RN programs in Virginia: costs and how to get them free

Are there free RN programs in Virginia?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 19 people at 2 of the 6 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Two-year degrees here mostly cost $10,591 to $38,085.Bachelor's degrees here cost $28,635.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

RN programs in Virginia Beach, Richmond, Danville and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the list below. 1 in smaller cities and towns.

All 6 RN programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

6 programs

LPN to RN bridge (associate degree)In personEducation and courses
Associate Degree In Nursing Program, LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge Option
Galen College of Nursing
Richmond
Education and courses
Galen College of Nursing, Richmond · LPN to RN bridge (associate degree) · In person · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$38,085
Program website, Associate Degree In Nursing Program, LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge Option at Galen College of Nursing
More details about Associate Degree In Nursing Program, LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge Option at Galen College of Nursing
Finished
32%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
72 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,890
Students counted
371
a year, estimated
Not reported
price
$38,085
RN bachelor's degree (BSN)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Traditional BSN Program
Sentara College of Health Sciences
Chesapeake
High school diploma or equivalent
Sentara College of Health Sciences, Chesapeake · RN bachelor's degree (BSN) · In person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$84,500
Price if you pay yourself$28,635
More details about Traditional BSN Program at Sentara College of Health Sciences
Finished
27%
Working at 6 months
100%
Earned in a quarter
$21,117
Length
80 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$9,060
Students counted
266
a year, estimated
$84,500
price
$28,635
RN associate degree (ADN)In personNo diploma needed
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
Bryant and Stratton College-Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
No diploma needed
Bryant and Stratton College-Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach · RN associate degree (ADN) · In person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$58,600
Price if you pay yourself$57,835
10 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Bryant and Stratton College-Virginia Beach
More details about Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Bryant and Stratton College-Virginia Beach
Finished
32%
Working at 6 months
83%
Earned in a quarter
$14,654
Length
75 weeks, 1 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
237
a year, estimated
$58,600
price
$57,835
trained with WIOA funding
10
RN associate degree (ADN)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville
High school diploma or equivalent
Wytheville Community College, Wytheville · RN associate degree (ADN) · In person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$59,500
Price if you pay yourself$10,591
9 students trained with WIOA funding
More details about Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Wytheville Community College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
63%
Earned in a quarter
$14,870
Length
70 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,857
Students counted
133
a year, estimated
$59,500
price
$10,591
trained with WIOA funding
9
RN associate degree (ADN)HybridEducation and courses
Registered Nurse
Danville Community College
Danville
Education and courses
Danville Community College, Danville · RN associate degree (ADN) · Hybrid · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$9,966
More details about Registered Nurse at Danville Community College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
68 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
46
a year, estimated
Not reported
price
$9,966
RN associate degree (ADN)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Registered Nursing
Riverside College of Health Sciences
Newport News
High school diploma or equivalent
Riverside College of Health Sciences, Newport News · RN associate degree (ADN) · In person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$21,835
More details about Registered Nursing at Riverside College of Health Sciences
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
64 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,061
Students counted
Not reported
a year, estimated
Not reported
price
$21,835

How to pay for RN programs in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for RN programs in Virginia

Every program on this page is approved for WIOA funding: public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It can pay for training for eligible adults, people who lost their job and young people.²People on public assistance, with a low income or lacking basic skills come first, and veterans have priority.³Your state or local area may limit how much WIOA pays and for how long. If a program costs more, a Pell Grant, a scholarship or severance pay can cover the rest.⁴

Ask at an American Job Center

Eligibility rules apply, and services vary from state to state. Your local American Job Center can tell you whether you qualify. The Department of Labor's page links to the center finder, or call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).⁵

Financial aid and grants for RN programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for RN programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Quick facts: RN programs in Virginia

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 30th of 37
RN programs here, against the typical state's 13: 6 vs 13

State comparisons use the same figures as the RN programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Where the Virginia RN program numbers come from

Which Virginia RN programs are on this list?

These are the RN programs Virginia approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How Virginia RN program prices are reported

The price is tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported it. "Trained with WIOA funding" on a program counts the people whose training there WIOA paid toward through a training account in program year 2024; the file never gives counts under 3, so a program without the line may still take WIOA students. It does not say how much of the price WIOA covered. Prices under $100 are treated as not reported, because the file holds many blanks entered as $0. Check the current price with the school.

What the graduate results of these programs measure

The figures at the top of this page are the middle program among those that report results: half did better, half did worse. Results describe students who left each program in recent years: the share who finished, the share working in the second quarter after leaving, and the middle earnings of those working in that quarter. States report earnings for that one quarter because they take them from the wage reports employers file every three months. The yearly figure here is that quarter times four, rounded to the nearest $100: an estimate, and an early one, since it is measured about half a year after training. The quarter as reported is under "More details" on each program. Results are withheld for small programs, and they describe past students, so they are no guarantee.

Why do some RN programs say "Not reported"?

Where a school or the state left a field empty, or the Department of Labor withheld it, the page says "Not reported". Nothing here is estimated to fill a gap.

Why the kind of school is left off each program

The file also records whether a school is public, private or nonprofit, but those entries are wrong too often to print next to a school's name, so this page leaves them out.

Other training in Virginia

Sources for the facts about RN programs in Virginia

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RN programs in Virginia

How much do RN programs cost in Virginia?