2027 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in Pennsylvania
[Nursing Practice](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-practice/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing practice education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing practice students.
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2027 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing practice degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Practice Schools
Leading the list is Holy Family University, our #1 best value for nursing practice in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,330. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of Holy Family University earn a median of $103,544 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #2 place for nursing practice. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $86,430. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #3 makes York College Pennsylvania one of the best values for nursing practice. York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,588. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of York College Pennsylvania earn a median of $110,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. York College Pennsylvania admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nursing practice will find it at La Salle University, which ranked #4. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,800. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Nursing Practice graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $110,705 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Students looking for strong value in nursing practice will find it at Waynesburg University, which ranked #5. Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waynesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,480. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $82,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Located in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $33,124. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $82,137. Set against $33,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Carlow University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,874. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $88,311. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carlow University admits about 87% of applicants.
La Roche College placed #8 among the best values for nursing practice. La Roche College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $34,052. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $31,135 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $54,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Gannon University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Located in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $29,485. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Gannon University generally make around $127,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gannon University admits about 74% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for value in nursing practice this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Robert Morris University landed the #11 spot for nursing practice value this year. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,770 in tuition and fees. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $85,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Widener University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for nursing practice. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,730. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $96,167. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Messiah College landed the #13 spot for nursing practice value this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $73,788 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Wilkes University landed the #14 spot for nursing practice value this year. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,496. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $28,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Wilkes University generally make around $112,923. That is a strong return on a $28,813 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #15 spot for nursing practice value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $101,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earned the #16 position for value in nursing practice this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,500. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary generally make around $48,472. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Desales University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Set in the suburb of Center Valley, Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,800. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $31,000. Nursing Practice graduates of Desales University earn a median of $54,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Scranton placed #18 among the best values for nursing practice. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,777. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $110,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Misericordia University placed #19 among the best values for nursing practice. Misericordia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,370. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $91,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,986. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $93,144. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Drexel University earned the #21 position for value in nursing practice this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $123,645. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Villanova University placed #22 among the best values for nursing practice. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $105,829. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
More Nursing Practice Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
