Best Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania (2026)
Nursing programs in Pennsylvania span community-college ADN paths, BSN programs at four-year universities, and accelerated BSN options. The schools below are ranked by NCLEX pass rates (where available), graduation rate, and net price — for families weighing both cost and outcomes.
#1
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
Net Price
$27,483/yr
Median Earnings
$67,145
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
65.4%
#2
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$28,699/yr
Median Earnings
$111,371
Grad Rate
97%
Nursing Share
9.5%
#3
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$13,143/yr
Median Earnings
$62,235
Grad Rate
61%
Nursing Share
63.4%
#4
Misericordia University
Dallas, PA
Net Price
$37,485/yr
Median Earnings
$64,313
Grad Rate
70%
Nursing Share
53.9%
#5
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Price
$37,730/yr
Median Earnings
$74,742
Grad Rate
77%
Nursing Share
39.3%
#6
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
Net Price
$24,258/yr
Median Earnings
$75,701
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
40.2%
#7
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Net Price
$36,931/yr
Median Earnings
$105,584
Grad Rate
89%
Nursing Share
3.7%
#8
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, PA
Net Price
$22,344/yr
Median Earnings
$46,165
Grad Rate
56%
Nursing Share
67.7%
#9
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$38,509/yr
Median Earnings
$84,648
Grad Rate
78%
Nursing Share
17.8%
#10
Alvernia University
Reading, PA
Net Price
$28,138/yr
Median Earnings
$55,055
Grad Rate
57%
Nursing Share
54.4%
#11
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA
Net Price
$30,670/yr
Median Earnings
$61,860
Grad Rate
71%
Nursing Share
34.6%
#12
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Sharon, PA
Net Price
$18,095/yr
Median Earnings
$63,435
Grad Rate
33%
Nursing Share
61.7%
#13
Gannon University
Erie, PA
Net Price
$22,553/yr
Median Earnings
$58,845
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
34.1%
#14
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
Net Price
$31,643/yr
Median Earnings
$61,295
Grad Rate
72%
Nursing Share
29.1%
#15
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
Mont Alto, PA
Net Price
$19,454/yr
Median Earnings
$63,435
Grad Rate
29%
Nursing Share
59.1%
#16
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
Net Price
$36,425/yr
Median Earnings
$76,124
Grad Rate
85%
Nursing Share
4.9%
#17
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA
Net Price
$18,659/yr
Median Earnings
$59,460
Grad Rate
59%
Nursing Share
35.7%
#18
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Price
$30,434/yr
Median Earnings
$66,125
Grad Rate
85%
Nursing Share
10.9%
#19
Marywood University
Scranton, PA
Net Price
$23,388/yr
Median Earnings
$55,817
Grad Rate
72%
Nursing Share
27.3%
#20
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$19,409/yr
Median Earnings
$67,416
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
29.1%
#21
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Price
$20,786/yr
Median Earnings
$51,051
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
40.3%
#22
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
Net Price
$28,905/yr
Median Earnings
$69,107
Grad Rate
81%
Nursing Share
3.1%
#23
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA
Net Price
$32,875/yr
Median Earnings
$63,435
Grad Rate
86%
Nursing Share
3.9%
#24
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA
Net Price
$26,502/yr
Median Earnings
$54,064
Grad Rate
77%
Nursing Share
16.8%
#25
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
Lemont Furnace, PA
Net Price
$14,596/yr
Median Earnings
$63,435
Grad Rate
36%
Nursing Share
39.4%
Why a Nursing degree?
Registered Nursing has 1.4% unemployment and a median salary of $93,600. The U.S. nurse shortage is structural, not cyclical — these jobs aren't going anywhere.
Common career paths: Registered Nurse · Nurse Practitioner · Critical Care Nurse · Pediatric Nurse · Public Health Nurse
Typical starting salary range: $70,000–$93,600
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in Pennsylvania
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