Best RN-to-BSN Degree Programs in Virginia

NurseJournal Staff
By
Updated on October 3, 2023
    Featured ImageCredit: joe daniel price / Moment / Getty Images

    Virginia is on the Atlantic coast and offers a fantastic climate, rich history and rolling hills. There are beautiful historical sites like Colonial Williamsburg, the former Jamestown Colony and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, where students can enjoy their time off.

    If you want to become a nurse in Virginia, you should always try to get a BSN degree at the very least. This is because you will be able to get far better job prospects than if you simply have an RN (registered nurse) license through an associate’s degree. The nursing shortage in Virginia is not as severe as was initially expected, but this doesn’t mean that demand isn’t still high. Indeed, some 12,000 new jobs are expected to be created between now and 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The reason why the shortage is not as high as it was expected is because many RNs are delaying their retirement. This is a true testament to the dedication of nursing professionals in the state.

    Currently, some 60,120 RNs are employed in the state and their mean annual wage is $63,150. If you want to become part of this exciting workforce, then you should consider contacting some of the schools listed below. Let’s take a look at the top 7 Virginia BSN degree programs.

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    Explore the Best Virginia RN-to-BSN Degree Programs and Schools

    We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
    from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

    Eastern Mennonite University

    • Harrisonburg, VA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online
    • Accredited

    At Eastern Mennonite University, nursing students become part of a learning community. This operates on the belief of trust among each other, as well as responsibility, loyalty, unconditional faithfulness and mutual obligations. Students have one-on-one relationships with their mentors. The program is highly flexible, which allows students to gain skills with confidence and adaptability, which are two characteristics needed in the changing field of health care. Graduates are able to make a real difference in the lives of the people they serve. Finally, students are encouraged to develop global awareness by taking part in a cross-cultural study that helps them to appreciate the diversity of cultures around the world.

    • Campus: Harrisonburg, VA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $40,660 per year
    • Minimum time commitment: Four years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: GPA of 2.8 minimum, prerequisite courses, high school or GED
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    34%

    Online Enrollment

    $39,620

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

    79%

    Retention Rate

    $39,620

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
    Acceptance Rate
    99%
    Students Enrolled
    1,337
    Institution Type
    Private

    George Mason University

    • Fairfax, VA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online
    • Accredited

    At George Mason University, students can take part in a BSN degree program that was first started some 30 years ago. Since its inception, the program has developed and gone from strength to strength. It offers state-of-the-art simulation laboratories to their students and the faculty to student ratio is just 1:8 during clinical practicums. Graduates are able to deliver the highest levels of care and become leaders in the field of nursing.

    • Campus: Fairfax, VA
    • Type: Public
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $425.25 per credit hour for in state students and $1,240 per credit hour for out of state students
    • Minimum time commitment: 2 years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, prerequisite courses
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    78%

    Online Enrollment

    $ 9,796

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

    85%

    Retention Rate

    $33,960

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
    Acceptance Rate
    90%
    Students Enrolled
    39,049
    Institution Type
    Public

    Hampton University

    • Hampton, VA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online
    • Accredited

    At Hampton University, students can take part in a BSN degree program that has existed for over 100 years. The goal has always been to serve humanity as a whole, and this still lies at the heart of the program. Students are encouraged to be dedicated to lifelong learning and to continue on to their master’s and even doctorate degree after they have completed their BSN degree.

    • Campus: Hampton, VA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE, ACEN
    • Tuition: $31,702 per year on campus and $22,010 for off campus students
    • Minimum time commitment: 123 credit hours
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED
    • Programs: Accelerated BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    12%

    Online Enrollment

    $26,198

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

    77%

    Retention Rate

    $26,198

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
    Acceptance Rate
    76%
    Students Enrolled
    3,249
    Institution Type
    Private

    James Madison University

    • Harrisonburg, VA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online
    • Accredited

    At James Madison University, students can take part in a 4-year BSN degree program. The first two years of the program focus on general education and prerequisite courses. Only those who complete this with satisfactory results are able to continue on to the two completing years. The nursing program itself starts in this second part. This includes elective courses, theoretical nursing and nursing practice. There is a lot of flexibility in terms of the elective courses.

    • Campus: Harrisonburg, VA
    • Type: Public
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $912 per credit hour
    • Minimum time commitment: Four years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, GPA of 3.0, prerequisite courses
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    35%

    Online Enrollment

    $ 7,460

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

    91%

    Retention Rate

    $23,800

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
    Acceptance Rate
    86%
    Students Enrolled
    22,166
    Institution Type
    Public

    Liberty University

    • Lynchburg, VA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online
    • Accredited

    Liberty University intends to prepare nurses who follow ethical Christian standards in their practice. They believe nursing is a true calling. The curriculum follows the theoretical framework developed by Benner, which includes arts, sciences and the Bible. Graduates are presumed to have all the knowledge, critical thinking skills, clinical experiences and work ethics required to make a true difference in the field of health care.

    • Campus: Lynchburg, VA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $29,200
    • Minimum time commitment: 124 credits
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, SAT/ACT
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    91%

    Online Enrollment

    $15,409

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

    83%

    Retention Rate

    $15,409

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
    Acceptance Rate
    99%
    Students Enrolled
    15,822
    Institution Type
    Private

    University of Lynchburg

    • Lynchburg, VA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online
    • Accredited

    The nursing major offered at Lynchburg College is demanding and rigorous. This is why it has such a strong reputation of excellence and graduates are in high demand for positions across the state and beyond. Students will gain valuable laboratory clinical experience in a variety of real-life settings. Class sizes are small so that students are able to get the individual attention they require. They will have opportunities on both academic and practical levels in order to become the best nurses in their field. Additionally, graduates are encouraged to continue to study towards their master’s or even doctorate degree.

    • Campus: Lynchburg, VA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $16,800 per semester
    • Minimum time commitment: 124 credit hours
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, SAT I, letters of recommendation, essay, GPA of 3.2, SAT/ACT
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    50%

    Online Enrollment

    $33,500

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

    76%

    Retention Rate

    $33,500

    Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
    Acceptance Rate
    96%
    Students Enrolled
    2,394
    Institution Type
    Private