Portsmouth, Virginia has a population of about 97,299. The city’s median household income is $58,972 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited healthcare programs within 100 miles of Portsmouth, with tuition ranging from $16,637 to $32,531 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).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer healthcare programs. Distances are calculated from Portsmouth city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Virginia Medical School | Norfolk, VA | 3.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk, VA | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake, VA | 7.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Centura College-Norfolk | Norfolk, VA | 7.9 mi | $16,637 - $32,531 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia healthcare page.
Portsmouth 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.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $110,720 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $113,095 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $47,520 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,539 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $49,500 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,562 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $39,580 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $40,429 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $61,470 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,789 |
| Epidemiologist | $84,360 | Virginia 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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,299 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $58,972 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Portsmouth (city) County | 5,926 workers, 438 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 healthcare programs within 100 miles of Portsmouth. The closest is Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA (3.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Centura College-Norfolk (7.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Portsmouth 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.
Norfolk, VA is 6.2 miles from Portsmouth 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.
Portsmouth’s median household income of $58,972 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Portsmouth while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Healthcare Programs in Virginia (2026)