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 graduates are in great demand and enjoy many career opportunities. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program ranks among the Top 100 Undergraduate Programs in the Nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2023) and is RegisteredNursing.org’s 2026 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

Nursing students practice taking blood pressure in the skills lab

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 4 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.

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:

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?

No. 1 ranked nursing program in West Virginia.(RegisteredNursing.org, 2026)
Accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
100% first-time passing rate on the NCLEX (Morgantown campus BSN students). More about NCLEX-RN Passing Rates.
8:1 student-faculty ratio in clinical settings.
Invaluable hands-on training opportunities at the WV STEPS Center.
Student ambassadors help incoming students by sharing their personal experiences and expertise.

Learn by Doing

Get involved outside the classroom.

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.

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

WVU Student Nurses' Association

View all of the student organizations you can join.

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

Live, study, and learn in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

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

Mental Health Improvements through Breathing Exercises, Journaling
SUD in the veteran population
Blending Technology with Physical Activity - Through her capstone project, Rachel Gobrect worked with Marion County Parks and Recreation to implement exergames (technology-driven physical activities) at local playgrounds.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Career Profiles

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: $93,600

Possible Job Titles: Charge Nurse, Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse), Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN), Staff Nurse

Explore Career

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