2024 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
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
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:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on nursing students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of nursing students who choose to seek a associate degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How much debt nursing students go into to obtain their associate degree and how well they are able to pay back that debt.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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