Top Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania
This page lists 127 schools in Pennsylvania that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 41 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 25 associate degree (ADN), 64 bachelor's (BSN), 39 master's and 27 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 63 public, 54 private nonprofit and 10 private for-profit. 69 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Pittsburgh (10), Philadelphia (9), Scranton (6) and Erie (4).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (128)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly | Lemont Furnace, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto | Mont Alto, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington | New Kensington, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill | Schuylkill Haven, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton | Dunmore, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango | Sharon, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | University Park, PA | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-Leadership, DNP | — |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California, PA | Public | ADN, BSN, MSN-Leadership, DNP-Leadership | CCNE, ACEN (candidate) |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading, PA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading, PA | Private nonprofit | RN Diploma | — |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP-CNS | CCNE |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing | Philadelphia, PA | Private for-profit | RN Diploma | — |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | Lancaster, PA | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE, ACEN |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe, PA | Private nonprofit | Doctorate-CRNA | — |
| Schuylkill Technology Center | Frackville, PA | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock, PA | Public | BSN | — |
| Somerset County Technology Center | Somerset, PA | Public | LPN/LVN | — |
Before you apply in Pennsylvania
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Pennsylvania. See online coursework and clinical requirements.