2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 48 schools in Pennsylvania to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Thomas Jefferson University the best school in Pennsylvania for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,113 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $44,200 to cover tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson University. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,261 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Thomas Jefferson University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 48 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,554 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at UPenn is $63,452. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,106 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UPenn. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 13% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Villanova University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania. Villanova University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 2,165 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Villanova does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $61,618. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,046 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Villanova does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 15% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Millersville University of Pennsylvania helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,425 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $12,262 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Millersville. Out-of-state students pay an average of $22,232. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Millersville accumulate an average of $22,342 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Millersville does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania. Located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,618 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $10,507 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SRU. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,615. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,667 in student loans.
SRU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #6, University of Scranton did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 906 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at University of Scranton is $50,312. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from University of Scranton accumulate an average of $23,899 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at University of Scranton. During the 2020-2021 year, about 3% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #7, Immaculata University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Immaculata University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Immaculata, Pennsylvania that handed out 311 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Immaculata does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $27,750. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Immaculata accumulate an average of $25,940 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Immaculata. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Cedar Crest College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 252 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Cedar Crest does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $43,643. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Cedar Crest accumulate an average of $27,431 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Cedar Crest, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 50% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
York College of Pennsylvania came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. York College of Pennsylvania is a small private not-for-profit school located in York, Pennsylvania that handed out 809 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
YCP does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $23,328. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,561 in student loans.
YCP does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 10% took at least some of their classes online.
Holy Family University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Holy Family is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 521 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
If you want to attend Holy Family, expect to pay an average of $32,558 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,962 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Holy Family. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #12, Duquesne University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 1,554 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Duquesne accumulate an average of $23,299 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Duquesne. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 38% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
King’s College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 520 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at King’s College PA is $41,600. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from King’s College PA accumulate an average of $25,512 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
King’s College PA does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 8% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Drexel University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,797 students in 2021-2022.
Drexel does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $58,965. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,746 in student loans.
Drexel does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Moravian College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Moravian is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 527 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Moravian is $50,500. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,325 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Moravian. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #17, West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the fairly large public school awarded 3,524 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at WCUPA is $10,527. Out-of-state students pay an average of $22,351.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WCUPA. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 32% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #18, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. This large public school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 5,471 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $21,080 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pitt. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $37,320. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,394 in student loans.
Pitt does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 19% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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With a ranking of #19, Gwynedd Mercy University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Gwynedd - Mercy is located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 482 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Gwynedd - Mercy is $37,791. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Gwynedd - Mercy accumulate an average of $23,335 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Gwynedd - Mercy does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 27% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Eastern University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 341 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend EU, expect to pay an average of $36,464 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,309 in student loans.
EU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 47% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Wilkes University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #22 on the list. Wilkes is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It awarded 649 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $41,112 to cover tuition and fees at Wilkes. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Wilkes accumulate an average of $22,835 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Wilkes. During the 2020-2021 year, about 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
DeSales University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 618 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend DeSales, expect to pay an average of $42,600 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from DeSales accumulate an average of $24,739 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that DeSales does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
La Roche University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #24 on the list. La Roche is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 315 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $32,284 to cover tuition and fees at La Roche. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,830 in student loans.
La Roche does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Widener University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Widener is located in Chester, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 665 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Widener is $51,639. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,407 in student loans.
Widener does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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