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Virginia’s public colleges and universities are a cost-effective option for state residents to pursue nursing education. Since public institutions are funded by the state government, students receive top-notch instruction, often in state-of-the-art facilities. Nursing students who live in Virginia need not worry about taking out hefty loans, because tuition is subsidized for state residents.

Most master of science in nursing (MSN) degree programs are designed to prepare existing registered nurses (RNs) for specialized fields of nursing practice. Tennessee is home to at least 15 universities with MSN programs, collectively offering more than 30 such programs. Vanderbilt University is the most prolific, with a dozen MSN specializations including nursing administration, adult health nursing, family practice nursing, pediatric nursing, and critical care nursing.

For our 2024 rankings of ADN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of associate’s degree programs.

Nursing students will incur several significant expenses in the course of completing their degree or certificate program. The most significant cost is obviously the school’s tuition. However, students should also budget ample funds for books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and other living expenses.

Factors that influence the cost of education