The Best Virginia Nurse Practitioner Programs
Credit: Photos by Coyle / Moment / Getty ImagesNurse practitioners (NP) provide specialized care to families, children, older adults, and individuals with certain medical conditions. As advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), they hold graduate degrees and specialty licenses, affording them many career opportunities. In 2023, the Virginia Department of Health Professions reported Virginia NPs as the highest employed APRNs in the state.
Read more to learn about NP programs, including admission requirements and coursework, and consider these top-ranked NP schools in Virginia.
Learn More About the Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in Virginia
Marymount University
Arlington, VA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Marymount University's MSN program is offered in person and online one day a week to accommodate nurses who work full-time. They are a CCNE-accredited school, recognized as a College of Distinction.
Students complete 45 credit hours and 700 clinical hours across five full-time semesters or seven part-time semesters. The program typically enrolls 25 students, which helps to encourage collaboration, faculty mentorship, and professional success.
- Program(s): Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Campus: Arlington, Virginia
- Type: Private Catholic
- Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,140 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: RN licensure in Virginia, BSN from an accredited program, two years experience as a registered nurse, professional resume, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, essay
- Minimum Time Commitment: 30-42 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $98,210 for MSN graduates, according to College Scoreboard
- In-State$33,200
- Out-of-state$33,200
- In-State$19,620
- Out-of-state$19,620
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled3,294
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment69%
- AccreditationYes
Radford University
- Radford, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Radford University offers a program for nursing administrators, family nurse practitioners (FNP), and a post-master's certificate for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP). The FNP program prepares graduates to be clinicians, educators, leaders, and scholars.
Students have a 96% employment rate after graduation. The nursing administration track expands your clinical and research abilities, preparing you for leadership certification.
- Program(s): Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner; Nursing Administration; post-master's certificate: PMHNP
- Campus: Radford, VA
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $21,316 per year
- Admission Requirements: Unrestricted RN license, BSN with a 3.0 GPA from an accredited nursing school, passing grade in a statistics course, three recommendations, resume, personal essay, minimum of 2,000 RN practice hours
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months part-time covering 50 credit hours and 605 clinical hours
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes (2-3 on-campus intensives)
- In-State$7,922
- Out-of-state$19,557
- In-State$8,915
- Out-of-state$17,441
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled10,695
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment87%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best nursing programs, making it easy to find a program that meets your needs. Informed by data from the most reputable sources, including the U.S. Department of Education, our methodology is based on metrics that matter most to nursing students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings. This list was created prior to 2025.
How Do Nurse Practitioner Programs Work?
Nurse practitioner programs include classroom learning (in-person, online, or hybrid) and clinical training at a health facility. Coursework includes core classes (e.g., advanced nursing, pharmacology, and health assessment) and specialty courses, such as family care, adult-gerontology health, or neonatal care.
Candidates are required to choose a specialty upon enrollment and can earn a master of science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) upon program completion.
Nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) can complete traditional NP programs in 2-3 years. RNs with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) can finish in 4-6 years through nursing bridge programs. But program length can vary based on specialty choice and whether students are enrolled full- versus part-time.
Applying to a Nurse Practitioner Program in Virginia
While NP schools in Virginia share similar application requirements, eligibility can vary based on factors such as program type, degree held, and whether the applicant is pursuing an MSN or DNP. Applicants can expect to submit paperwork, such as degrees, transcripts, recommendation letters, and essays. Entrance exams may be required for some program types.
- Admission Materials: BSN if applying to traditional NP programs or ADN for bridge programs; Proof of one or more years of RN experience; Standardized entrance exam, but proof of an MSN may be submitted in lieu of exam scores; Transcripts showing completion of prerequisite courses, including health assessment, statistics, and nursing research.
- Minimum GPA Requirement: 3.0
- Other Requirements: Recommendation letters, personal statement or essay, and resume/CV to prove personal and clinical readiness.
Why Is NP Program Accreditation Important?
Choosing an accredited NP program in Virginia increases the likelihood graduates will be adequately prepared for an advanced nursing role. Nursing school accreditation proves that a nursing program meets specific educational standards established by accrediting bodies, such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Accredited NP schools in Virginia undergo rigorous evaluations to ensure graduates have a high chance of meeting specialty role competencies and passing the NP state board exam. Accreditation also makes candidates eligible for financial aid and gives them the ability to transfer course credits to other accredited schools.
All Virginia nursing programs in our rankings are accredited.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Practitioner Programs in Virginia
Becoming an NP in Virginia takes about 2-3 years for RNs with a BSN and 4-6 years for ADN-prepared nurses. Program length can also vary based on your specialty choice, enrollment status, and whether you are pursuing an MSN or DNP.
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