2023 - Best Nursing Schools in West Virginia

Davis & Elkins College located in Elkins, West Virginia has one of the best nursing programs in the entire state. They offer an ADN program and unique to a community college, they also offer an online RN to BSN program. The online program can be completed in 12 months and students are kept with small cohorts so that they get to know their online peers. The NCLEX-RN pass rates of the recent years have been more than 80% and the board certification passing rate and job placement rates are approximately 100%.

Along with high-quality education, Davis and Elkins College offers a beautiful rural campus, a variety of recreational opportunities, friendly faculty and staff, and a small faculty-student ratio. The college also has a wonderful externship program that allows nursing students who have completed their first year to earn and learn the ropes of nursing during a 4-6 week-long summer program. In this program, the students work and learn under the supervision of an RN to get first-hand learning experience and increase their knowledge and skills in core nursing competencies like patient assessment, clinical judgment, decision making, critical thinking, and other skills. The externs get the chance to learn in various clinical settings around the community.

In addition to this, Davis and Elkins College also provide generous scholarships and financial aid to students via partnerships with various healthcare facilities.

Undergraduate Programs: The four years traditional BSN program at Davis and Elkins College is a competitive program that prepares students for a wide variety of nursing roles and careers. Graduates of the program work in hospitals, home care services, military, educational facilities, management, as well as research.

Similarly, the ASN program also prepares students to take their NCLEX-RN examination and work in hospitals, home care services, doctors’ offices, and other areas.

The college also offers an online RN to BSN program that is designed to help working RNs pursue their BSN degree via a flexible and online course. The program only includes two courses at a time over an 8-week period which allows students to earn their BSN degree within a year.

Finally, there is an in-person LPN to ASN program that includes on-campus classes with onsite clinical rotations, that allows students to get their ASN degree in a year and a half.

Salem University is one of the best in the state with an NCLEX-RN pass rate of almost a perfect 100%. The work-focused nursing degrees provide a foundation for further growth and learning. The study also enjoys the benefits of small class sizes and one-on-one mentorship and instruction from the faculty.

Salem University provides ample opportunities for nursing students to practice their skills and knowledge. The modern simulation equipment and simulated scenarios allow students to get hands-on experience in life-like situations they would encounter while working in healthcare. Additionally, the university also has clinical affiliations with almost a dozen healthcare facilities and organizations in the area so students get the opportunity to get much-needed clinical experiences in a high-quality, hands-on environment. The classroom education, lab hours, and clinical rotations at Salem University allow students to excel at nursing skills, procedures, techniques, problem-solving, reasoning, communication, and critical thinking.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate of Science in Nursing is a 22-month program that prepares students to excel at their NCLEX-RN examination and work at a variety of healthcare facilities. The well-rounded and comprehensive curriculum allows students to learn to provide excellent patient care to all ages.

Similarly, for RNs who do not have their Bachelor’s degree, Salem University offers an online RN to BSN program that is designed by nurses for nurses. The course focuses on the needs, experiences, and other skills they will need as they advance their careers.

Graduate Programs: The fully online MSN program at Salem University helps students build upon their previous knowledge as a bachelor-level nurses. The MSN degree focuses on either Nursing Administration or Nursing Education and has evidence-based research findings as its foundation.

West Liberty University aims to be a state and regional leader in providing excellence in professional nursing education and with an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 93.70%, it is well on its way to achieving that goal. The oldest higher education institution in the mountain state, West Liberty University prides itself in its history and has made itself a dynamic, inclusive, student-centered community. 

In its mission to create professional and competent nurses and nurse leaders, West Liberty University provides ample classroom opportunities including presentations, group projects, and individualized instruction from faculty. The students also get the chance to practice in different clinical settings under the supervision of healthcare professionals where they learn the core values of teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The university helps students develop into professionals who can make safe clinical decisions in a collaborative and global healthcare environment. The education environment fosters scholarly exploration, experiential learning, creative expressions, and global citizenship.

Undergraduate Programs: The entry-level/prelicensure BSN program is a four-year course that prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN examination.

West Liberty University offers a BA/BS to BSN program for students who have a bachelor's degree in another niche and want to change their career to nursing.

Similarly, for RNs who have completed their associate degree or a diploma course, the RN-BSN online program servers as a convenient medium to get their bachelor’s degree in nursing.

West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, West Virginia.  The cost of WVU is below the national average at $7,992 per year for in-state tuition. They offer a BSN degree which requires students to log 1,100 of clinical hours, 950 of which must take place in an Academic Medical Center with Level I Trauma designation. They also boast that their 2014 graduating class had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN.

At West Virginia University School of Nursing students are provided with the highest level of professional education with plenty of opportunities for expanding both their careers and education. The university boasts a 98% NCLEX-RN pass rate and a nearly 100% job placement rate. 

West Virginia University School of Nursing provides a nursing program that is both competitive and offers the necessary skills and clinical experience to navigate the ever-changing modern healthcare environment. In fact, along with the classroom education, lab work, and clinical rotations, each nursing student here completes 100 hours of community service by the time they graduate. There are also prominent research and scholarly activities going on at the campus at all times. These research activities are aimed towards reducing the health disparities among the rural Appalachians by working with adults, families, and communities of West Virginia. In addition to this, the university is also incredibly focused on making nursing education accessible and available to every student. To do this, they provide more than $2 million in research awards, grants, and contracts.

Undergraduate Programs: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program aims to provide nursing with the necessary skills, knowledge, and competence to lead a successful career as an RN or to make way for further education. 

Similarly, for students who already have their BS/BA degrees, the university as an accelerated BA/BS to BSN program that allows them to complete their BSN degree in as little as 18 months of continuous enrollment.

For RNs who have their associate in nursing degrees and wish to complete their BSN degree, West Virginia University School of Nursing offers an online RN to BSN program which is designed for completion in three semesters of full-time study.

Graduate Programs: The MSN programs at West Virginia University School of Nursing offer both full-time and part-time curriculum options for students who have completed their bachelor’s degree and wish to get their master’s. The course offers two master’s tracks; PNP (Pediatric) and FNP (Family) nurse practitioner tracks.

Similarly, there is also a dual master’s degree program created with The John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University that allows MSN students to graduate with their MBA.

There are also multiple Post-MSN Certificates offered for students who have already earned their master’s degree in nursing. These courses include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMNHP), and Nurse Executive Leadership (NEL).

Finally, West Virginia University School of Nursing also has DNP, DNP Nurse Anesthetist, and Ph.D. programs for nursing graduates looking to earn a terminal degree in nursing practice.

West Virginia Junior College teaches its students with a challenging curriculum focusing on compassion, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as its foundation. By the time the students graduate, they possess the skills to be great leaders as well as competent care providers. 

The faculty comprises of dedicated, learned, and working healthcare professionals who are committed to the success and career goals of the students. In addition to that, the small class sizes and ample classroom instruction account for individualized attention and mentorship from the world-class faculty. The college is also well-equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms, high-fidelity skills laboratory, and other learning resources that allow students to practice their nursing skills and knowledge to perfection. West Virginia Junior college also allows its students to take part in clinical practice in multiple diverse healthcare facilities in the area to ensure that the students know how to work in a real hospital environment before assuming the roles of professional nurses. The school provides all its nursing students with a well-rounded, specialized nursing education to help them prepare for a challenging and rewarding career as a registered nurse.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate Degree in Nursing program at West Virginia Junior College is one of the best in the state and has been preparing competent, qualified, and compassionate nurses for many years now. The education and instruction they receive at this institute have been very helpful for the graduates to pass their NCLEX-RN examination and lead a rewarding nursing career.

The Marshall University School of Nursing is one of the best nursing colleges in both the state and the nation with an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91.84% and an FNP certification pass rate of 96.77%. The School of Nursing also provides students with the option to choose from multiple specialties to choose from.

At Marshall University School of Nursing, students get the chance to participate in a wide variety of clinical rotations that provide them with the opportunity to gain nursing experience as well as explore their specialty options. These rotations also prepare them to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities of various backgrounds in a variety of healthcare settings. In addition to some of the most prominent hospitals, Marshall University has also partnered with various clinics, health departments, schools, and doctor’s offices for clinical rotations so that the students can fully explore their options while also learning to provide care in all kinds of healthcare facilities. These clinical rotations along with the classroom education and lab work help students perform as responsible and competent members of the healthcare environment who practice nursing legally and ethically.

Undergraduate Programs: The pre-licensure BSN program offers students all the knowledge and skills needed to pass their NCLEX-RN examination and pursue a nursing career in the healthcare setting of their choice.

Similarly, the online RN to BSN program serves as a flexible and convenient measure for working RNs to complete their BSN degree and expand their capacity for critical thinking, clinical judgment, and evidence-based practice.

Graduate Programs: The Master of Science in Nursing degree at Marshall University is a 100% online program with options in MSN Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The program aims to prepare graduates for advanced practice in a variety of healthcare settings, particularly in rural and under-served communities.

Marshall University also has a DNP program that provides students with a customized learning experience via online synchronous and asynchronous courses. The practice at this level builds on past advanced practice education, experience, and certification.

Finally, Marshall University School of Nursing has partnered with the Marshall University Brad D. Smith School of Business to create a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice in conjunction with the Nurse Anesthesia Program. This program combines advanced professional nurse anesthesia practice and entrepreneurial business management training.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College originated over 40 years ago and was originally called Shepherd Community College and was renamed Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in 2006.

At Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, the nursing courses are intended to provide the students with the awareness of the value and dignity of people. The faculty teach the students to view the patient as an integrated, unique individual who requires nursing knowledge and skill.

The high-quality classrooms, lab, and clinical rotations educate students for practicing to enhance the health status of the region. The simulation and clinical rotations allow them the use their classroom knowledge to develop critical thinking skills and use evidence-based research to demonstrate competent practice to deliver safe and effective patient care. The competitive and relevant curriculum allows students to provide care according to the legal, ethical, and professional standards while also considering the impact of economic, political, social, and demographic forces.

Undergraduate Programs: The ASN course prepares students to take excel at their NCLEX-RN examination and also provides a base for further education and career advancement. The course teaches entry-level professionals to provide compassionate nursing care to patients regardless of different values, beliefs, cultures, lifestyles.

Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia.  They offer an ASN degree through a partnership with St. Mary's School of Nursing and Marshall University.  They also offer a BSN degree, which is the largest BSN program within a university setting in the region.  They also offer an online RN to BSN option.

West Virginia Northern Community College is among the best nursing colleges in the state with a rich history of 40+ years of higher education. The college aims to produce nurses who are competent, knowledgeable, and can advocate for their patients.

To allow the students to develop into skilled professionals who can implement evidence-based research into their practice, West Virginia Northern Community College integrates precepted clinical experiences with classroom instruction. This clinical practicum takes place in multiple specialized healthcare facilities and provides for community experiences. The experiences ensure that the nurses make sound judgments in practice that are backed with evidence-based practices and that they provide quality care that promotes the health of patients within a family and community context. The students are trained to become healthcare leaders who can evaluate the utilization of healthcare system resources to effectively and efficiently manage care.

Undergraduate Programs: The AAS program at West Virginia Northern Community College allows students to sit for their NCLEX-RN examination upon completion. The students are recommended to complete the program via either a two-year full-time enrollment or a three-year part-time enrollment should an interruption in education occur.