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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Nursing in Pennsylvania

75 Ranked Colleges
12,391 Degrees Awarded
$33,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania” ranking, we looked at 75 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in nursing.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania nursing students.

1
Drexel crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drexel University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 919 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Drexel University

2
Thomas Jefferson University crest
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Thomas Jefferson University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 854 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Thomas Jefferson University

3
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 75 schools in the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 620 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full University of Pennsylvania Nursing Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. PA College is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 460 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 full report on Nursing at PA College

5
HACC crest
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harrisburg Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this fairly large public school awarded 395 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at Harrisburg Area Community College

6
Duquesne crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Duquesne University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #6. Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 379 ’s degrees 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Nursing at Duquesne

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a large school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 359 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Nursing Report

8

Community College of Allegheny County landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large public school awarded 348 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at CCAC

9
Holy Family crest
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Holy Family University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Holy Family is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 321 ’s 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%.

Full Holy Family Nursing Report

10
Gwynedd - Mercy crest
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

Gwynedd Mercy University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Gwynedd Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. It awarded 314 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Gwynedd Mercy University

11
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Villanova is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It awarded 311 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Nursing at Villanova

12
Widener crest
Widener University
Chester, Pennsylvania

Widener University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Chester, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 274 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Widener

13
Wilkes crest
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #13, Wilkes University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 236 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read full report on Nursing at Wilkes

14

With a ranking of #14, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Cal U is a medium-sized public school situated in California, Pennsylvania. It awarded 233 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Cal U Nursing Report

15
WCUPA crest
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 215 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full WCUPA Nursing Report

16
La Salle crest
La Salle University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

La Salle University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 217 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at La Salle University

17

Clarion University of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Clarion, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 210 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Clarion University of Pennsylvania

18
Millersville crest
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Millersville is a medium-sized school located in Millersville, Pennsylvania that handed out 196 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Millersville

19

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 174 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at IUP

20
DeSales crest
DeSales University
Center Valley, Pennsylvania

DeSales University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 177 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full DeSales University Nursing Report

21

Delaware County Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania list. Delaware County Community College is a medium-sized school located in Media, Pennsylvania that handed out 205 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at Delaware County Community College

22

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #22. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 139 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Bloomsburg

23
Moravian crest
Moravian College
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Moravian College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 124 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%.

Full Moravian Nursing Report

23

York College of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #23. York, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 124 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at YCP

25
Mount Aloysius crest
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, Pennsylvania

Mount Aloysius College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Cresson, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 122 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at Mount Aloysius

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