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2026 Best Nursing Practice Schools in Pennsylvania

13 Colleges in the United States
246 Nursing Practice Degrees Awarded
$98,780 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nursing Practice programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing practice programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for nursing practice students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Nursing Practice in Pennsylvania

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing practice education in Pennsylvania.

Top Schools in Nursing Practice

1
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University tops our 2026 ranking of the best nursing practice schools. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 46 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $105,829. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full nursing practice program report for Villanova University

2

Students looking for a strong nursing practice program will find one at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 16 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Get the full nursing practice details for Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania

3

Thomas Jefferson University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Thomas Jefferson University awarded about 38 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $101,632. Thomas Jefferson University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Get the full nursing practice details for Thomas Jefferson University

4
Duquesne University crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA

A rank of #4 makes Duquesne University one of the top schools for nursing practice. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 77% of students finish within six years. Duquesne University awarded about 10 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $93,144. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full nursing practice program report for Duquesne University

5

York College Pennsylvania came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. York College Pennsylvania awarded about 18 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $110,490 in their early career. York College Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full nursing practice program report for York College Pennsylvania

6
Wilkes University crest
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Wilkes University earned the #6 position for nursing practice this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Wilkes University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Wilkes University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Wilkes University generally make around $112,923. Students borrow a median of $28,813 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing practice from Wilkes University

7
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA

Messiah College placed #7 among the best nursing practice schools. Set in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 12 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $73,788. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the nursing practice program at Messiah College

8

Misericordia University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Misericordia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 19 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Misericordia University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $91,622 in their early career. Misericordia University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full nursing practice details for Misericordia University

9

Gannon University earned the #9 position for nursing practice this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Erie. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 37 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Gannon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Gannon University earn around $127,183 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,485 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing practice from Gannon University

10
Waynesburg University crest
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA

Waynesburg University landed the #10 spot for nursing practice this year. Located in the town of Waynesburg, Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Waynesburg University awarded about 17 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $82,878 in their early career. Waynesburg University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing practice from Waynesburg University

11
Carlow University crest
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA

Carlow University earned the #11 position for nursing practice this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Carlow University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 10 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Carlow University in the most recent year. Nursing Practice graduates of Carlow University earn a median of $88,311 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,500. Get the full nursing practice details for Carlow University

View All Nursing Practice Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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