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
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$28,699/yr
Median Earnings
$111,371
Grad Rate
97%
Nursing Share
9.2%
#2
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
Net Price
$27,483/yr
Median Earnings
$67,145
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
61.4%
#3
Misericordia University
Dallas, PA
Net Price
$37,485/yr
Median Earnings
$64,313
Grad Rate
70%
Nursing Share
52.8%
#4
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Price
$37,730/yr
Median Earnings
$74,742
Grad Rate
77%
Nursing Share
39.7%
#5
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$13,143/yr
Median Earnings
$62,235
Grad Rate
61%
Nursing Share
55.6%
#6
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Net Price
$36,931/yr
Median Earnings
$105,584
Grad Rate
89%
Nursing Share
3.7%
#7
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, PA
Net Price
$22,344/yr
Median Earnings
$46,165
Grad Rate
56%
Nursing Share
66.3%
#8
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
Net Price
$24,258/yr
Median Earnings
$75,701
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
34.1%
#9
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$29,689/yr
Median Earnings
$86,881
Grad Rate
79%
Nursing Share
16.9%
#10
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$38,509/yr
Median Earnings
$84,648
Grad Rate
78%
Nursing Share
17.8%
#11
Alvernia University
Reading, PA
Net Price
$28,138/yr
Median Earnings
$55,055
Grad Rate
57%
Nursing Share
53.5%
#12
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA
Net Price
$30,670/yr
Median Earnings
$61,860
Grad Rate
71%
Nursing Share
36.8%
#13
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Price
$20,786/yr
Median Earnings
$51,051
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
49.9%
#14
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
Net Price
$31,643/yr
Median Earnings
$61,295
Grad Rate
72%
Nursing Share
30.9%
#15
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA
Net Price
$23,526/yr
Median Earnings
$62,101
Grad Rate
74%
Nursing Share
27.9%
#16
Gannon University
Erie, PA
Net Price
$22,553/yr
Median Earnings
$58,845
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
33.3%
#17
Haverford College
Haverford, PA
Net Price
$25,314/yr
Median Earnings
$79,966
Grad Rate
90%
Nursing Share
0.3%
#18
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Price
$30,434/yr
Median Earnings
$66,125
Grad Rate
85%
Nursing Share
11.9%
#19
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
Net Price
$36,425/yr
Median Earnings
$76,124
Grad Rate
85%
Nursing Share
4.0%
#20
Central Penn College
Summerdale, PA
Net Price
$18,953/yr
Median Earnings
$45,370
Grad Rate
43%
Nursing Share
57.6%
#21
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
Net Price
$19,409/yr
Median Earnings
$67,416
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
30.1%
#22
Marywood University
Scranton, PA
Net Price
$23,388/yr
Median Earnings
$55,817
Grad Rate
72%
Nursing Share
26.5%
#23
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA
Net Price
$18,659/yr
Median Earnings
$59,460
Grad Rate
59%
Nursing Share
31.6%
#24
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
Mont Alto, PA
Net Price
$19,454/yr
Median Earnings
$63,435
Grad Rate
29%
Nursing Share
49.6%
#25
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA
Net Price
$32,875/yr
Median Earnings
$63,435
Grad Rate
86%
Nursing Share
3.9%

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 →

More college guides like this in your inbox

Weekly analysis of college costs, financial aid, transfer pathways, and career outcomes — for U.S. families.

Free 8-page FAFSA 2026 checklist when you sign up

Disclaimer: DecideMyCampus is an independent information aggregation service — not a licensed counselor, advisor, or educational consultant. All data is sourced from publicly available U.S. federal databases (College Scorecard, IPEDS) and is provided for informational purposes only. We do not promote or endorse any institution. Rankings are algorithmic outputs based on federal data — not professional evaluations or guarantees of outcomes. We are not responsible for any college admission, financial, or enrollment decision made using this site. Always verify information directly with institutions and consult licensed professionals. Full Terms · Privacy · Cookies