Nursing is one of the most rewarding and in-demand careers today. With an aging population and growing healthcare needs, both Pennsylvania and the rest of the country are experiencing a serious nurse shortage. Recent reports suggest that Pennsylvania alone could be short by nearly 20,000 nurses by 2026.
A nursing degree prepares you with a mix of classroom learning, clinical practice, and real-world patient care. It’s hard work, but it leads to a career that pays well, offers plenty of opportunities to specialize, and makes a real difference in people’s lives.
If you want to succeed in nursing, though, getting the right education matters. The best programs stand out with strong NCLEX pass rates, flexible study options, affordable tuition, experienced faculty, and excellent clinical placements.
In creating our list of the Best Nursing Colleges in Pennsylvania, we carefully considered all these factors and relied on trusted sources like state health data and nursing education boards. The schools you’ll see here combine quality, flexibility, and support to help you take the next big step in your nursing career.
Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania
1. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the top-ranked nursing schools in the world, and it also offers flexible online and hybrid programs for nurses who want to advance their careers without putting life on hold.
While the traditional BSN is still in-person, Penn’s online options shine at the graduate level, including the new MSN in Nursing & Healthcare Leadership (launching summer 2025) and several Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) tracks.
These programs combine online learning with real-world experience through practicum hours, so students get both flexibility and hands-on training. Courses are designed to be interactive, with a mix of live sessions and self-paced study, and they’re backed by Penn’s expert faculty and instructional design team.
2. The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is one of the highest-ranked nursing schools in the country, and it has flexible online and hybrid programs designed for busy nurses who want to keep working while advancing their education.
Pitt offers options like the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and even an RN-to-BSN online pathway for registered nurses. The programs combine online learning with clinical experiences, giving you both flexibility and hands-on training.
Admission usually requires a current RN license, a solid GPA, recommendation letters, and a personal statement. Tuition varies depending on the program; graduate nursing costs about $31,510 per year for in-state students and $39,122 for out-of-state, while the online RN-to-BSN is around $13,198 full-time per year.
3. Villanova University’s Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
Villanova University’s Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is known for combining strong academics with real-world practice, making it one of the top nursing schools in Pennsylvania. The college offers flexible options like the online RN-to-BSN program and several graduate-level degrees that allow nurses to advance their careers without putting their jobs on hold.
Courses are taught by experienced faculty who also practice in the field, so students learn skills they can immediately apply in patient care. Admission usually requires an RN license, transcripts, recommendation letters, and a personal statement.
Tuition for Villanova’s online nursing programs is about $980 per credit, which makes the cost depend on how many courses you take.
4. Duquesne University’s School of Nursing
Duquesne University’s School of Nursing in Pittsburgh is well-known for its flexible online and hybrid programs that help nurses advance their careers without pausing work. The school offers online MSN programs in areas like Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology, Nursing Education, and Leadership, along with an online PhD in Nursing, one of the first of its kind.
While most classes are online and can be taken on your own schedule, some programs include short campus visits for hands-on training and labs. Tuition is around $1,635 per credit, and programs are CCNE-accredited, ensuring top academic and professional standards.
5. Widener University’s School of Nursing
Widener University’s School of Nursing is a great option for nurses who want flexible programs that fit around work and life. The school offers an online RN-to-BSN program, so registered nurses can earn their bachelor’s degree without needing to attend classes on campus.
Widener provides MSN and DNP programs with different specialties such as Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology, Nursing Education, and Health Systems Leadership. Some tracks are offered fully online, while others blend online learning with clinical practice, giving students the best of both worlds. Tuition is about $1,060 per credit.
What makes Widener stand out is its balance of flexible online learning and strong clinical training, making it a smart choice for nurses who want to grow their careers without putting everything else on hold.
6. Moravian University
Moravian University offers nursing programs made for working nurses or those who need flexible schedules. Their RN-to-BSN online program is completely online, starts every eight weeks, and lets you transfer up to half of the courses if your past credits match. The program focuses on leadership, community health, evidence-based practice, and even includes tele-health clinical experience. The school and its programs are fully accredited, so your diploma is respected.
Moravian provides an MSN program (with specialties like Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track. The DNP program takes about two years if full-time, or three to four years if you go part-time. The format is online with required synchronous sessions (i.e., you’ll need to be online at set times for some parts).
As for cost, Moravian charges about $999 per credit for many nursing grad-level courses, including the DNP and MSN tracks. The RN-to-BSN has a lower rate (around $498 per credit) but adds small extra fees for clinical or assessment work.
7. Holy Family
Holy Family offers a fast-tracked hybrid BSN program for people who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. It’s called their Second-Degree Distance Hybrid BSN, and you can finish in about 14 months.
Most of the courses are online, but there’s one week you’ll need to be on the campus for hands-on skills, and there are clinical placements (practical work in real healthcare settings). The total clinical hours are around 504 hours, and they want you to take certain science prerequisites like anatomy, micro, etc., with decent grades. The tuition is about $883 per credit, which comes to roughly $52,000 total (plus extra fees).
They also have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) available online, with options like Leadership, Education, and Family Nurse Practitioner. The number of credits depends on which specialty you choose, usually between 33 and 39 credits.
8. Reading Area Community College
Reading Area Community College has one of the best associate-degree nursing (ADN) programs in Pennsylvania and is especially well known for helping students get ready to become licensed registered nurses (RNs). Their nursing program prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is what you need to pass to be an RN.
There are two tracks you can pick: a day program that takes two years (four semesters) with classes during the day, and an evening program that spreads out over seven semesters, with one evening of class plus labs/clinical work. They also offer a one-year full-time program to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) if that’s the route you want first.
Tuition for in-state students is around $10,470 per year, and out-of-state is about $11,580. There are extra fees for labs, simulation, etc.
9. Northampton Community College
Northampton Community College is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable and practical way to become a registered nurse. The school offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program that combines classroom learning with real clinical experience in local hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The program is designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN exam, which is required to become a licensed RN, and it has a strong track record of student success. Classes are offered with flexibility, and students get access to tutoring, advising, and career support to help them stay on track.
10. Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions
Drexel University in Philadelphia is well known for its innovative and flexible nursing programs, especially online. The school offers an RN-to-BSN program that can be completed entirely online in as little as one year.
Drexel also has a wide range of MSN and DNP programs online, with specialties like Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Education, and Leadership, all taught by faculty who are active in the healthcare field. Courses are designed to be interactive and engaging, with virtual simulations and case-based learning that connect directly to real-world nursing.
Tuition for undergraduate nursing is about $1,213 per credit, while graduate nursing programs average around $1,355 per credit, depending on the track.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take to complete a nursing program?
Most RN-to-BSN programs can be finished in 12–18 months, while MSN programs usually take 2–3 years, depending on whether you study full-time or part-time. DNP programs may take 3–4 years.
2. Are online nursing degrees respected?
Yes. As long as the program is accredited by the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) or ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing), your degree is fully recognized by employers, state boards, and licensing bodies.
3. What are the admission requirements?
Most programs require:-
- An active RN license (for RN-to-BSN, MSN, or DNP).
- Official transcripts.
- A minimum GPA (often 2.5–3.0).
- Letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement or essay.
4. How much does an online nursing program cost in Pennsylvania?
Tuition varies widely. Community colleges may cost around $6,000–$10,000 per year, while universities can range from $25,000–$50,000 total, depending on the program and level of study.
5. Can I work while enrolled in an online nursing program?
Yes! That’s the main advantage. Online programs are designed for working nurses, allowing you to complete coursework on your own schedule, though you’ll still need to make time for clinical placements.
Conclusion
Earning your nursing degree in Pennsylvania puts you in a strong position for job stability, career growth, and the chance to make a real impact in people’s lives. Whether you’re starting fresh with a BSN or advancing into graduate-level studies like an MSN or DNP, the key is to choose a school that fits your budget, learning style, and long-term goals. The right program will not only prepare you to pass the NCLEX but also give you the skills and confidence to thrive as a professional nurse.