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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
$62,235
10 years after enrollment
Highest-earning school
$111,371
University of Pennsylvania
Schools analyzed
67
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
$111,371$28,699
2Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
$105,584$36,931
3Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
$84,648$38,509
4Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
$76,124$36,425
5Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
$75,701$24,258
6Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
$74,742$37,730
7Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
$69,107$28,905
8La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
$67,416$19,409
9Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
$67,145$27,483
10University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA
$66,125$15,350
11University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
Greensburg, PA
$66,125$17,945
12University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Johnstown, PA
$66,125$18,202
13University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
$66,125$30,434
14Misericordia University
Dallas, PA
$64,313$37,485
15Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Erie, PA
$63,435$24,558
16Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
New Kensington, PA
$63,435$18,305
17Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Sharon, PA
$63,435$18,095
18Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dallas, PA
$63,435$16,448
19Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
Dunmore, PA
$63,435$17,910
20Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Center Valley, PA
$63,435$18,220
21Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, PA
$63,435$22,213
22Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Monaca, PA
$63,435$17,418
23Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading, PA
$63,435$24,356
24Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA
$63,435$23,330
25Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois
DuBois, PA
$63,435$17,428

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 $62,235, with a range from $40,457 at lower-earning schools to $111,371 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 $111,371.

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