Online LPN to BSN Programs in Virginia: Top Schools
As an LPN, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree quickly and affordably with an online LPN to BSN program in Virginia. To help, we’ve spotlighted top programs with online elements, answered popular FAQs from students, and reviewed career and salary growth.
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Inside Online LPN to BSN Programs in Virginia
Virginia LPN to BSN programs are designed to help licensed practical nurses build on their existing skills and transition confidently into registered nursing roles. These programs expand your clinical knowledge, strengthen critical thinking, and prepare you to take on greater responsibility in patient care and healthcare leadership.
As you search for the right program, start with these five important elements:
- Program format, including online and hybrid learning options
- Admission requirements and transfer credit policies
- Clinical training expectations and placement support
- Time to completion and scheduling flexibility
- Accreditation, licensure preparation, and career outcomes
Read on to discover programs in Virginia that support your professional growth as an LPN while guiding you toward earning your BSN and advancing your nursing career.
Eastern Mennonite University – LPN to BSN program
Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), a private school, offers a full range of undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees and certificates, including a four-semester LPN to BSN program.
This program can be considered a degree completion program because it allows students to transfer 58 semester hours of previously earned college credit (including general education and seven program-specific prerequisite courses) prior to the start of the LPN to BSN curriculum.
Following completion of the first semester of the program:
- LPNs are awarded seven semester credits that are applied to the Foundations of Professional Nursing and Fundamentals Practicum courses.
- Students will attend didactic (lecture) nursing classes and simulation labs on EMU’s Harrisonburg, Virginia, campus.
- Students can complete 350 direct-care clinical hours at a program-approved healthcare facility.
LPNs can convert all of their clinical hours into adult health practicum courses. This allows them to complete clinical requirements in less time than traditional BSN students.
Eastern Mennonite University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(CCNE) and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON). Graduates of the LPN to BSN program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Duration: 120 credits (Four years)
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $44,800 per year (tuition)
Admissions Requirements:
- Current LPN license
- Cumulative GPA of 2.8
- Must complete 58 credit hours of college courses before enrollment
Curriculum:
- Holistic Health
- Pathophysiology/Pharmacology
- Faith, Ethics, Power, Systems, and Justice
- Adult Nursing Care
- Psychological Nursing
- Nursing Care of Children/Beginning Family
- Evidence Based Practice
- Leadership
- Community Health
Hampton University – LPN to BSN option
Hampton University is a private, historically Black university located in the city of Hampton in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metropolitan area. The school offers an LPN to BSN option as part of its four-year traditional BSN program.
The 120-credit, full-time course of study consists of two years of pre-professional coursework (which includes all general education and pre-nursing course requirements) followed by two years of professional nursing courses, labs, and clinical hours.
Details:
- The program is campus-based; some courses are offered online but students must attend classes on the school’s Hampton campus for many courses.
- Students are not allowed to transfer credits for previously completed LPN courses. However, seven advanced placement credits are awarded to students who are currently licensed as an LPN.
- The School of Nursing is approved by the VBON. So, graduates of the LPN to BSN program are academically eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
- The institution is accredited by the SACSCOC, and its BSN program is accredited by the CCNE.
Duration: 123 credits (36 months)
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $27,482 per year (tuition)
Admissions Requirements:
- Current LPN license
- Must earn admission to Hampton University, then to the School of Nursing
- ATI TEAS exam score (taken within the previous year)
Curriculum:
- Pathophysiology/Pharmacology
- Adult Nursing
- Nursing and Childbearing/Childbearing Family
- Nursing Informatics
- Leadership and Management in Nursing
- Community/Mental Health Nursing
- Electives
Wilson College – Online LPN to BSN program
LPNs who live in Northern Virginia and want to earn a BSN might consider the Online LPN to BSN program at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. This program is primarily online, so you won’t need to travel to campus to attend classes, but you be will required to travel to Pennsylvania to attend clinical hours.
Students who live more than two hours from the Wilson College campus, however, are eligible for the Online LPN to BSN program’s low-residency option; they can complete clinical requirements within seven to 10 days, once a semester.
Duration: Approximately three years
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $475 per credit hour (tuition)
Admissions Requirements:
- Current LPN license
- High school diploma or GED (minimum unweighted GPA of 2.0)
- Official standardized test scores (for nursing program)
Curriculum:
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Healthcare Informatics
- Childbearing/Child Rearing Families
- Medical-Surgical Patients
- Care Across the Lifespan
- Medical Terminology
- Microbiology for Nurses
- Nursing Leadership
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Genetics
- Statistics
- Ethics
FAQs for Online LPN to BSN Students in Virginia
Before choosing an online LPN to BSN program, it’s important to understand how it all works. Most students who apply to a BSN degree program have questions. We provide the information you need to make this decision so you feel confident about earning a BSN.
How do I go from being an LPN to an RN in Virginia?
Advancing from LPN to RN in Virginia begins with schooling and ends with obtaining a registered nurse license. The process is similar to that of your journey to LPN licensure. Steps include:
- Completing an LPN to BSN degree program, including the minimum of 500 direct client care hours required for RN licensure.
- Applying for a Virginia RN license, including paying the required fees, consenting to a criminal background check, submitting transcripts from your LPN to BSN program, and, if your nursing school is located outside of Virginia, submitting verification of clinical hours.
- Applying for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson VUE, the exam’s administrator. To avoid delays, apply immediately after you submit your RN license application.
- Scheduling and taking the NCLEX-RN. If you pass, you will receive your Virginia RN license.
Expert Insight
Applying for an RN license and waiting for NCLEX results is a process that can take several weeks. If you’re currently an LPN, you already know firsthand how lengthy this process can be. Try to apply early so you can redirect your focus on studying for the exam!
What should I look for in an LPN to BSN program in Virginia?
You should ensure the LPN to BSN program you are considering has:
- Program approval by the VBON
- Program accreditation
- High NCLEX-RN pass rates
The purpose of earning a BSN degree is to gain the knowledge and skills needed to take the NCLEX-RN and obtain an RN license. If your program meets these qualifications, the greater chance you have at becoming an RN.
Can I get financial aid to help pay for my LPN to BSN program in Virginia?
Yes, there are a number of financial aid options available for qualifying LPN to BSN students. For example, Eastern Mennonite University claims that 99% of its undergraduate students receive financial aid, most commonly in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans.
Other sources of funding:
- Federal Student Loans through the U.S. Department of Education
- Scholarships and loan repayment programs funded by the government
- Nursing scholarship programs offered through the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity
To find out about funding opportunities for specific LPN to BSN programs, contact the financial aid offices at the schools offering those programs. To learn more about financial aid for nursing programs in general, check out EduMed’s nursing scholarship and financial aid guides.
Expert Insight
If you end up borrowing money to pay for school, don’t forget about employer tuition repayment programs. Some employers will offer you a tuition payback bonus every year you work for them once you become an RN. Some programs can last up to five years. That’s a bonus every year that you can use to pay off your loan!
Can I finish an LPN to BSN program in Virginia faster by taking classes online?
It’s unlikely that you’ll finish an online program faster than a traditional program because most LPN to BSN programs in Virginia follow a relatively strict semester course schedule. However, programs with asynchronous coursework might allow students to increase their study pace, resulting in a shortened completion time. For further guidance, speak with a program advisor at the schools you’re considering.
Will earning an LPN to BSN degree online affect my ability to get licensed?
Not at all. The fact that your program includes online coursework will not impact your eligibility for RN licensure in Virginia or any other state. Just be sure your online LPN to BSN program is accredited and approved by the VBON as this qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN and obtain an RN license.
Will employers care if I took some of my LPN to BSN classes online?
It is unlikely that any employer of registered nurses in Virginia or other states would disqualify a job applicant who earned a BSN degree in a program with online classes or other components. All RN programs, online and traditional, require in-person clinical training at health facilities, which is what employers will most likely look for in a candidate.
Salary and Career Comparison: LPNs vs. RNs
If you're a practical nurse in Virginia, becoming a registered nurse can lead to an increase in job security. According to the BLS, RNs in Virginia should experience a 4.3% growth in open positions from 2022-2032. Many of these jobs will be in metropolitan areas, such as Charlottesville or the Research Triangle area of the state.
Regarding salary, registered nurses can significantly increase their pay by earning higher credentials. LPNs in Virginia earned a median annual wage of $58,200 in 2023, while RNs in the state earn a median of $84,100. As nurses progress in their careers and earn more, the gap widens slightly; LPNs in the 90th pay percentile earned $72,800 in 2023, while RNs earned $115,120.
| Occupation | Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Virginia | $45,000 | $58,200 | $72,800 |
| Registered Nurses | Virginia | $63,710 | $84,100 | $115,120 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Occupation | Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | United States | 655,000 | 689,900 | 34,900 | 5.30% | 54,400 |
| Registered Nurses | Virginia | 70,190 | 73,240 | 3,050 | 4.30% | 4,160 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Virginia | 18,880 | 20,240 | 1,360 | 7.20% | 1,620 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
