2023 Best Nursing 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.
The Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 66 schools in Pennsylvania to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Saint Vincent College to be the best school for nursing students in Pennsylvania. Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania that handed out 412 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $52,490 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $436 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Saint Vincent, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,935 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Pennsylvania is a great place for nursing students. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 10,067 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $66,363 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $529, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UPenn, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $81,207 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 66 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Thomas Jefferson University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 2,809 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University accumulate an average of $45,943 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $571. Once they receive their degree, Thomas Jefferson University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $59,708 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Villanova University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,923 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,312 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $593, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Villanova graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,813 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania list. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania that handed out 2,338 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,238 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $291, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SRU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,997 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Chatham University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Chatham is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 756 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $54,759 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Chatham, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,386 during the early years of their career.
University of Scranton ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania list. University of Scranton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 1,517 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,543 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $688 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of Scranton graduates make an average of $48,740 annually.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,782 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,358 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $403, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Millersville, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,464 during the early years of their career.
Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown is a very small private for-profit school located in Allentown, Pennsylvania that handed out 256 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Lincoln Tech - Allentown accumulate an average of $13,424 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $140.After graduating from Lincoln Tech - Allentown, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,234 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, York College of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. YCP is located in York, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 964 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $30,456 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $386. During the early years of their career, YCP graduates make an average of $44,412 annually.
Immaculata University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Immaculata, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 532 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $43,873 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Immaculata graduates make an average of $47,992 annually.
Wilkes University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Wilkes University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania that handed out 1,405 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $30,729 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $509 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Wilkes, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,632 during the early years of their career.
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania list. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a large public school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 9,973 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,244 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $529, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Pitt graduates make an average of $49,696 annually.
Cedar Crest College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Allentown, Pennsylvania that handed out 462 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Cedar Crest accumulate an average of $26,730 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Cedar Crest graduates make an average of $53,696 annually.
Duquesne University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,764 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $45,054 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $719.After graduating from Duquesne, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,645 during the early years of their career.
University of Pittsburgh - Titusville ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the very small public school handed out 9 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,479 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $343, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Pitt Titusville, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,140 during the early years of their career.
Drexel University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 7,192 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Drexel accumulate an average of $48,843 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $753 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Drexel graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,176 during the early year of their career.
Holy Family University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Holy Family is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 947 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,844 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $254.After graduating from Holy Family, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,770 during the early years of their career.
King’s College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 647 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,001 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $508 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from King’s College PA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,863 during the early years of their career.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. WCUPA is a public institution located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,930 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, WCUPA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,790 during the early year of their career.
Moravian College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Moravian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 784 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $27,821 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $651 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Moravian graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,817 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Gannon University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Erie, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,194 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $50,885 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $487.After graduating from Gannon, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,347 during the early years of their career.
Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Harrisburg Area Community College is a fairly large public school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 2,107 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,840 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, HACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,757 during the early year of their career.
DeSales University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 964 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from DeSales accumulate an average of $38,876 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $696, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, DeSales graduates make an average of $52,466 annually.
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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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