Nursing Degrees & Schools / Best Schools West Virginia
With large hospitals employers and an increase in nurses seeking West Virginia as home, the Mountain State is an increasingly attractive place for nursing students to start the journeys in healthcare.
Its top employer, West Virginia United Health System, operates dozens of hospitals statewide. In addition, a West Virginia Center for Nursing 2021 report documented an increase in registered nurses coming from other states, which could indicate attractive workplace conditions in the Mountain State, such as high salaries.
Read about the best nursing schools in West Virginia and take this opportunity to improve your career as well.
West Virginia’s top programs:
- West Virginia University
- Marshall University
- Shepherd University
- Fairmont State University
- West Liberty University
1. West Virginia University — Score 74
NCLEX pass rate: 100%
In-state annual tuition: $9,384
Out-of-state annual tuition: $26,568
West Virginia University’s School of Nursing has a nearly 100% employment rate. The institution offers a dual master’s degree program, MSN/MBA, for registered nurses who want to take an administrative path in their career.
Faith Community Nursing and Addiction Nursing Care are some examples of CEU courses that the organization also provides. It has an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and five different campuses across West Virginia. The university offers mental health services for all undergraduates in health sciences majors, including nursing.
Online classes: yes
The CCNE-accredited programs for nursing students are:
Graduation rate: 60%
Programs offered:
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2. Marshall University — Score 74
NCLEX pass rate: 100%
In-state annual tuition: $8,604
Out-of-state annual tuition: $19,658
Marshall University has partnerships with top facilities, such as St. Mary’s Medical Center, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital and Pleasant Valley Hospital, to provide clinical experiences to its undergraduates.
Its MSN program had a 96.43% pass rate on the family nurse practitioner certification exam in 2021. In addition to its ACEN accreditation in many programs, its nurse-midwifery program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and its psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program is accredited by CCNE.
Online classes: yes
The ACEN-accredited programs for nursing students are:
- BSN
- MSN
- Post-MSN
Graduation rate: 50%
Programs offered:
- BSN
- BS/BA to BSN
- RN to BSN
- MSN
- Post-MSN
- DNP
3. Shepherd University — Score 64
NCLEX pass rate: 89%
In-state annual tuition: $8,282
Out-of-state annual tuition: $18,722
Shepherd University offers multiple entry ways to its DNP program: through BSN, MSN to FNP/DNP, MSN to PMHNP/DNP or MSN without a NP certification. The school is accredited by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBOERN).
Its BSN program follows a patient-centered curriculum. The institution also has top simulation labs to help students acquire knowledge in critical care, mother-child, and independent living specialties.
Online classes: yes
The CCNE-accredited programs for nursing students are:
- BSN
- DNP
- PGC APRN
Graduation rate: 49%
Programs offered:
- BSN
- RN to BSN
- DNP
- Post Graduate Certificate Program
4. Fairmont State University — Score 44
NCLEX pass rate: 88%
In-state annual tuition: $8,210
Out-of-state annual tuition: $17,840
Fairmont State University’s BSN program is accredited by CCNE and its ADN program is accredited by ACEN. Also, the bachelor’s degree program had a 100% employment rate in 2017 and 2018. The college was named one of the best nursing schools in West Virginia by RNCareers.org.
Online classes: yes
Graduation rate: 42%
Programs offered:
- ASN Program
- BSN
5. West Liberty University — Score 44
NCLEX pass rate: 88%
In-state annual tuition: $8,176
Out-of-state annual tuition: $17,100
West Liberty University is rated one of the best regional universities in the South by the U.S. News & World Report. Its BSN program is accredited by the CCNE. Its entry-level/pre-licensure program had a 75% NCLEX pass rate in 2021 and the BA/BS to BSN program had a 100% rating the same year.
In addition, its online RN to BSN program provides an individual nursing advisor for the nurses enrolled so they can have a guide to evaluate their educational and career options.
Online classes: yes
Graduation rate: 46%
Programs offered:
- BA/BS to BSN
- RN to BSN
- Entry-Level/Pre-Licensure Program
| School | Graduation Rate | In State Annual Tuition | Out of State Annual Tuition | NCLEX Pass Rates | Accreditation | Nursing Programs | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University | 60.00% | $9,384.00 | $26,568.00 | 100% | Yes | BSN, BS/BA to BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, Post-MSN, DNP, PhD | 74 | 2 |
| Marshall University | 50.00% | $8,604 | $19,658.00 | 100% | Yes | BSN, BS/BA to BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, Post-MSN, DNP | 74 | 2 |
| Shepherd University | 49.00% | $8,282 | $18,722.00 | 89% | Yes | BSN, RN to BSN, DNP, Post Graduate Certificate Program | 64 | 3 |
| Fairmont State University | 42.00% | $8,210 | $17,840.00 | 88% | Yes | ASN Program, BSN | 44 | 5 |
| West Liberty University | 46.00% | $8,716 | $17,100.00 | 88% | Yes | BA/BS to BSN, RN to BSN, Entry-Level/Pre-Licensure Program | 44 | 5 |
How to choose the right nursing program
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for registered nurses is projected to grow 9% by 2030. This means that it is necessary to be strategic when choosing a nursing program, to take advantage of this opportunity. Read our tips for help.
Location
Most cities in West Virginia are considered fairly small – even Charleston, the capital. Choose a college in the Mountain State to enjoy a tight-knit community and a positive lifestyle.
Tuition
Choosing a nursing program based on its tuition is reasonable, especially if you’re not from West Virginia, which can raise the cost. Also, check if the school offers work-study opportunities, student loans and scholarships.
NCLEX pass rate
It’s recommended to choose schools with at least a 90% NCLEX pass rate. For this purpose, schools usually offer an intensive course to prepare undergraduates for the exam, which helps them succeed on the first try.
Programs offered
There are various nursing career pathways, so if a school doesn’t have the program you’re looking for, it is worth continuing the search. The programs are generally competitive, so it is important to avoid starting a degree and not finishing it.
Graduation rate
A 90% graduation rate is a good indicator, in general. But it’s important to check if its curriculum is also of a high level, in addition to factors such as employment rates and the coursework itself.
Next steps
After analyzing each of the factors, such as location, tuition and school ratings, it is advisable to look at employment projections for the state.
To get your first job, you’ll need to start the licensure and certification processes. We help you with a guide to the nursing requirements in West Virginia. Read it tomake the process easier for yourself.
Many employers also have education requirements, as do states. Sign up on Incredible Health and access free West Virginia CEU courses to meet these criteria.
If you have specific questions, ask them directly to experienced nurses.
Methodology
In order to determine the best nursing schools in a state, Incredible Health compared the top schools among five categories: graduation rate, tuition, NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and the number of nursing programs offered.
Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale with 100 representing the highest total for that category. Then we compiled the individual scores to get an overall score.
We used data from:
- West Virginia University
- Marshall University
- Shepherd University
- Fairmont State University
- West Liberty University
- West Virginia Board of Nursing
- U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings
Article Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – Registered Nurses. bls.gov. Accessed August 30, 2022.
- “West Virginia Center for Nursing releases 2021 data as part of efforts to strengthen state’s nursing workforce”. wvhepc.edu. Accessed August 30, 2022.
