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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
$36,343 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
170 Total Awards
$23,103 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,478 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. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 170 students in 2021-2022.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Thomas Jefferson University accumulate an average of $17,478 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Thomas Jefferson University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Thomas Jefferson University Report

#2

Gannon University

Erie, Pennsylvania
33 Total Awards
$21,410 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 16 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Gannon University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Gannon 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, 30% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Gannon University

#3

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
286 Total Awards
$37,074 Average Tuition & Fees
$52,506 Avg Student Debt

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Drexel University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania. Drexel is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 286 graduate certificates to qualified students.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $52,506 in student loans.

Drexel does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#4

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
42 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duquesne University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 42 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Online graduate courses are available at Duquesne, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 48% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Duquesne University

#5

DeSales University

Center Valley, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DeSales University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list.

DeSales does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full DeSales University Report

#6

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
272 Total Awards
$21,307 Average Tuition & Fees
$44,764 Avg Student Debt

Villanova University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate nursing programs. Villanova is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It awarded 272 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $44,764 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Villanova. In fact, around 46% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Villanova University Report

#7

Cedar Crest College

Allentown, Pennsylvania
51 Total Awards
$14,811 Average Tuition & Fees
$22,710 Avg Student Debt

Cedar Crest College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate nursing programs. Cedar Crest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 51 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,710 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Cedar Crest. In 2020-2021 about 69% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Cedar Crest College

372 Total Awards
$26,142 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 372 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Pitt. In fact, around 19% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#9

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, Pennsylvania
7 Total Awards
$11,939 Average Tuition & Fees

Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. This medium-sized public school is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 7 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Millersville. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 46% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#10

Waynesburg University

Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
12 Total Awards

Waynesburg University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Waynesburg is located in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Since the graduate programs at Waynesburg are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read More…

#11

Carlow University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12 Total Awards
$21,450 Average Tuition & Fees

Carlow University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Online graduate courses are available at Carlow, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 87% 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
28 Total Awards
$26,970 Average Tuition & Fees

La Salle University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 28 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

La Salle 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. In fact, around 70% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on La Salle University

#13

Widener University

Chester, Pennsylvania
4 Total Awards
$26,150 Average Tuition & Fees

Widener University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Widener University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 4 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Widener 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, 46% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Widener University Report

#14

Robert Morris University

Moon Township, Pennsylvania
11 Total Awards

Robert Morris University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. RMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. It awarded 11 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Online graduate courses are available at RMU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#16

Neumann University

Aston, Pennsylvania
$10,470 Average Tuition & Fees

Neumann University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate nursing programs.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Neumann. In 2020-2021 about 37% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

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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