Nursing in Virginia
Virginia has 154 nursing schools running 171 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 90.2%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $93,600; nurse practitioners, $127,810. Virginia is a compact state, so a license here can be a multistate license. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Virginia
140 of Virginia’s 171 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 86.9% — 0.4 points above the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 87.8%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 51 | 89.8% (44 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 46 | 90% (37 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. 9 programs tied at 100% — the five with the most nursing graduates are shown. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Liberty University - Accelerated BSNLynchburg · BSN100%
- Longwood UniversityFarmville · BSN100%
- Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke · ADN100%
- Southwest Virginia Community CollegeBluefield · ADN100%
- Wytheville Community CollegeWytheville · ADN100%
What Nurses Earn in Virginia
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Virginia is $3,950 below the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $4,490 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Virginia | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $93,600 | $127,810 |
| Median hourly | $45.00 | $61.45 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $67,830 | $99,990 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $125,580 | $161,470 |
| Employed in state | 77,490 | 7,110 |
Licensing in Virginia
Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Virginia can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Virginia board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly.
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Virginia?
Virginia has 154 nursing schools running 171 board-approved programs — 102 RN programs and 69 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Virginia?
The median Virginia RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 90.2%, and the average across programs was 86.9% — 0.4 points above the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Virginia?
Registered nurses in Virginia earn a median of $93,600 a year ($45.00 an hour), $3,950 below the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $127,810 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Virginia a compact nursing state?
Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Virginia can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.