Home to the first zoo in the United States, the state of Pennsylvania also has a rich history and is widely known in the world of college sports. That said, armed with a prosperous and thriving economy that is made up of the banking, agriculture, gambling, and film industries, the state of Pennsylvania is ranked in the top 10 states in the GSP rankings. There are also lots of nursing schools in Pennsylvania.
Because the state of Pennsylvania’s economy has performed well, the cost of living is very attractive if you’re living off a nurses’ salary. You can easily live both comfortably and affordably almost anywhere in the state. This goes for any nurse working in any profession within the medical field.
Nursing education in Pennsylvania
Aspiring and advancing nurses have a wide selection of colleges available to them throughout the state of Pennsylvania. While the majority of all colleges and universities are open to the public, some of the more outstanding schools include the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University; all of which provide some form of nursing degree programs.
Overall, is not uncommon for many of these universities and colleges to offer various degree programs as it pertains to an Associates, Bachelor’s, Masters, and Doctoral’s or Ph.D.’s. Different requirements are attached to each program as it pertains to the area of study and work that is desired.
Upon graduating and becoming a licensed nurse, you will have the option of applying to several of the well-known major hospitals, doctors’ offices, health clinics, and other healthcare facilities in the state.
The job market for nurses in Pennsylvania remains strong across all skill levels, in registered nurse and LPN roles alike. The national RN median was $97,550 a year as of May 2025, and pay within Pennsylvania varies considerably by metro area, specialty, and years of experience — the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets pay well above the rural counties.
Featured programs
Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing
Located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania’s fourth-largest city, Gannon University is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university. The nursing programs at the Villa Maria School of Nursing are fully accredited by CCNE.
In addition to a traditional baccalaureate program, Gannon offers an online RN to BSN completion route, an online post- bachelor’s certificate in school nursing, and an on-campus RN to MSN program.
Students benefit from a small student to faculty ratio, almost 1000 hours of varied clinical placements, and access to a patient simulation laboratory. Clinical experience doesn’t end there, as summer internships in hospital settings are also available, and both students and faculty are active participants in service-related health care activities.
109 University Square
Erie, PA 16541
814-871-7000
Website: http://www.gannon.edu/
Villanova University College of Nursing
Founded in 1842, Villanova is a private Catholic university that emphasizes critical thinking, compassion, and service to others. Villanova is located in the affluent western suburbs of Philadelphia and is home to more than 10,000 students. The College of Nursing at Villanova has been repeatedly designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. NLN Center of Excellence designations run for a fixed term and must be renewed, so check the NLN’s current list rather than assuming a past designation still stands.
BSN students at Villanova have the choice of a standard BSN, a four-semester second-degree BSN and a 14-month accelerated BSN. Four MSN concentrations are on offer plus a range of post-master’s certificates. Doctoral students may opt for a standard DNP, a DNP-Nurse Anesthesia, or a scholarly Ph.D.
The BSN, MSN and standard DNP program at Villanova are accredited by CCNE. The DNP-Nurse Anesthetist program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
800 E. Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
610-519-4500
Website: https://www.villanova.edu/villanova/nursing.html
West Chester University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
West Chester University is the largest institution in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, enrolling roughly 17,000 students. Admission is competitive and the entering profile changes each cycle, so check the current admissions data published by the university rather than a figure quoted elsewhere. Nursing programs at the school have accreditation in place from CCNE.
Students looking to embark upon a baccalaureate in nursing at West Chester may opt for a standard 120 credit full first-degree pathway, an 18-month accelerated pathway or the RN to BSN option. All courses are delivered on campus.
Adult-Gerontology and Nursing Education are both 40 credit plus programs which represent the two possible concentrations for master’s students and are also studied on campus. However, the 35 credit DNP program is delivered almost completely online.
700 South High Street
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-1000
Website: http://www.wcupa.edu
The Pennsylvania State University Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Penn State is a public, land-grant research university, and its nursing unit was named the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing in July 2021 following a $27 million gift. Penn State’s nursing programs have been granted accreditation from CCNE. Although the main campus is located near the city of State College, the university maintains a long list of satellite campuses across Pennsylvania and most nursing programs are offered at multiple campuses and/or online. Penn State announced in 2025 that seven Commonwealth campuses will close after spring 2027, so confirm that the campus you plan to attend will still be operating for the full length of your program.
Penn State offers a comprehensive range of nursing education. Three variants of BSN are offered alongside five specialization options for master’s students, two of which may be studied wholly online. Aspiring PhD students can opt for an interdisciplinary Ph.D. or a dual-title Ph.D. in Nursing and Bioethics. DNP programs are included in the range of doctoral choices and prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical practice.
201 Old Main
University Park
Pennsylvania 16802
814-865-4700
Website: http://www.psu.edu
Pennsylvania Board of Nursing approved schools
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approves prelicensure nursing programs in the Commonwealth. Approval is a regulatory action and is what makes a program’s graduates eligible for licensure; it is separate from the voluntary programmatic accreditation listed below, which comes from ACEN or CCNE.
Two structural changes reshaped public nursing education in Pennsylvania in 2022, and older directories have not caught up. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities were consolidated into Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, whose nursing programs run through the Breiner School of Nursing while each campus keeps its own public-facing name. California, Clarion, and Edinboro universities were consolidated into Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest), with campuses branded PennWest California, PennWest Clarion, and PennWest Edinboro. If you are reading an older list, expect to see all six under their former independent names.
Program offerings, accreditation status, and approval status all change. Treat the list below as a starting point and confirm current details against the State Board of Nursing’s own published list before applying.
Alvernia University School of Nursing
- Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1958 (Alvernia College until 2008)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.alvernia.edu
Cedar Crest College School of Nursing
- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1867
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.cedarcrest.edu
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Breiner School of Nursing
- Location: Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Clearfield locations, Pennsylvania
- Programs: ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP
- Founded: consolidated in 2022 from Bloomsburg (1839), Lock Haven (1870), and Mansfield (1857) universities
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.commonwealthu.edu
DeSales University School of Nursing
- Location: Center Valley, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1964
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.desales.edu
Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1891
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.drexel.edu
Duquesne University School of Nursing
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD
- Founded: 1878
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.duq.edu
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1893
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.esu.edu
Eastern University School of Nursing
- Location: St. Davids, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1952
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.eastern.edu
Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing
- Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1925
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.gannon.edu
Gwynedd Mercy University Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions
- Location: Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificates
- Founded: 1948 (Gwynedd-Mercy College until 2013)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.gmercyu.edu
Holy Family University School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1954
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.holyfamily.edu
Immaculata University School of Nursing
- Location: Immaculata, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1920
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.immaculata.edu
Indiana University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Allied Health
- Location: Indiana, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1875
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.iup.edu
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: Kutztown, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1866
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.kutztown.edu
La Roche University School of Nursing
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1963 (La Roche College until 2019)
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.laroche.edu
La Salle University School of Nursing
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1863
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.lasalle.edu
Marywood University School of Nursing
- Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1915
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.marywood.edu
Messiah University School of Nursing
- Location: Grantham, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1909 (Messiah College until 2020)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.messiah.edu
Millersville University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: Millersville, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1855
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.millersville.edu
Misericordia University School of Nursing
- Location: Dallas, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1924 (College Misericordia until 2007)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.misericordia.edu
Moravian University Helen S. Breidegam School of Nursing and Public Health
- Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, post-master’s certificates
- Founded: 1742 (Moravian College until 2021)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.moravian.edu
Mount Aloysius College School of Nursing
- Location: Cresson, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1939
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.mtaloy.edu
Neumann University School of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Location: Aston, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1965 (Neumann College until 2009)
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.neumann.edu
Pennsylvania College of Technology School of Nursing
- Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
- Programs: ADN, BSN
- Founded: 1965
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.pct.edu
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) School of Nursing
- Location: PennWest Clarion and PennWest Edinboro campuses, Pennsylvania
- Programs: ADN, BSN, RN to BSN, MSN
- Founded: consolidated in 2022 from California (1852), Clarion (1867), and Edinboro (1857) universities
- Accreditation: the PennWest Edinboro BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the PennWest Clarion ASN and BSN are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The California campus does not offer a prelicensure program.
- Website: www.pennwest.edu
The Pennsylvania State University, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
- Location: University Park, Pennsylvania, plus multiple Commonwealth campuses
- Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD
- Founded: 1855 (college of nursing named for Ross and Carol Nese in 2021)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.nursing.psu.edu
Saint Francis University School of Nursing
- Location: Loretto, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN
- Founded: 1847
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.francis.edu
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1889
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.sru.edu
Temple University School of Nursing
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1884
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.temple.edu
Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Nursing
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1824
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.jefferson.edu
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD
- Founded: university founded 1740
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.nursing.upenn.edu
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD
- Founded: university founded 1787
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.nursing.pitt.edu
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford School of Nursing
- Location: Bradford, Pennsylvania
- Programs: ADN, BSN, RN to BSN
- Founded: 1963
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.upb.pitt.edu
The University of Scranton School of Nursing
- Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1888
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.scranton.edu
Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
- Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD
- Founded: 1842 (university); college of nursing founded 1953
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
- Website: www.villanova.edu
Waynesburg University School of Nursing
- Location: Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1849 (Waynesburg College until 2007)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.waynesburg.edu
West Chester University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP
- Founded: 1871
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.wcupa.edu
Widener University School of Nursing
- Location: Chester, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD
- Founded: 1821
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.widener.edu
Wilkes University Passan School of Nursing
- Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1933
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: www.wilkes.edu
York College of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Location: York, Pennsylvania
- Programs: BSN, MSN
- Founded: 1787
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.ycp.edu
Related guide
For admissions requirements, program costs, and how to choose the right program, read our full guide to Nursing schools in Pennsylvania: programs, costs, and how to choose.