2025 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia
Ranked #2 in popularity,
nursing is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.
College Factual reviewed 29 schools in Virginia to determine which ones were the best for associate degree seekers in the field of nursing. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 2,398 associate degrees in nursing during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Associate Degree
The nursing associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
Quality Overall Is Important
The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their associate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on nursing students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of nursing students who choose to seek a associate degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How much debt nursing students go into to obtain their associate degree and how well they are able to pay back that debt.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their associate degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Nursing in Virginia
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in nursing.
10 Top Virginia Schools for an Associate in Nursing
ECPI University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in nursing. ECPI University is a large private for-profit university located in the city of Virginia Beach.
Associate recipients from the nursing degree program at ECPI University make $3,399 more than the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a associate in nursing from ECPI University
Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in nursing has to check out Southside Virginia Community College. Located in the remote area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $66,693 for their early career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Southside Virginia Community College
Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for getting an associate degree in nursing. Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large city of Virginia Beach.
After graduating, nursing associate recipients usually earn around $68,983 in their early careers.
More information about a associate in nursing from Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach
Virginia Highlands Community College is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in nursing. Located in the small suburb of Abingdon, VHCC is a public college with a small student population.
Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $65,848 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Virginia Highlands Community College
Located in the rural area of Glenns, RCC is a public college with a small student population.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Rappahannock Community College receive an earnings boost of about $2,780 above the average earnings of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rappahannock Community College