Best Online Healthcare Programs in Chesapeake, VA (2026)

Chesapeake, Virginia has a population of about 251,153. The city’s median household income is $94,189 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited healthcare programs within 100 miles of Chesapeake, with tuition ranging from $14,083 to $35,941 per year. In the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $110,720 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Healthcare Schools to Chesapeake

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer healthcare programs. Distances are calculated from Chesapeake city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Centura College-ChesapeakeChesapeake, VA7.4 miContact school for pricing
Sentara College of Health SciencesChesapeake, VA7.6 miContact school for pricing
Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA11.9 miContact school for pricing
Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolNorfolk, VA12.6 miContact school for pricing
Fortis College-NorfolkNorfolk, VA13.2 mi$14,083 - $35,941

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia healthcare page.


Healthcare Wages Near Chesapeake

Chesapeake is part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area (BLS area code 47260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Medical and Health Services Manager$110,720Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$113,095
Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar$47,520Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$48,539
Medical Records Specialist$49,500Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$50,562
Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant$39,580Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$40,429
Healthcare Social Worker$61,470Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$62,789
Epidemiologist$84,360Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$86,170

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Chesapeake at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population251,153Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$94,189Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+36.4%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)97.9 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Healthcare-related employment in Chesapeake (city) County10,620 workers, 1,360 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Chesapeake-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited healthcare programs are near Chesapeake, VA?

Our directory lists 5 healthcare programs within 100 miles of Chesapeake. The closest is Centura College-Chesapeake in Chesapeake, VA (7.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Fortis College-Norfolk (13.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Chesapeake?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Chesapeake are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($110,720), Epidemiologist ($84,360), Healthcare Social Worker ($61,470). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Portsmouth instead of Chesapeake?

Portsmouth, VA is 12.0 miles from Chesapeake and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Chesapeake an affordable place to study healthcare?

Chesapeake’s median household income of $94,189 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chesapeake while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.