Accredited nursing programs in Virginia
50 schools in Virginia have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 28 BSN, 24 ADN, 2 LPN, 15 MSN programs. 1 holds both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 25 of 28 listings are CCNE and 4 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 28
- 4 ACEN, 25 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 24
- 24 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 2
- 2 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 15
- 0 ACEN, 15 CCNE
Accredited schools in Virginia
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Averett University | Danville | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | Richmond | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Danville Community College | Danville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach | For-profit | ACEN + CCNE | ACEN | – | CCNE |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private | ACEN | – | – | – |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Germanna Community College | Locust Grove | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Clifton Forge | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | ACEN | – | – | – |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | Martinsville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Riverside College of Health Sciences | Newport News | Private | ACEN | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing | Falls Church | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Norfolk State University, BSN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Virginia Peninsula Community College, ADN: For Good Cause. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Virginia
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Virginia board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 28. For bachelor’s degrees, 28 of 34 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (82%).
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Virginia are accredited?
We matched 50 Virginia schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 28 BSN, 24 ADN, 2 LPN, 15 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Virginia?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Virginia bachelor’s programs accredited?
28 of the 34 Virginia schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.