Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania (2026): Rankings and Reviews

Pennsylvania has nearly 50 colleges producing BSN graduates, including some of the most prestigious nursing schools in the country. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.

Imagine you want to study nursing in Pennsylvania. You could join an Ivy League nursing school in Philadelphia, a large public university in the mountains, or one of dozens of Catholic and liberal arts colleges across the state. Here is how they compare.

How we ranked these schools

We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Pennsylvania that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.

Pennsylvania nursing schools ranked (2026)

Rank	College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
1	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	97%	202	$91,079	$71,236
2	Villanova University	Villanova	Private nonprofit	93%	175	$95,659	$70,826
3	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Pittsburgh	Public	86%	249	$78,478	$22,736
4	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	University Park	Public	85%	132	$82,877	$21,098
5	University of Scranton	Scranton	Private nonprofit	82%	78	$96,352	$55,713
6	Messiah University	Mechanicsburg	Private nonprofit	78%	43	$82,180	$43,580
7	Drexel University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	78%	381	$95,930	$64,212
8	Saint Francis University	Loretto	Private nonprofit	77%	41	$76,558	$45,700
9	Duquesne University	Pittsburgh	Private nonprofit	76%	209	$78,333	$51,068
10	Moravian University	Bethlehem	Private nonprofit	74%	103	$91,601	$55,560
11	Misericordia University	Dallas	Private nonprofit	73%	77	$86,785	$43,000
12	Temple University	Philadelphia	Public	73%	109	$91,116	$23,824
13	Thomas Jefferson University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	71%	342	$98,195	$49,450
14	Gannon University	Erie	Private nonprofit	71%	65	$71,997	$42,641
15	DeSales University	Center Valley	Private nonprofit	70%	90	$91,612	$48,300
16	Carlow University	Pittsburgh	Private nonprofit	69%	86	$75,795	$37,132
17	Marywood University	Scranton	Private nonprofit	68%	25	$90,347	$43,448
18	Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania	Slippery Rock	Public	68%	25	$82,777	$10,906
19	West Chester University of Pennsylvania	West Chester	Public	68%	212	$91,462	$11,464
20	Holy Family University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	67%	343	$94,861	$36,388
21	Widener University	Chester	Private nonprofit	67%	198	$90,244	$58,280
22	Seton Hill University	Greensburg	Private nonprofit	67%	21	n/a	$44,424
23	Robert Morris University	Moon Township	Private nonprofit	64%	59	$73,645	$37,350
24	Immaculata University	Immaculata	Private nonprofit	63%	78	$94,349	$30,170
25	York College of Pennsylvania	York	Private nonprofit	62%	150	$83,350	$26,920
26	Cedar Crest College	Allentown	Private nonprofit	60%	67	$93,248	$47,714
27	La Salle University	Philadelphia	Private nonprofit	60%	142	$92,836	$40,000
28	Wilkes University	Wilkes-Barre	Private nonprofit	59%	80	$92,113	$44,742
29	Saint Joseph’s University – Lancaster	Lancaster	Private nonprofit	59%	127	$87,471	$22,758
30	Gwynedd Mercy University	Gwynedd Valley	Private nonprofit	58%	194	$91,819	$41,960
31	Eastern University	Saint Davids	Private nonprofit	58%	40	$86,615	$40,116
32	Wilson College	Chambersburg	Private nonprofit	55%	33	$77,905	$27,150
33	Millersville University of Pennsylvania	Millersville	Public	55%	95	$91,189	$11,592
34	Waynesburg University	Waynesburg	Private nonprofit	54%	56	$75,649	$31,350
35	Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania	Bloomsburg	Public	54%	192	$90,544	$11,610
36	Mount Aloysius College	Cresson	Private nonprofit	53%	50	$81,507	$27,884
37	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	Indiana	Public	52%	120	$78,326	$11,724
38	Alvernia University	Reading	Private nonprofit	51%	70	$88,298	$47,550
39	Pennsylvania Western University	California	Public	51%	187	$78,212	$12,075
40	Pennsylvania State University-World Campus	University Park	Public	51%	51	$82,877	$15,510
41	Pennsylvania College of Technology	Williamsport	Public	51%	40	$88,301	$18,690
42	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College	Erie	Public	47%	33	$82,877	$16,004
43	Neumann University	Aston	Private nonprofit	46%	84	$94,231	$40,272
44	East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania	East Stroudsburg	Public	46%	34	$90,909	$11,692
45	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto	Mont Alto	Public	40%	32	$82,877	$14,440
46	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill	Schuylkill Haven	Public	32%	26	$82,877	$15,240
47	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton	Dunmore	Public	31%	29	$82,877	$15,240
48	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg	Middletown	Public	27%	36	$82,877	$16,004
49	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona	Altoona	Public	16%	58	$82,877	$16,004

Top Pennsylvania nursing schools reviewed

1. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is an Ivy League university whose School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the best in the world and is closely linked to a major academic health system.

• Graduation rate: 97%, number 1 in Pennsylvania on our list
• Programme size: about 202 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $91,079 one year after graduating
• Cost: $71,236 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 5%

2. Villanova University

Villanova University, a private Catholic university outside Philadelphia, has a highly regarded College of Nursing with strong graduation outcomes.

• Graduation rate: 93%, number 2 in Pennsylvania on our list
• Programme size: about 175 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $95,659 one year after graduating
• Cost: $70,826 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 27%

3. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

The University of Pittsburgh is a public-related research university with a large School of Nursing and close links to one of the largest health systems in the country.

• Graduation rate: 86%, number 3 in Pennsylvania on our list
• Programme size: about 249 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,478 one year after graduating
• Cost: $22,736 in-state tuition ($43,432 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 58%

4. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Penn State in University Park is Pennsylvania’s flagship public university, offering a BSN through its Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, with some study at other Penn State campuses.

• Graduation rate: 85%, number 4 in Pennsylvania on our list
• Programme size: about 132 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $82,877 one year after graduating
• Cost: $21,098 in-state tuition ($43,490 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 61%

5. University of Scranton

The University of Scranton is a private Jesuit university in north-eastern Pennsylvania with a well-established BSN programme.

• Graduation rate: 82%, number 5 in Pennsylvania on our list
• Programme size: about 78 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $96,352 one year after graduating
• Cost: $55,713 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 81%

Studying nursing in Pennsylvania: what to know

Pennsylvania has a very large and diverse health care sector, with major academic medical centres in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, large health systems in central and eastern parts of the state, and many community hospitals. Drexel University and Holy Family University are among the largest producers of BSN graduates in the state. Pennsylvania also has a long tradition of hospital-based diploma nursing schools, several of which still operate alongside associate and bachelor’s programmes. New graduates can find nurse residency programmes across most major health systems.

Ways to become a registered nurse in Pennsylvania

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
• Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.

Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Pennsylvania is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.

Frequently asked questions

How many colleges in Pennsylvania offer a BSN?

Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 49 colleges in Pennsylvania produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 5,369 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.

Which Pennsylvania nursing school has the highest graduation rate?

University of Pennsylvania has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 97%.

Which is the largest nursing programme in Pennsylvania?

Drexel University produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 381 a year.

How much do new BSN graduates earn in Pennsylvania?

Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $71,997 to $98,195, with a typical (median) figure of about $87,128. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.

How much does a public nursing degree cost in Pennsylvania?

In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $10,906 to $23,824 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.

But is a ranking enough to choose a school?

No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:

• NCLEX pass rates: the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
• Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
• Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
• Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
• Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.

Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school

Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.