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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in Pennsylvania

42 Ranked Colleges
2,051 Degrees Awarded
$102,683 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $70,916 and had an average of $25,426 in loans still to pay off.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 12,391 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,117 and $28,960 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,051 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,136 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania” ranking, we looked at 42 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. That schools that top this list have a program in nursing in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania master’s degree nursing students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in Pennsylvania

1
Carlow crest
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Carlow University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 70 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Nursing at Carlow

2
Thomas Jefferson University crest
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Thomas Jefferson University landed the #2 spot on the list. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 294 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Thomas Jefferson University Nursing Report

3
Wilkes crest
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wilkes University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania. Wilkes is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 114 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Wilkes

4
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DeSales University
Center Valley, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DeSales University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 64 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at DeSales University

5
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Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Vincent College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 30 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Saint Vincent College

6
Drexel crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Drexel University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 335 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Drexel Nursing Report

7
Holy Family crest
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Holy Family University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #7. Holy Family is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 43 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Holy Family University

8
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 382 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Nursing at UPenn

9
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Cedar Crest College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Cedar Crest College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Allentown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Cedar Crest College Nursing Report

10
La Salle crest
La Salle University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

La Salle University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 52 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full La Salle University Nursing Report

11
Immaculata crest
Immaculata University
Immaculata, Pennsylvania

Immaculata University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Immaculata, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 20 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Nursing at Immaculata University

12
Waynesburg crest
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #12, Waynesburg University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Waynesburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 13 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Waynesburg Nursing Report

13
Widener crest
Widener University
Chester, Pennsylvania

Widener University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Widener University is a medium-sized school located in Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 51 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Widener University

14
Cal U crest
California University of Pennsylvania
California, Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. California University of Pennsylvania is located in California, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Full Cal U Nursing Report

15
Duquesne crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Duquesne University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Duquesne University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Duquesne

16
Misericordia University crest
Misericordia University
Dallas, Pennsylvania

Misericordia University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Dallas, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 18 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Misericordia University

17
Millersville crest
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 40 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Millersville

18
University of Scranton crest
University of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania

University of Scranton landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. University of Scranton is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Scranton Nursing Report

19
Neumann crest
Neumann University
Aston, Pennsylvania

Neumann University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Aston, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

Full Neumann University Nursing Report

20
La Roche crest
La Roche University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

La Roche University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. La Roche is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 8 masters’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at La Roche

21

With a ranking of #21, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Nursing Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Clarion, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at Clarion University

23
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 70 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Villanova Nursing Report

24
Gannon crest
Gannon University
Erie, Pennsylvania

Gannon University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Erie, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Gannon University

25
RMU crest
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Robert Morris University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Moon Township, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Robert Morris University Nursing Report

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