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Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania

17 Schools Ranked
$113,022 Avg Student Debt

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 17 schools in Pennsylvania to see which ones had the most popular online doctor's degree programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

Chatham University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
177 Total Awards
$20,021 Average Tuition & Fees
$96,054 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Chatham University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a doctor’s degree in Pennsylvania. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 177 doctor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

Doctor’s Degree recipients from Chatham accumulate an average of $96,054 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.

In 2020-2021 about 38% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Chatham University

#2

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
121 Total Awards
$26,064 Average Tuition & Fees
$53,023 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wilkes University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Wilkes is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It awarded 121 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their doctor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $53,023 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.

Around 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1,372 Total Awards
$44,162 Average Tuition & Fees
$166,262 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 1,372 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their doctor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $166,262 in student loans. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 25% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on University of Pennsylvania

#4

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
452 Total Awards
$83,094 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Duquesne University is a great place for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Duquesne University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 452 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Doctor’s Degree recipients from Duquesne accumulate an average of $83,094 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.

Around 48% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Duquesne University

#5

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
729 Total Awards
$37,074 Average Tuition & Fees
$101,458 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Drexel University is a great place for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Drexel is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 729 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

On average, doctor’s degree students take out $101,458 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 64% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#7

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
233 Total Awards
$21,307 Average Tuition & Fees
$94,072 Avg Student Debt

Villanova University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Villanova University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 233 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Doctor’s Degree recipients from Villanova accumulate an average of $94,072 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.

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 full report on Villanova University

1,133 Total Awards
$26,142 Average Tuition & Fees
$81,518 Avg Student Debt

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the large public school handed out 1,133 doctor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their doctor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $81,518 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.

During the 2020-2021 year, about 19% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Carlow University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15 Total Awards
$21,450 Average Tuition & Fees
$104,117 Avg Student Debt

Carlow University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Carlow is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 15 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Doctor’s Degree recipients from Carlow accumulate an average of $104,117 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2020-2021 year, about 87% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Carlow University Report

#11

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
55 Total Awards
$12,451 Average Tuition & Fees

West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. WCUPA is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 55 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.

Around 55% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on West Chester University of Pennsylvania

#12

Gannon University

Erie, Pennsylvania
132 Total Awards
$21,410 Average Tuition & Fees
$133,069 Avg Student Debt

Gannon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Gannon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Erie, Pennsylvania. It awarded 132 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their doctor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $133,069 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 73% were women.

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 More…

#12

Alvernia University

Reading, Pennsylvania
33 Total Awards
$16,686 Average Tuition & Fees
$108,915 Avg Student Debt

Alvernia University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Alvernia is located in Reading, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 33 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

On average, doctor’s degree students take out $108,915 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 42% were women.

During the 2020-2021 year, about 42% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Alvernia University

#14

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2 Total Awards

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. PA College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 doctor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 84% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Report

#15

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
481 Total Awards
$23,103 Average Tuition & Fees
$144,797 Avg Student Debt

Thomas Jefferson University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 481 doctor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

Doctor’s Degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University accumulate an average of $144,797 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Thomas Jefferson University Report

#16

Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
54 Total Awards
$15,642 Average Tuition & Fees
$58,969 Avg Student Debt

Gwynedd Mercy University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 54 students in 2021-2022.

On average, doctor’s degree students take out $58,969 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.

During the 2020-2021 year, about 85% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Gwynedd Mercy University

Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.

References

  • 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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