Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania

Messiah University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) integrates liberal arts, sciences, and Christian faith within an interdenominational community. The CCNE-accredited program features high-fidelity simulation labs and clinical placements at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. NCLEX pass rates have been a perfect 100% for three consecutive years (2022-2024; cohorts of 36-42). The university does not publish ACT/SAT requirements for the BSN; applicants should confirm with admissions. Students can participate in international nursing, Nurses Christian Fellowship, Sigma Theta Tau, and research. Within six to nine months of graduation, 98% are employed or in graduate school. This military-friendly program consistently ranks among Pennsylvania's best.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 97.3% licensure pass rate
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Named a Nursing College of Distinction
• State-of-the-art simulation labs
• Clinical placements at top hospitals
• International nursing opportunities available
• Nurses Christian Fellowship weekly Bible study

Reading Area Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program prepares students for entry-level registered nurse practice, blending classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experiences at multiple Reading-area healthcare agencies. The curriculum covers the nursing process, chronic and acute care across the lifespan, clinical nursing skills, and professionalism, delivered through simulation, instructor-guided clinicals, and small-group supervision. Students choose between day and evening tracks, both completed in two years. The program requires the TEAS entrance exam for admission. Accredited by ACEN, it offers articulation agreements for RN-to-BSN transfer. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN, with recent pass rates of 93.75% in 2022 and 100% in 2023 and 2024. Financial aid and scholarships are available to eligible students.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 2-Year program
• 100% job placement rate
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Day and evening program options

Luzerne County Community College offers a campus-based Associate of Applied Science in Nursing designed to prepare students for RN licensure. The two-year curriculum covers patient treatment, medical history assessment, and diagnostic testing, with clinical decision-making and evidence-based practice integrated throughout. Admission is selective; applicants must earn at least a C in all nursing courses. The program is accredited by ACEN and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. LCCC graduates achieved NCLEX-RN pass rates of 99.1% in 2024 and 100% in 2023. Employment rates reach 95%, and graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in diverse healthcare settings. Out-of-county tuition applies to off-campus courses.

• Two-year program
• 99.1% NCLEX-RN pass rate
• 95% employment rate
• Selective admission
• Campus-based
• Minimum 'C' grade required
• Out-of-county rates for off-campus
• Prepares for RN licensing
• Covers diagnostic tests
• Includes patient treatment

Luzerne County Community College's LPN-RN Program provides licensed practical nurses a bridge to an associate degree and RN licensure. Over four semesters, students advance from basic nursing concepts to complex care, studying anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. Clinical experiences at the main and Northumberland campuses offer day, evening, and weekend options, accommodating working LPNs. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, professional communication, and evidence-based practice. Admission is selective, with limited clinical slots and a minimum C grade requirement. This ACEN-accredited program, approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN and pursue careers in acute care, long-term care, clinics, and physician offices. The school reports an 80% job placement rate, and graduates achieved a 99.1% NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2024.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing accredited
• 2 concentration options
• 2-Year program
• 73 total credit hours
• 95% licensure pass rate
• 80% job placement rate
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Day, evening, and weekend options
• Northumberland campus location available
• Selective admission with limited clinical slots

Cedar Crest College's BSN program combines liberal arts with professional nursing education, emphasizing health promotion, evidence-based practice, and leadership. Students complete 819 clinical hours across diverse settings, utilizing a 24/7 simulation center with high-fidelity simulators and standardized patients. A dedicated nursing coach supports progress, with full- or part-time study and fall, winter, or summer start dates. This ACEN-accredited program includes a capstone, global travel opportunities, and a four-year graduation guarantee, plus direct admission for qualified high school students. NCLEX pass rates are outstanding: 93.88% (2022), 98.1% (2023), and 100% (2024). The application is fee-free, with financial aid and scholarships available. ACT/SAT requirements are not specified in the provided information.

• ACEN accredited
• 5 concentration options
• Full-time and part-time options
• Starts fall/winter/summer
• 819 clinical hours
• Prerequisite courses required
• Capstone required
• $0 application fee
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available

Marywood University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a CCNE-accredited, campus-based program integrating adult health, maternal-child nursing, behavioral health, and community care. Students train in a state-of-the-art simulation center and via clinical partnerships with six regional hospitals. A final-semester internship and licensure prep course ensure NCLEX readiness. No ACT/SAT entrance exam is required; admissions are test-optional, with prerequisites, 3.0 GPA, and one recommendation. NCLEX pass rates were 90% in 2022, then 100% in 2023 and 2024. Job placement is 100%. Service-learning extends from Scranton clinics to global communities, and LPN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN pathways are available. Graduates can become registered nurses, educators, or administrators.

• CCNE accredited
• No entrance exam required
• Test optional
• 120 total credit hours
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• 1 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX

Bucks County Community College's Associate Degree Nursing Program in Newtown, PA, is ACEN-accredited and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. This campus-based curriculum integrates liberal arts, sciences, and nursing theory with hands-on clinical practice, building knowledge progressively. Students benefit from TEAS testing resources, scholarships, and supportive faculty. The program offers an LPN-to-RN advanced placement track and a clinical application window from December 15 to February 15. Recent NCLEX-RN pass rates are excellent: 89.83% in 2022, 96.97% in 2023, and 100% in 2024. Graduates emerge ready for registered nurse licensure and diverse healthcare careers, with military-friendly support available.

• ACEN accredited
• Scholarships available
• Approved by PA State Board of Nursing
• Theoretical and clinical components per course
• LPN to RN advanced placement available
• Clinical application window Dec 15–Feb 15

Neumann University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) combines the art and science of nursing with Franciscan values of reverence, integrity, and service. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice through coursework in adult health, mental health, and community health, supplemented by clinical practicums at leading hospitals like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. All faculty bring extensive clinical experience to the classroom. Graduates achieve strong NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates, with 98.4% in 2023 and 95.3% in 2024, and often secure positions at top institutions such as Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The program does not explicitly require an ACT/SAT entrance exam, but applicants should check the university's current admission policy. Financial aid and military benefits are available.

• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Military benefits accepted
• Financial aid available
• 96.9% NCLEX first-time pass rate
• 100% faculty with clinical experience
• Franciscan values-centered education
• Small campus, family atmosphere
• Clinical partner: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Average salary in PA: $79,690
• Employer: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Duquesne University’s four-year, 134-credit Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) delivers on-campus education enriched by clinical practice at over 50 partner sites, including a for-credit UPMC immersion. The curriculum spans nursing fundamentals, health assessment, pharmacology, adult health, maternal-newborn care, pediatrics, behavioral health, population health, and critical care. Grounded in a holistic philosophy recognized by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, the program emphasizes whole-person care. Students train in a state-of-the-art simulation center and receive integrated NCLEX preparation; first-time pass rates were 95.6% (2022), 97.2% (2023), and 96.7% (2024). Admission is competitive; the program does not specify an ACT/SAT entrance exam requirement, but applicants should confirm university-wide undergraduate testing policies. CCNE accreditation and strong clinical partnerships support graduates pursuing hospital, community, and specialty nursing careers.

• CCNE accredited
• 4-Year program
• 134 total credit hours
• 100% licensure pass rate
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Clinical immersion with UPMC
• Holistic nursing approach
• State-of-the-art simulation lab
• Over 50 clinical site partners

Duquesne University’s accelerated Second Degree BSN offers a fast track for those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, with 12-month and 16-month full-time options beginning each August. Clinical training starts in the first week at top regional healthcare sites and the university’s advanced Learning and Simulation Center. Required coursework covers health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, adult health, maternal-newborn care, pediatrics, behavioral health, and leadership. This CCNE-accredited program readies students for the NCLEX-RN, with BSN first-time pass rates ranging from 95.6% to 97.2% (2022–2024). Since enrolled students already hold a bachelor’s degree, no ACT/SAT entrance exam is required; instead, admission relies on prior academic performance, prerequisite courses, and supporting materials. Scholarships, including the Conway Scholarship, and financial aid are available.

• CCNE accredited
• Complete in 12 or 16 months
• 67 total credit hours
• Apply by 2026-06-01
• Full-time enrollment
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts fall
• 100% licensure pass rate
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN

West Chester University's CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares students for diverse healthcare environments through immersive clinical rotations in acute care, community health, schools, and veterans hospitals. An on-campus lab and 1:8 clinical faculty-to-student ratio support skill development and individual attention. The curriculum covers nursing science, evidence-based practice, and the organizational, cultural, and economic forces influencing modern care. Graduates are equipped for roles in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and community agencies, with many advancing to graduate study. Admission is competitive, and no ACT/SAT entrance exam is required. The program reports strong NCLEX performance: 92.94% in 2022, 98.84% in 2023, and 95.88% in 2024.

• CCNE accredited
• No entrance exam required
• Clinical experiences: acute care, community health
• 1:8 faculty/student ratio in clinical
• On-campus learning laboratory
• Graduates work in hospitals, rehab centers
• Competitive admission
• Graduates often pursue graduate study

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (RN Preparation) at Penn College is a five-semester, 69-credit program combining classroom theory with simulation-based training. The curriculum includes foundations, medical-surgical, childbearing, and psychosocial nursing, plus pharmacology, with 585 hours of clinical rotations in regional hospitals and agencies. Applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores, and admission is selective. The ACEN-accredited program has an optional dual-degree path allowing graduates to apply 38% tuition credits toward an online RN-to-BSN. NCLEX-RN pass rates for the college's ADN program were 90.7% in 2022, 95.52% in 2023, and 97.26% in 2024, reflecting strong preparation.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: SAT, ACT
• 5-Semester program
• 69 total credit hours
• 20 total courses
• 585 clinical hours
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available

Penn College’s LPN to RN track offers licensed practical nurses an accelerated hybrid pathway to an associate degree and RN licensure. The six-semester, 69-credit curriculum condenses nursing coursework into three semesters, building on prior LPN training. Students engage in simulation labs and clinical placements within a one-hour radius, supported by small classes and faculty with graduate degrees. The program is ACEN-accredited and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN; Penn College’s associate degree nursing graduates achieved first-time pass rates of 90.7% (2022), 95.52% (2023), and 97.26% (2024), well above national benchmarks. Employer reimbursement and the Pathways Scholarship help offset costs, and a 38% tuition discount is available for those continuing to the online BSN.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredited
• 6-Semester program
• 69 total credit hours
• 20 total courses
• Rolling admissions
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Employer reimbursement supported
• Scholarships available
• Accelerated hybrid format
• 3 semesters of nursing coursework

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a 120-credit, eight-semester program delivered in a campus-based, cohort model. Students complete 990 clinical hours at facilities within an hour of Williamsport and finish with a preceptorship. The ACEN-accredited curriculum spans anatomy, pharmacology, adult health, obstetrics, pediatrics, mental health, and community health nursing, with instruction in high-fidelity simulation labs and small classes. Admission is selective, requiring SAT or ACT scores, with a 2.5 GPA minimum. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN; first-time pass rates were 91.89% in 2022 and 95.12% in both 2023 and 2024, consistently exceeding state and national averages.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: SAT, ACT
• 8-Semester program
• 120 total credit hours
• 35 total courses
• Rolling admissions
• Starts fall/spring
• Cohort-based structure
• 2.5 GPA minimum