Find Nursing Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

260 Colleges
$78,873 Avg Salary
$26,663 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Colleges.

Top 25 Top Middle Atlantic Region Schools in Nursing

Our 2023 rankings named Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing the best school in the Middle Atlantic Region for nursing students. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Nursing majors at Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Teaneck.

Nursing majors at Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing take out an average of $29,603 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

The excellent programs at St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the large suburb of Bethlehem, St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing take out $21,381 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Out of the 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, West Penn Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $20,000 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing Report

The excellent programs at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing take out $27,892 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing Report

#6

Citizens School of Nursing

New Kensington, PA

Citizens School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Citizens School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Kensington.

Nursing majors at Citizens School of Nursing take out an average of $21,312 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. RHSHS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from RHSHS carry an average student debtload of $25,208.

Read More…

UPMC Mercy School of Nursing ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. UPMC Mercy School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh.

Nursing majors at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing take out an average of $24,743 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing

With a ranking of #9, UPMC Jameson School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the town of New Castle, UPMC Jameson School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at UPMC Jameson School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $24,750 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at UPMC Jameson School of Nursing

Washington Hospital School of Nursing came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Washington Hospital School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Washington.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Washington Hospital School of Nursing take out is $23,719.

Read More…

With a ranking of #11, DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Memorial Medical Center is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Johnstown.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Memorial Medical Center carry an average student debtload of $24,420.

Full Nursing at DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Report

Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the distant town of Pottsville, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing take out $29,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing

#13

Albany Medical College

Albany, NY

Albany Medical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. AMC Albany is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Albany.

Read full report on Nursing at Albany Medical College

Helene Fuld College of Nursing came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the large city of New York, HFCN is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Nursing majors at HFCN take out an average of $33,485 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#15

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, PA

With a ranking of #15, Saint Vincent College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

Saint Michael College of Allied Health came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the city of Alexandria, Saint Michael College of Allied Health is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Nursing at Saint Michael College of Allied Health

With a ranking of #17, Arnot Ogden Medical Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Arnot Ogden Medical Center is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Elmira.

Read full report on Nursing at Arnot Ogden Medical Center

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. SUNY Downstate is a small public school located in the city of Brooklyn.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SUNY Downstate take out is $21,875.

Read full report on Nursing at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

#19

Best Care College

East Orange, NJ

Best Care College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of East Orange, Best Care College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

With a ranking of #20, Cochran School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Cochran School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Yonkers.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Cochran School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $26,219 in student debt.

Read More…

#21

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Excelsior College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Excelsior College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Albany.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Excelsior College accumulate an average of around $23,176 in student debt.

Read More…

St. Joseph’s College of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. St Joseph's College of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at St Joseph's College of Nursing take out is $20,751. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $380, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#23

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UPenn carry an average student debtload of $20,861.

Read More…

#24

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, NY

The Graduate Center, CUNY landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized public school located in the city of New York.

Nursing majors at The Graduate Center take out an average of $17,170 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at The Graduate Center, CUNY

With a ranking of #25, St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Rego Park.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens carry an average student debtload of $30,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $191, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens Report

Rest of the Top Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

#27

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ
#28

Wagner College

Staten Island, NY
#29

New York University

New York, NY
#30

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA
#31

Molloy College

Rockville Centre, NY
#32

Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ
#33

Villanova University

Villanova, PA
#34

Georgetown University

Washington, DC
#39

Chamberlain University - New Jersey

North Brunswick, NJ

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
40 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA
41 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
42 Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing Troy, NY
43 Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA
44 Adelphi University Garden City, NY
45 University of Scranton Scranton, PA
46 Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA
47 Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD
48 Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY
49 University of Delaware Newark, DE
50 Wilmington University New Castle, DE
51 Union County College Cranford, NJ
52 York College of Pennsylvania York, PA

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
Pennsylvania 11,477
New York 17,708
New Jersey 5,648
Maryland 4,104
Delaware 1,267
District of Columbia 990

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Our free matching tool for schools matches students with nursing schools across the U.S.