2023 Best Nursing Master'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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Our analysis looked at 35 schools in Pennsylvania to see which master'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 Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Saint Vincent College to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Pennsylvania. Located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 55 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Saint Vincent accumulate an average of $66,826 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Saint Vincent. In 2020-2021 about 31% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent master’s degree programs at University of Pennsylvania helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 4,922 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $71,063 in student loans.
Online graduate courses are available at UPenn, 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, 25% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 35 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, York College of Pennsylvania landed the # 3 spot on the list. York, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 101 students in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $59,931 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online graduate courses are available at YCP, 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 50% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Thomas Jefferson University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 977 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $61,499 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Thomas Jefferson University does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 35 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Villanova University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Villanova University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 1,251 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Villanova accumulate an average of $33,496 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Villanova. In 2020-2021 about 46% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Gannon University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Gannon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Erie, Pennsylvania. It awarded 367 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Gannon accumulate an average of $49,850 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Gannon does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 30% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Wilkes University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 623 students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Wilkes accumulate an average of $26,895 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Wilkes 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 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Scranton came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 501 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $40,247 in student loans.
University of Scranton 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 2020-2021 about 46% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Duquesne University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree nursing programs. Duquesne is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 716 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,667 in student loans.
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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
DeSales University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. DeSales is located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 315 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Master’s Degree recipients from DeSales accumulate an average of $43,678 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that DeSales does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 59% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #11, Drexel University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 2,199 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $58,465 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Drexel. In fact, around 64% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Pitt is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,820 master’s degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $46,208 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Pitt does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 19% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Holy Family University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Holy Family is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 317 master’s degrees to qualified students.
On average, master’s degree students take out $34,972 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Holy Family does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 84% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Chatham University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Chatham is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 290 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $59,302 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Chatham. During the 2020-2021 year, about 38% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school awarded 320 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, master’s degree students take out $34,908 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Millersville. In 2020-2021 about 46% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #17, La Roche University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 111 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from La Roche accumulate an average of $105,134 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online graduate courses are available at La Roche, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 68% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Moravian College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 213 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Moravian accumulate an average of $45,298 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online graduate courses are available at Moravian, 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, 60% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Widener University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Widener University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 652 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Widener accumulate an average of $69,618 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 Widener does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 46% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
La Salle University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 509 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from La Salle accumulate an average of $49,387 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at La Salle. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Immaculata University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Immaculata is located in Immaculata, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 133 master’s degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $42,039 in student loans.
Immaculata does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Cedar Crest College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 115 master’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,040 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Cedar Crest does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 69% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Waynesburg University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 121 master’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their master’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,712 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, Waynesburg is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
With a ranking of #24, West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the fairly large public school awarded 1,127 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that WCUPA does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 55% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #25, Alvernia University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 218 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Master’s Degree recipients from Alvernia accumulate an average of $59,623 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online graduate courses are available at Alvernia, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 42% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Best Nursing Master'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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