57% |
| Old Dominion University | $14,638 | $24,000 | $54,914 | 46% |
| South University-Virginia Beach | $27,843 | $26,123 | $34,421 | 8% |
| Emory & Henry University | $19,061 | $26,332 | $47,385 | 56% |
| Averett University | $22,925 | $25,000 | $51,516 | 48% |
| Radford University | $14,578 | $24,000 | $53,739 | 49% |
| Marymount University | $29,137 | $25,000 | $67,516 | 54% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 16
- Arizona 10
- Arkansas 14
- California 53
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 17
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 35
- Georgia 37
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 33
- Indiana 30
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 9
- Maryland 12
- Massachusetts 24
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 25
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 36
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 9
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 7
- New York 58
- North Carolina 33
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 64
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 68
- Puerto Rico 33
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 20
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 52
- Utah 14
- Vermont 3
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 24