Best colleges for nursing in Pennsylvania

    Holy Family University-Pennsylvania ranks first in Pennsylvania for nursing value (#75 nationally, value score 71): graduates earn $95,869 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $12,882 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 37 Pennsylvania colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best nursing colleges in Pennsylvania

    Holy Family University-Pennsylvania ranks first in Pennsylvania for nursing value (#75 nationally, value score 71): graduates earn $95,869 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $12,882 a year. 37 Pennsylvania colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $91,887 and the average net price is $24,778 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 37 Pennsylvania colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $91,887 and the average net price is $24,778 a year.
    • The highest nursing earnings in the state are at Immaculata University ($105,749), ranked #8 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
    Median earnings
    $91,887
    National: $85,171
    Median net price
    $24,778
    National: $18,014
    Median federal debt
    $25,500
    nursing graduates
    Public colleges
    8 of 37
    in this list

    37 colleges

    The Pennsylvania ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in Pennsylvania 1

      Holy Family University-Pennsylvania

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #75 nationally

      71.0Value
      Earnings
      $95,869
      Net price
      $12,882
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      67%
    2. Rank in Pennsylvania 2

      Thomas Jefferson University

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #77 nationally

      70.8Value
      Earnings
      $99,839
      Net price
      $25,555
      Federal debt
      $12,500
      Graduation rate
      71%
    3. Rank in Pennsylvania 3

      Millersville University of Pennsylvania

      Millersville, PA · Public · #88 nationally

      69.6Value
      Earnings
      $98,216
      Net price
      $18,817
      Federal debt
      $15,875
      Graduation rate
      55%
    4. Rank in Pennsylvania 4

      Drexel University

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #97 nationally

      68.4Value
      Earnings
      $100,646
      Net price
      $37,529
      Federal debt
      $12,500
      Graduation rate
      78%
    5. Rank in Pennsylvania 5

      West Chester University of Pennsylvania

      West Chester, PA · Public · #112 nationally

      66.9Value
      Earnings
      $98,013
      Net price
      $24,778
      Federal debt
      $16,418
      Graduation rate
      68%
    6. Rank in Pennsylvania 6

      University of Pennsylvania

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #142 nationally

      65.1Value
      Earnings
      $98,475
      Net price
      $29,577
      Federal debt
      $20,500
      Graduation rate
      97%
    7. Rank in Pennsylvania 7

      La Salle University

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #146 nationally

      64.8Value
      Earnings
      $100,679
      Net price
      $19,758
      Federal debt
      $25,019
      Graduation rate
      60%
    8. Rank in Pennsylvania 8

      Immaculata University

      Immaculata, PA · Private nonprofit · #182 nationally

      62.0Value
      Earnings
      $105,749
      Net price
      $23,811
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      63%
    9. Rank in Pennsylvania 9

      Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

      Slippery Rock, PA · Public · #183 nationally

      61.9Value
      Earnings
      $86,557
      Net price
      $19,972
      Federal debt
      $12,622
      Graduation rate
      68%
    10. Rank in Pennsylvania 10

      University of Scranton

      Scranton, PA · Private nonprofit · #196 nationally

      60.7Value
      Earnings
      $105,353
      Net price
      $32,132
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      82%
    11. Rank in Pennsylvania 11

      Villanova University

      Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit · #212 nationally

      59.4Value
      Earnings
      $99,540
      Net price
      $41,536
      Federal debt
      $24,878
      Graduation rate
      93%
    12. Rank in Pennsylvania 12

      Temple University-Pennsylvania

      Philadelphia, PA · Public · #218 nationally

      58.5Value
      Earnings
      $96,342
      Net price
      $23,058
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      73%
    13. Rank in Pennsylvania 13

      Widener University

      Chester, PA · Private nonprofit · #245 nationally

      56.6Value
      Earnings
      $98,272
      Net price
      $26,151
      Federal debt
      $26,000
      Graduation rate
      67%
    14. Rank in Pennsylvania 14

      Marywood University

      Scranton, PA · Private nonprofit · #253 nationally

      55.6Value
      Earnings
      $92,915
      Net price
      $21,059
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      68%
    15. Rank in Pennsylvania 15

      Wilkes University-Pennsylvania

      Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private nonprofit · #254 nationally

      55.6Value
      Earnings
      $92,034
      Net price
      $25,799
      Federal debt
      $20,281
      Graduation rate
      59%
    16. Rank in Pennsylvania 16

      Gwynedd Mercy University

      Gwynedd Valley, PA · Private nonprofit · #264 nationally

      54.9Value
      Earnings
      $99,913
      Net price
      $27,541
      Federal debt
      $26,250
      Graduation rate
      58%
    17. Rank in Pennsylvania 17

      East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

      East Stroudsburg, PA · Public · #304 nationally

      52.2Value
      Earnings
      $97,321
      Net price
      $21,084
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      46%
    18. Rank in Pennsylvania 18

      DeSales University

      Center Valley, PA · Private nonprofit · #331 nationally

      50.8Value
      Earnings
      $91,887
      Net price
      $29,183
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      70%
    19. Rank in Pennsylvania 19

      York College of Pennsylvania

      York, PA · Private nonprofit · #332 nationally

      50.8Value
      Earnings
      $91,052
      Net price
      $21,886
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      62%
    20. Rank in Pennsylvania 20

      Neumann University

      Aston, PA · Private nonprofit · #362 nationally

      48.2Value
      Earnings
      $98,754
      Net price
      $27,749
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      46%
    21. Rank in Pennsylvania 21

      Moravian University

      Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit · #387 nationally

      46.7Value
      Earnings
      $88,293
      Net price
      $35,264
      Federal debt
      $23,040
      Graduation rate
      74%
    22. Rank in Pennsylvania 22

      Alvernia University

      Reading, PA · Private nonprofit · #391 nationally

      46.4Value
      Earnings
      $94,679
      Net price
      $27,122
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      51%
    23. Rank in Pennsylvania 23

      Carlow University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · #404 nationally

      45.6Value
      Earnings
      $86,258
      Net price
      $22,455
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      69%
    24. Rank in Pennsylvania 24

      Misericordia University

      Dallas, PA · Private nonprofit · #421 nationally

      43.8Value
      Earnings
      $88,523
      Net price
      $40,348
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      73%
    25. Rank in Pennsylvania 25

      Eastern University

      Saint Davids, PA · Private nonprofit · #432 nationally

      43.3Value
      Earnings
      $90,697
      Net price
      $27,498
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      58%
    26. Rank in Pennsylvania 26

      Mount Aloysius College

      Cresson, PA · Private nonprofit · #445 nationally

      42.5Value
      Earnings
      $87,928
      Net price
      $21,483
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      53%
    27. Rank in Pennsylvania 27

      Duquesne University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · #473 nationally

      40.3Value
      Earnings
      $84,802
      Net price
      $37,704
      Federal debt
      $23,250
      Graduation rate
      76%
    28. Rank in Pennsylvania 28

      Robert Morris University

      Moon Township, PA · Private nonprofit · #483 nationally

      39.9Value
      Earnings
      $81,212
      Net price
      $21,445
      Federal debt
      $21,500
      Graduation rate
      64%
    29. Rank in Pennsylvania 29

      University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

      Pittsburgh, PA · Public · #486 nationally

      39.7Value
      Earnings
      $83,313
      Net price
      $29,362
      Federal debt
      $23,298
      Graduation rate
      86%
    30. Rank in Pennsylvania 30

      Cedar Crest College

      Allentown, PA · Private nonprofit · #503 nationally

      38.3Value
      Earnings
      $84,041
      Net price
      $23,513
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      60%
    31. Rank in Pennsylvania 31

      Pennsylvania College of Technology

      Williamsport, PA · Public · #509 nationally

      37.6Value
      Earnings
      $86,854
      Net price
      $24,761
      Federal debt
      $25,550
      Graduation rate
      51%
    32. Rank in Pennsylvania 32

      Indiana University of Pennsylvania

      Indiana, PA · Public · #530 nationally

      36.3Value
      Earnings
      $82,343
      Net price
      $17,391
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      52%
    33. Rank in Pennsylvania 33

      Saint Francis University

      Loretto, PA · Private nonprofit · #574 nationally

      31.8Value
      Earnings
      $81,510
      Net price
      $28,219
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      77%
    34. Rank in Pennsylvania 34

      Gannon University

      Erie, PA · Private nonprofit · #579 nationally

      31.4Value
      Earnings
      $80,846
      Net price
      $24,443
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      71%
    35. Rank in Pennsylvania 35

      Waynesburg University

      Waynesburg, PA · Private nonprofit · #601 nationally

      29.4Value
      Earnings
      $79,037
      Net price
      $18,810
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      54%
    36. Rank in Pennsylvania 36

      Messiah University

      Mechanicsburg, PA · Private nonprofit · #634 nationally

      25.8Value
      Earnings
      $77,824
      Net price
      $25,955
      Federal debt
      $26,862
      Graduation rate
      78%
    37. Rank in Pennsylvania 37

      Wilson College-Pennsylvania

      Chambersburg, PA · Private nonprofit · #659 nationally

      20.6Value
      Earnings
      $73,921
      Net price
      $20,699
      Federal debt
      $25,500
      Graduation rate
      55%

    Method: the same value score as the national nursing ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about nursing colleges in Pennsylvania

    What are the best colleges for nursing in Pennsylvania?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Pennsylvania colleges for nursing are Holy Family University-Pennsylvania (value score 71), Thomas Jefferson University (value score 70.8) and Millersville University of Pennsylvania (value score 69.6). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which Pennsylvania college has the highest earnings for nursing graduates?

    Immaculata University: its nursing graduates have median earnings of $105,749 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable nursing college in Pennsylvania on this list?

    Holy Family University-Pennsylvania has the lowest average net price of the ranked Pennsylvania colleges, $12,882 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many Pennsylvania colleges are ranked for nursing?

    37 Pennsylvania colleges have a nursing bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Pennsylvania.