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Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania

16 Schools Ranked
$26,060 Avg Student Debt

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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Our analysis looked at 16 schools in Pennsylvania to see which graduate certificate 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.

Top Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$22,644 Average Tuition & Fees
$34,734 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Thomas Jefferson University to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in Pennsylvania.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $34,734 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Thomas Jefferson University does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Thomas Jefferson University

#2

Gannon University

Erie, Pennsylvania
$20,660 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Gannon University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Gannon. During the 2019-2020 year, about 55% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#3

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$37,074 Average Tuition & Fees
$23,548 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drexel University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $23,548 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Drexel does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 85% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Drexel University Report

#4

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Duquesne University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Duquesne. During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Duquesne University

#5

DeSales University

Center Valley, Pennsylvania

The excellent graduate certificate programs at DeSales University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania.

One thing to take note of is that DeSales does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on DeSales University

#6

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
$21,199 Average Tuition & Fees

Villanova University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

Online graduate courses are available at Villanova, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 89% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#7

Cedar Crest College

Allentown, Pennsylvania
$14,719 Average Tuition & Fees

Cedar Crest College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Cedar Crest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Cedar Crest College

$25,248 Average Tuition & Fees
$22,469 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #8, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Pitt accumulate an average of $22,469 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that Pitt does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 16% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#9

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, Pennsylvania
$11,934 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate.

Online graduate courses are available at Millersville, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#10

Waynesburg University

Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

Waynesburg University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate nursing programs.

Waynesburg does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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, 99% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Waynesburg University Report

#11

Carlow University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
$20,812 Average Tuition & Fees

Carlow University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate nursing programs.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Carlow does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Carlow University

#12

La Salle University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$1,455 Average Tuition & Fees

La Salle University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

Online graduate courses are available at La Salle, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 83% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on La Salle University

#13

Widener University

Chester, Pennsylvania
$25,416 Average Tuition & Fees

Widener University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate nursing programs.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Widener. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Widener University

#14

Robert Morris University

Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Robert Morris University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list.

RMU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Robert Morris University

#15

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion, Pennsylvania
$12,179 Average Tuition & Fees

Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list.

One thing to take note of is that Clarion University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#16

Neumann University

Aston, Pennsylvania
$14,690 Average Tuition & Fees

Neumann University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

One thing to take note of is that Neumann does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Neumann University Report

Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

View Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 16 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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