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2024 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania

20 Colleges in Pennsylvania
2,443 Associate Degrees
$56,512 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #2 in popularity, nursing is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual reviewed 20 schools in Pennsylvania to determine which ones were the best for associate degree seekers in the field of nursing. Combined, these schools handed out 2,443 associate degrees in nursing to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Associate Degree

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania The nursing associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their associate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list, to help you choose the best school for you.


 

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Nursing in Pennsylvania

The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in nursing.

10 Top Pennsylvania Schools for an Associate in Nursing

1
290 Annual Graduates
$62,635 Median Starting Salary
$27,498 Median Student Debt

Any student who is interested in an associate degree in nursing has to look into Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. PA College is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Lancaster.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences get $6,123 more than the average college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in nursing from Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

2
47 Annual Graduates
$55,648 Median Starting Salary
$29,500 Median Student Debt

It is hard to beat Clarion University of Pennsylvania if you want to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Clarion University is a small public university located in the remote town of Clarion.

After graduating, nursing associate recipients generally make an average of $55,648 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in nursing from Clarion University of Pennsylvania

2
395 Annual Graduates
$62,046 Median Starting Salary
$28,250 Median Student Debt

Harrisburg Area Community College is a great decision for students pursuing an associate degree in nursing. HACC is a fairly large public college located in the small city of Harrisburg.

Nursing associate degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College receive an earnings boost of about $5,534 over the typical income of nursing majors.

More information about a associate in nursing from Harrisburg Area Community College

3
161 Annual Graduates
$55,766 Median Starting Salary
$27,000 Median Student Debt

Delaware County Community College is a great option for individuals interested in an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $55,766 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in nursing from Delaware County Community College

4
348 Annual Graduates
$54,442 Median Starting Salary
$22,772 Median Student Debt

Community College of Allegheny County is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in nursing. CCAC is a large public college located in the city of Pittsburgh.

Soon after graduating, nursing associate recipients usually earn an average of $54,442 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Community College of Allegheny County

5
49 Annual Graduates
$63,467 Median Starting Salary
$39,000 Median Student Debt

Penn College is a small public college located in the city of Williamsport.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Technology earn $6,955 above the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Pennsylvania College of Technology

6
119 Annual Graduates
$61,454 Median Starting Salary
$27,075 Median Student Debt

LCCC is a medium-sized public college located in the large suburb of Schnecksville.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Lehigh Carbon Community College make $4,942 more than the standard nursing student.

More information about a associate in nursing from Lehigh Carbon Community College

7
LHU crest
Lock Haven University
Lock Haven, PA
64 Annual Graduates
$58,640 Median Starting Salary
$31,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the town of Lock Haven, LHU is a public university with a small student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Lock Haven University get $2,128 more than the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in nursing from Lock Haven University

7
109 Annual Graduates
$58,538 Median Starting Salary
$25,750 Median Student Debt

Community College of Philadelphia is a large public college located in the city of Philadelphia.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Community College of Philadelphia make $2,026 more than the typical nursing student.

More information about a associate in nursing from Community College of Philadelphia

8
49 Annual Graduates
$58,338 Median Starting Salary
$36,751 Median Student Debt

Located in the rural area of Oakdale, Pittsburgh Technical College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $58,338 for their early career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Pittsburgh Technical College

Best Nursing Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
New York 196 6,617
New Jersey 137 2,407
Maryland 126 1,466
Delaware 60 325

View All Rankings >

One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 2,443

Related Major Annual Graduates
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 933
Allied Health Professions 919
Health Sciences & Services 751
Health & Medical Administrative Services 516
Dental Support Services 357
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 102
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 97
Mental & Social Health Services 92
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 71
Other Health Professions 52

Notes and References

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