West Virginia Nursing Schools & Programs

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Students earn an associate of science in nursing and qualify to take the NCLEX-RN. The 60-credit curriculum covers human anatomy and physiology and microbiology with labs, plus nursing care courses with clinical experiences.

Program(s): Associate of science in nursing (ASN)
Campus: Martinsburg, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Tuition: $172 per credit hour in state; $211 for neighboring counties in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania; $311 per credit hour out of state
Admission Requirements: Prerequisite course completion or enrollment; 2.5 GPA; TEAS score of 63.3 or higher
Minimum Time Commitment: 5 semesters
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $58,823 for associate graduates, per College Scorecard

West Virginia University

WVU offers a traditional BSN plus tracks for non-nursing bachelor's holders and registered nurses. Graduate study runs from an MSN and MSN/MBA to a DNP with a nurse anesthesia option and a PhD. Programs include 100 hours of community service and clinical experiences at an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Program(s): Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN); RN-to-BSN; master of science in nursing (MSN); MSN/MBA; post-master's specialty certificates; doctor of nursing practice (DNP); PhD
Campus: Morgantown, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Tuition:
BSN: $5,208-$5,868 per semester in state; $13,620-$14,040 out of state
MSN, MSN/MBA, PhD: $6,192 per semester in state; $14,202 out of state
DNP anesthesia: $11,259 per semester in state; $19,272 out of state
DNP, post-master's certificate: $715 per credit
Admission Requirements:
BSN: 3.0-3.2 college GPA or 3.6-3.8 high school GPA; SAT or ACT scores
RN-to-BSN: associate degree or diploma in nursing; 2.5 GPA; RN license
MSN: BSN; 3.0 GPA; RN license
DNP/PhD: MSN; 3.0-3.25 GPA; RN license
Minimum Time Commitment: 3 semesters
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.4% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $61,454 for bachelor's graduates and $94,763 for master's graduates, per College Scorecard

Davis and Elkins College

D&E offers traditional associate and bachelor's degrees plus advanced placement tracks for LPNs and RNs. It partners with area hospitals for four-to-six-week supervised summer externships, and online RN-to-BSN students complete clinical hours at their workplaces.

Program(s): Associate degree in nursing (ADN); bachelor of science in nursing (BSN); RN-to-BSN (online)
Campus: Elkins, West Virginia
Type: Private
Accreditation(s): Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA)
Tuition: $29,280 per year; RN-to-BSN $400 per credit hour
Admission Requirements: 2.5-3.0 GPA; TEAS scores; ACT or SAT scores for ADN entry; LPN or RN license for advanced placement
Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $50,022 for associate graduates, per College Scorecard

Shepherd University

Students practice in five simulation labs and pursue a bachelor's or a doctorate, with an RN-to-BSN track available online or on campus. Doctoral programs serve both bachelor's and master's degree holders, with specialization in family or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Program(s): Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN); doctor of nursing practice (DNP)
Campus: Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Tuition: Undergraduate $7,784 per year full-time in state, $18,224 out of state; DNP $767 per credit hour
Admission Requirements:
BSN: pre-nursing curriculum completion; 2.7 GPA; RN license for RN-to-BSN entry
DNP: 3.0 GPA; RN license
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $61,020 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard

West Liberty University

The BSN features tracks for high school graduates, non-nursing bachelor's holders, and RNs with an associate degree or diploma. All three combine classroom instruction with clinical experiences, and the RN entry program delivers upper-level courses online so RNs can keep working.

Program(s): Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN); RN-to-BSN
Campus: West Liberty, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Tuition:
In state: $4,273 per semester full-time; $350 per credit hour part-time
In metro area: $7,118 per semester full-time; $587 per credit hour part-time
Out of state: $8,382 per semester full-time; $692 per credit hour part-time
RN-to-BSN: $4,130 per semester full-time; $344 per credit hour part-time
Admission Requirements:
High school graduates: 3.5 GPA; 25 ACT or 1260 SAT
Non-nursing bachelor's holders: 3.0 GPA; nursing prerequisites
RN with diploma or associate degree: RN license; 2.0 GPA
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94.4% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $50,439 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard

Marshall University

Marshall offers two BSN paths: a traditional prelicensure track and an online RN-to-BSN for RNs with an associate degree or diploma. The prelicensure BSN includes clinical rotations at partner medical centers and hospitals to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-RN.

Program(s): Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN); RN-to-BSN
Campus: Huntington, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Tuition:
Prelicensure: $4,276 per semester in state; $7,318 in metro area; $9,803 out of state
Online: $3,195 per semester full-time; $266 per credit hour part-time
Admission Requirements:
Prelicensure: 2.5 GPA; ACT of 21 or SAT equivalent
RN-to-BSN: RN license; 2.5 GPA in associate or diploma program
Minimum Time Commitment: 12-24 months
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91.8% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $58,823 for associate, $57,318 for bachelor's, $87,183 for master's, and $185,138 for doctoral graduates, per College Scorecard

Fairmont State University

Fairmont offers an online RN-to-BSN and an associate of science in nursing. Associate seekers choose a two-year onsite traditional track, an online LPN-to-ASN program, or a hybrid weekend option. Online and onsite students complete clinical rotations in the Fairmont area.

Program(s): Associate of science in nursing (ASN); bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)
Campus: Fairmont, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): ASN: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); BSN: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Tuition: $319 per credit hour in state; $483 in metro area; $705 out of state; $329 online
Admission Requirements:
ASN: 2.0 GPA; ACT or SAT scores; TEAS score of 60; LPN license for LPN-to-ASN track
BSN: RN license; 2.0 GPA
Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 89% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $56,641 for associate and $63,855 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard

University of Charleston

UC offers nursing at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels. The BSN comes in a traditional option and an online RN-to-BSN bridge. Master's students study online and train as family nurse practitioners. The associate degree runs in a hybrid format.

Program(s): Associate degree in nursing (ADN); bachelor of science in nursing (BSN); RN-to-BSN; master of science in nursing (MSN)
Campus: Charleston, West Virginia
Type: Private
Accreditation(s): ADN and BSN: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Tuition: Traditional BSN $31,400 per year; ADN and RN-to-BSN $380 per credit hour; MSN $625 per credit hour
Admission Requirements:
ASN and BSN: 2.5 GPA; TEAS score of 60
RN-to-BSN: 2.0 college GPA; nursing and foundational prerequisites with a C or higher; RN license
MSN: BSN; RN license; statement of purpose; two recommendations
Minimum Time Commitment: 3 semesters
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95.5% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $57,564 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard

BridgeValley Community and Technical College

The associate degree combines classroom instruction, lab work, and clinical rotations at partner hospitals and providers. BridgeValley offers advanced placement for LPNs and paramedics, and graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN.

Program(s): Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
Campus: South Charleston, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Tuition: $188 per credit hour in state; $447 out of state
Admission Requirements: 3.0 high school GPA; 2.5 college GPA; TEAS score of 60.5
LPN/paramedic advanced placement: license or certificate; two years of work experience; 2.75 GPA; TEAS score of 60.5
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
On-Campus Requirements: Yes
School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95.7% first-time
Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $55,738 for associate graduates, per College Scorecard

Pierpont Community and Technical College

Pierpont trains future LPNs and awards a certificate of applied science; completion qualifies graduates for the NCLEX-PN. The part-time curriculum covers lab work, clinical practice, and coursework in geriatric nursing, maternal and pediatric nursing, nutrition, and pharmacology.

Program(s): Certificate of applied science in licensed practical nursing
Campus: Fairmont, West Virginia
Type: Public
Accreditation(s): West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses
Tuition: $212 per credit hour in state; $502 out of state
Admission Requirements: TEAS score of 50; human anatomy and fundamental mathematics prerequisites with a C or higher
Minimum Time Commitment: 5 semesters
On-Campus Requirements: Yes

How to Choose a Program in West Virginia

The right fit depends on your priorities: school and class size, tuition and financial aid, reputation and NCLEX-RN pass rates, acceptance rate and admission requirements, and program logistics. If you plan to attend online, confirm you can secure clinical placement in your community. Every program listed here is accredited, which matters because accreditation drives financial aid eligibility, credit transfer, and your ability to sit for board exams.

Why Become a Nurse in West Virginia

West Virginia posted an average NCLEX first-time pass rate of 89.7% from 2017 to 2021, ahead of many other states. The NLC membership is another draw, since it makes you eligible for a multistate license. For those who like the outdoors, the state offers cross-country and downhill skiing in winter and fishing, hiking, and white water rafting in summer.

Salary and Job Outlook

As of May 2024, RNs in West Virginia earned an average of $80,650 a year, below the national median of $93,600. The lower pay comes with a lower cost of living: the state's cost-of-living index sits at 90.5 against a national baseline of 100. RN jobs in the state are projected to grow about 4% over a recent ten-year window, near the 5% the BLS projects nationally from 2024 to 2034. The Morgantown and Charleston metro areas, home to the largest nursing schools, tend to pay the most.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in West Virginia

The path matches most states: graduate from nursing school, pass the NCLEX-RN (or the board certification exam for advanced practice nurses), and clear a criminal background check. The West Virginia State Board of Nursing lets RNs apply about two months before graduation, and you can see unofficial NCLEX-RN results two days after the exam.

RN Requirements

Graduate from an accredited ADN or BSN program, then pass the NCLEX-RN. The licensure-by-examination processing fee is $70, though individuals and military family members may qualify for a waiver from the state board. That waiver does not cover the $200 NCLEX-RN exam fee. Unlike most states, West Virginia renews RN licenses annually and requires 12 contact hours of continuing education each cycle.

APRN Requirements

To become an APRN you need a current RN license and a graduate degree, either an MSN or a DNP, with graduate courses in advanced physiology and pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, plus board certification. Send official transcripts to the state board. West Virginia is a reduced-practice state, so APRNs work in collaboration with a physician, and a collaborative agreement is required to prescribe for the first three years; after that, NPs who meet the requirements can apply to prescribe independently. APRN licenses renew every two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to earn an RN license in West Virginia? Two to four years. You graduate with an ADN (two years) or a BSN (four years), pass the NCLEX-RN, and clear a criminal background check.

Can I get a temporary license? Yes. A temporary license arrives within five to 10 days after the board receives all your paperwork and is good for 90 days.

What is a contact hour? A contact hour is 50 minutes of instruction from a state-recognized provider such as an accredited university. Ten contact hours equal one continuing education unit. West Virginia requires 12 contact hours to renew an RN license.

Does West Virginia accept credits from out-of-state programs? The board accepts credits from any state-approved nursing program, in West Virginia or elsewhere, plus other courses it has evaluated and authorized.

How many times can I take the NCLEX-RN? Up to eight times per year, with a 48-day wait between attempts. After two or more failed attempts, the board requires additional steps before you can retest.