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School of Nursing

Nursing, BSN

Our nursing programs are competitive and provide the skills and clinical experience needed to be successful in today's ever-changing profession. Your hands-on training will be guided by expert faculty, many of whom continue to practice.

WVU School of Nursing (SON) graduates are in great demand and enjoy many career opportunities. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program ranks among the Top 100 Undergraduate Programs in the Nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2023) and is RegisteredNursing.org’s 2024 Top RN Program in West Virginia.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at West Virginia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Your Degree Plan The WVU Difference Learn by Doing Careers and Outcomes Admission Requirements Tuition and Aid Take the Next Steps

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Nursing student prepares to place stethoscope on chest of pediatric mannequin

Our students receive hands-on experience with real-life situations, so they're learning the best possible care practices before they see patients.

Program Overview

The traditional BSN program is available for high school graduates who aspire to a career in nursing. The program can be completed in four years at any of three WVU System campuses: Morgantown, Beckley or Keyser.

Upon successful completion, you will earn the BSN degree and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

BSN Curriculum

The BSN curriculum includes courses in the humanities and arts, social sciences, natural sciences and nursing science. Taken concurrently with these courses, nursing clinical courses enable you to immediately apply your learning to actual client, family and community situations.

Your senior year includes nursing experience at a community site, such as a public school system, county health department, individual patient home, community hospital or primary rural clinic.

When you graduate, you will be equipped for a beginning professional role with clients of all ages in any healthcare setting and will have an excellent foundation for graduate study.

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

  • Early College Program

    Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Nursing. Online courses to consider for this major include:

    • MATH 126: College Algebra
    • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
    • PSYC 241: Introduction to Human Development

  • Honors

    Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations and Honors in Action.

    Explore Honors

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart from its competitors?

Rankings
  • Ranked
    1
    West Virginia's No. 1 nursing program (RegisteredNursing.org, 2024)
Scholarships

93% of WVU freshmen receive grants or scholarships (2023-24).

Learn more

Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

The SON research program includes colleagues from the WVU Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Public Health, WVU Medicine and the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. Multiple funding sources, including federal, state, foundation, institutional and industry, support the program.

The SON Office of Research and Scholarly Activity is committed to the next generation of nurse scholars and offers mentored experiences with established researchers in a scholarly interprofessional research environment.

Before graduating, all undergraduates in this major complete an academic project (or "capstone") to demonstrate their research, communication and critical thinking skills. Projects in WVU's Nursing major have included:

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Nurse Midwives

Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $129,650

Possible job titles include: Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Midwife, Staff Nurse-Midwife.

Explore Career

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $80,780

Possible job titles include: Instructor, Nursing Instructor, Nursing Professor, Professor.

Explore Career

Registered Nurses

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $86,070

Possible job titles include: Charge Nurse, Director of Nursing (DON), Registered Nurse (RN), Staff Nurse.

Explore Career

Acute Care Nurses

Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock. May care for pre- and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $86,070

Possible job titles include: Clinical Nurse Educator, Nurse Manager, Nursing Director, Staff Nurse.

Explore Career

Nurse Anesthetists

Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $212,650

Possible job titles include: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Nurse Anesthetist, Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA), Staff Nurse Anesthetist.

Explore Career

Nurse Practitioners

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $126,260

Possible job titles include: Family Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Explore Career

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to WVU's Nursing major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. They also must meet one of the following admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Tuition and Aid

How much does Nursing at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

View Tuition and Fees

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Find Scholarships

Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

Visit the Net Price Calculator

Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Nursing. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
  • MATH 126: College Algebra
  • PSYC 241: Introduction to Human Development
Financial Aid

The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Nursing major is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

How to Complete the FAFSA

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Ready to take the next step?

Learn how to join the WVU family.

Request Info

Want to know more about Nursing at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

Request Info

Visit

​​Experiencing campus is the best way to see if WVU is the right fit. Choose from in-person and virtual options.

Visit WVU

Apply

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission using our convenient online application.

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