Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania

As the name implies, Moravian University was founded by members of the Moravian Church. Fittingly located in Bethlehem, Moravian University has nearly 300 years of history and has become one of the most renowned schools in the area.

Their nursing department is particularly impressive, boasting 10 different degree options from the bachelor’s to master’s level. It’s also worth noting that many students earn some form of financial aid, so the tuition might not be as high as it seems.

Drexel University is a private school, but you wouldn’t know it visiting campus. With over 24,00 students, Drexel is among the largest private universities in the nation. The university’s campus spreads across Philadelphia, and nursing students are bound to gain clinical experience in or around the city.

Drexel offers two pre-licensure nursing programs: a co-op four-year and a co-op five-year. Both will give students acute and chronic illness nursing experience, while the latter will add specialties in contemporary healthcare and another field that students may choose themselves. There is also an accelerated second-degree program for students who have met the prerequisites and already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. 

Holy Family University is a small Catholic school with just over 2,000 undergraduate students, making it one of the smallest schools in Pennsylvania. Despite its small size, Holy Family University still has one of the top nursing programs in the state. There are multiple nursing degree options, including a traditional BSN.

One of the highlights is the second-degree programs that are offered. There is a day program and then an evening and weekend program that is ideal for parents and individuals who need to work. This 123-credit program is considered to be one of the best in Philadelphia, if not the best. Students will earn nearly 600 hours of clinical experience in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Another private Christian school in Philadelphia, La Salle University, distinguishes itself by combining Christian ethics with modern science. The traditional BSN integrates teaching students how to be professionals while placing an emphasis on compassion. Students will gain clinical experience at a Pennsylvania or New Jersey hospital through this program.

If you’re not interested in a traditional BSN, La Salle has nine other nursing degree choices for students of varying experience and an array of master’s certificates.

Better known across the nation as “Penn,” the University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League university and one of the top schools in the nation for all programs. Its nursing program is also considered one of the best nationally, and for a good reason. Nurses gain access to Penn’s extensive alumni network, which can lead to top jobs across the country.

One interesting part of their BSN program is sub-matriculation. In their junior year, students can choose to double-count their courses toward a master’s degree, including multiple NP programs. This significantly reduces the time and cost of earning a master’s if that’s your end goal. 

Duquesne University is a well-known Catholic school based in Pittsburgh. They have an incredibly low student-to-faculty ratio (14:1) that many nursing students are sure to love.

While Duquesne’s traditional BSN program is their most popular option for nursing students, the five-year biomedical engineering (BME) and BSN program is the most interesting undergraduate option. Duquesne is the first school to offer a BME/BSN and is likely the best school for anyone interested in the dual degree.

The University of Pittsburgh is one of the most recognizable schools in the region. Founded in 1787, Pitt has a rich history of education and has grown with the city around it. Unlike other schools, Pitt’s traditional BSN doesn’t require students to apply to the program separately; instead, students are accepted into the program directly out of high school.

If you’re worried about choosing a school only to miss out on the BSN, this school is worth applying to. As a public school, Pennsylvania residents will get to take advantage of Pitt’s in-state tuition rate.

Perhaps the best Pennsylvania school for nurses not located in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh is the University of Scranton. Jesuits founded this private Catholic school, so expect to receive a well-rounded education prior to working on your nursing degree.

BSN students will be happy to hear that there are three hospitals where they may have clinicals, and they are only a quick walk from campus—something most other schools don’t have. Former students have earned externships at top hospitals such as New York University Hospital and Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The Pennsylvania State University’s (PSU) low in-state tuition and super high NCLEX pass rate are sure to have gotten your attention. What’s even more impressive is that over 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students are currently enrolled in the BSN program, so each year, hundreds of grads are taking and passing the NCLEX.

Penn State’s College of Nursing is spread across 13 campuses, so it’s also one of the most accessible nursing programs. However, applicants should note that the program is extremely competitive, and accepted applicants have an average GPA of 3.33.

The tuition is steep at Villanova University, but you’d be paying for one of the best Catholic universities in the nation. But you don’t become one of the nation’s top schools without having excellent academics.

The traditional BSN program, the centerpiece of Villanova’s nursing school, is among the top nursing programs in the region. Students who maintain a good GPA are also eligible to study abroad at the University of Manchester in England during their sophomore year, a rarity for nursing majors.