2027 Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 87 schools to find the best for nursing students.
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Best Schools for Nursing in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in Nursing
Our analysis ranked University Of Pennsylvania the best school in the country for a degree in nursing. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 452 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $137,262 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,410 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Scranton came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Scranton in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Scranton earn around $110,446 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Scranton
Villanova University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 290 nursing degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $105,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full nursing details for Villanova University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 366 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $98,377. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Drexel University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #5. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 593 nursing degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Drexel University earn around $123,645 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,750.
Read more about the nursing program at Drexel University
Temple University placed #6 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Temple University awarded about 119 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Temple University earn a median of $107,355 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Temple University
Widener University Main Campus placed #7 among the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Widener University Main Campus awarded about 190 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $96,167 in their early career. Widener University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Widener University Main Campus
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #8 position for nursing this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 656 nursing degrees were awarded at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Thomas Jefferson University earn around $101,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Thomas Jefferson University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #9 position for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. About 224 nursing degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year.
Read more about the nursing program at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences earned the #10 position for nursing this year. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lancaster. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 347 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences generally make around $47,496. Students borrow a median of $26,402 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences
Saint Vincent College landed the #11 spot for nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Latrobe. Saint Vincent College graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Saint Vincent College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $199,496 in their early career. Saint Vincent College graduates carry a median of $26,986 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Saint Vincent College
Duquesne University placed #12 among the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Duquesne University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 307 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Duquesne University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Duquesne University earn around $93,144 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Duquesne University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 132 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $88,681. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
La Salle University earned the #14 position for nursing this year. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. La Salle University awarded about 234 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $110,705 in their early career. La Salle University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at La Salle University
York College Pennsylvania earned the #15 position for nursing this year. 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%. About 183 nursing degrees were awarded at York College Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $110,490 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the nursing program at York College Pennsylvania
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #16 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 141 nursing degrees were awarded at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $100,772 in their early career. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #17 position for nursing this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. About 242 nursing degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $86,430 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth Medical College landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. About 29 nursing degrees were awarded at The Commonwealth Medical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $44,758 in their early career.
More information about a degree in nursing from The Commonwealth Medical College
Wilkes University landed the #19 spot for nursing this year. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 435 nursing degrees were awarded at Wilkes University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Wilkes University generally make around $112,923. Students borrow a median of $28,813 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Wilkes University
Holy Family University came in at #20 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 320 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Holy Family University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $103,544. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Holy Family University
Kings College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Kings College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Kings College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $45,414 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,980 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Kings College
Montgomery County Community College came in at #22 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. Montgomery County Community College awarded about 100 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Montgomery County Community College earn around $78,511 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,820.
See the full nursing program report for Montgomery County Community College
Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #23 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Schnecksville. There were roughly 120 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $78,322. Students borrow a median of $27,075 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Lehigh Carbon Community College
Delaware County Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Media. There were roughly 130 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Delaware County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,491 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Delaware County Community College
Westminster College Pa landed the #25 spot for nursing this year. Located in the rural area of New Wilmington, Westminster College Pa is a small private not-for-profit university. Westminster College Pa graduates 65% of students within six years. Westminster College Pa awarded about 12 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Westminster College Pa generally make around $41,105. Students borrow a median of $26,528 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Westminster College Pa
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 87 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
