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Nursing Graduate Salaries in Pennsylvania

Federal earnings data for every Pennsylvania college offering Nursing, ranked by 10-year median graduate salary. Sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — real tax-reported income, not surveys.

Median earnings
$69,383
10 years after enrollment
Highest-earning school
$121,687
University of Pennsylvania
Schools analyzed
71
in Pennsylvania

Nursing in Pennsylvania. 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.

Typical career paths: Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Public Health Nurse. Median starting salary range: $70,000–$93,600. School choice can swing graduate earnings by 30–60% — which is why we rank by federal data, not prestige.

Top Nursing schools in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings
Ranked by 10-year median earnings · all schools have a Nursing program
#School10-yr earningsNet price/yr
1University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
$121,687$29,577
2Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
$116,342$25,272
3Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
$92,338$37,529
4Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
$85,980$33,840
5Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
$81,698$37,704
6Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
$81,484$33,445
7Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
$76,444$25,253
8Haverford College
Haverford, PA
$76,397$31,075
9Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
$74,134$27,541
10Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
$74,080$23,811
11University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA
$73,113$13,598
12University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
Greensburg, PA
$73,113$17,075
13University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Johnstown, PA
$73,113$16,375
14University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
$73,113$29,362
15Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Erie, PA
$71,762$23,165
16Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
New Kensington, PA
$71,762$10,866
17Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Sharon, PA
$71,762$10,802
18Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dallas, PA
$71,762$10,521
19Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
Dunmore, PA
$71,762$12,204
20Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Center Valley, PA
$71,762$12,029
21Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, PA
$71,762$21,714
22Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Monaca, PA
$71,762$16,063
23Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading, PA
$71,762$19,570
24Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA
$71,762$16,753
25Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois
DuBois, PA
$71,762$11,531

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are 10-year median income for graduates of each institution (all majors, since program-level earnings are released only for select fields). Refreshed every 24 hours.

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Frequently asked questions

What do Nursing graduates earn in Pennsylvania?

The median 10-year earnings for Nursing graduates from Pennsylvania colleges is $69,383, with a range from $44,828 at lower-earning schools to $121,687 at top-earning schools. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Which Pennsylvania school has the highest Nursing graduate salary?

University of Pennsylvania ranks first among Pennsylvania schools offering Nursing, with a 10-year median graduate salary of $121,687.

How is "graduate salary" measured?

These figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. They reflect actual federal tax-reported income of all graduates 10 years after enrollment — including those who pursued graduate school and those who took industry jobs. They are not survey-based.

Are these salaries adjusted for cost of living?

No. These are raw federal earnings figures. Pennsylvania salaries should be considered in context of local cost of living. For example, $90,000 in California has different purchasing power than $90,000 in North Carolina.

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