Which Pennsylvania nursing schools graduate students who pass the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt, and what does that preparation cost? Marywood University in Scranton posted a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across 88 candidates. Reading Area Community College hit 99% at in-district tuition of $6,480 a year. Price and pass rates track each other loosely at best.
The list that follows is ordered by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates, not reputation or magazine rank. Cost and value picks, ADN vs BSN nursing school and diploma routes, admissions odds, recent program closures, and licensure steps come after.
Pennsylvania hospitals cannot staff an unlicensed graduate. Every other credential on a resume is a proxy for that one exam result.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 10 Pennsylvania Nursing Schools Ranked
For a new graduate, a first-time NCLEX-RN pass is the difference between starting orientation next month and paying for a retake while waiting on the next test window. The Pennsylvania schools below have posted the strongest first-time pass records among their recent graduates, and each backs that record with accreditation, clinical access, and the kind of academic support that gets students to the exam ready.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates
- Nursing program accreditation status
- Program completion and retention
- State board approval standing
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Marywood University
#1Scranton, PA · $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Local students wanting a direct admission path
A private university whose CCNE-accredited BSN pairs classroom work with a simulation center and clinical partnerships at six regional hospitals, capped by a final-semester internship. Applicants who fall short of direct-admission standards can enter as nursing-interest students and qualify for the major by earning a 3.0 QPA by the end of the second enrolled semester. The school reports a 100% licensure pass rate, and roughly 72% of its students finish their degrees institution-wide. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN pathways give working nurses a route back into the classroom.
- CCNE accredited
- 120 total credit hours
- No entrance exam required; test optional
- Concentrations include critical care and pediatrics
- Simulation center and final-semester internship
- Clinical partnerships with six regional hospitals
- 3.0 GPA minimum; prerequisite courses required
- LPN to BSN and RN to BSN pathways
DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
#2Johnstown, PA · $19,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Career changers choosing a hospital diploma
A single-purpose hospital school of nursing rather than a college or university, this program holds Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approval and awards a hospital diploma instead of a degree. Graduates sit the same NCLEX-RN as bachelor's and associate degree candidates, and the school's recent first-time pass record matches the strongest in the state. Cohorts are small, clinical time is heavy from the start, and the setting is a working medical center rather than a traditional campus.
- Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approved diploma program
- Hospital-based training inside a working medical center
- Graduates sit the NCLEX-RN for licensure
- Small cohorts within a single-purpose school
Cedar Crest College
#3Allentown, PA · ~$19,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 99.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Working adults needing part-time BSN study
A private women's college whose ACEN-accredited BSN blends liberal arts with nursing science and stacks 819 clinical hours across birth-to-end-of-life settings. Students get a simulation lab open 20 hours a day, a dedicated nursing coach, and five concentration options, with fall, winter, and summer start dates for full-time or part-time study. A four-year graduation guarantee and a direct admission path for qualified high school students add predictability, and roughly 60% of students finish institution-wide. The application is free to submit.
- ACEN accredited
- 819 clinical hours; capstone required
- Starts in fall, winter, or summer; full-time or part-time
- Simulation lab open 20 hours daily with high-fidelity simulators
- Dedicated nursing coach and first-year experience course
- Four-year graduation guarantee available
- $0 application fee
- Global clinical experience and sophomore travel abroad
Messiah University
#4Mechanicsburg, PA · $25,000 – $30,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.8% (3-yr weighted avg)
A private Christian university whose CCNE-accredited BSN layers rigorous science with faith-based formation and clinical placements that include Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. The program reports a 97.3% first-time licensure pass rate, and about 98% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six to nine months. Institution-wide, roughly 75% of students complete their degrees. Extras include a simulation lab, international nursing trips, and a Nurses Christian Fellowship chapter.
- CCNE accredited
- 97.3% licensure pass rate reported by the program
- Clinical placements include Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center
- 98% employed or in graduate school within six to nine months
- State-of-the-art simulation labs
- International nursing opportunities available
- Nurses Christian Fellowship and Sigma honor society chapter
- Named a Nursing College of Distinction
Reading Area Community College
#5Reading, PA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 99% (3-yr weighted avg)
A public community college whose ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing is one of the lowest-cost routes to an RN license in the state, with day and evening tracks that finish in two years. Admission requires the TEAS exam and prerequisites, and students rotate through multiple healthcare agencies in the region. The college reports a 100% job placement rate for nursing graduates and offers articulation agreements for RN to BSN transfer. It is also a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution.
- ACEN accredited
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Two-year program with day and evening options
- Clinical rotations at multiple healthcare agencies
- Simulation and instructor-guided clinical experiences
- Articulation agreements for RN to BSN transfer
- Prerequisite courses required
- School reports 100% job placement rate
Alvernia University
#6Reading, PA · ~$28,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
A private university whose CCNE-accredited BSN holds full Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approval and admits on a rolling basis, which helps applicants who decide late in the cycle. Simulation labs, personalized mentorship, and an international immersion round out the clinical work, and about 56% of students finish their degrees institution-wide. The program reports a 100% licensure pass rate for 2025.
- CCNE accredited with full Pennsylvania State Board approval
- Rolling admissions
- 100% licensure pass rate reported for 2025
- State-of-the-art simulation labs
- Personalized mentorship
- International learning immersion
- Recognized by Colleges of Distinction
Washington Health System School of Nursing
#7Washington, PA · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.7% (3-yr weighted avg)
A hospital diploma school with small cohorts and a low faculty-to-student ratio that keeps clinical instruction close. The school moved to two admission cycles a year, with classes beginning in January and September, and it runs a BSN partnership with Washington & Jefferson College. Leaders have described plans to expand LPN to RN and RN to BSN pathways and deepen university partnerships. Diploma graduates qualify to sit the NCLEX-RN just like degree candidates.
- Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approved diploma
- Two admission cycles yearly; January and September starts
- BSN partnership with Washington & Jefferson College
- 21 students enrolled through that partnership as of late 2025
- Plans to expand LPN to RN and RN to BSN pathways
Duquesne University
#8Pittsburgh, PA · $35,000 – $40,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.7% (3-yr weighted avg)
A private university whose CCNE-accredited BSN runs four years and 134 credits, with clinical placements at more than 50 partner sites and a for-credit immersion at UPMC. A holistic nursing approach endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation and NCLEX preparation that starts freshman year support the program's reported 100% first-time pass rate. A second-degree BSN compresses the same credential into 12 or 16 months for career changers. Institution-wide, about 77% of students finish their degrees.
- CCNE accredited; four-year program
- 134 total credit hours
- Clinical experiences at more than 50 partner sites
- For-credit clinical immersion with UPMC
- Dedicated NCLEX support director; prep starts freshman year
- Holistic nursing approach endorsed by the AHNCC
- State-of-the-art simulation lab
- 100% licensure pass rate reported
- CCNE accredited; completes in 12 or 16 months
- 67 total credit hours; full-time enrollment
- Clinicals begin in the first week
- One fall start per year; apply by June 1, 2026
- Online prerequisites accepted
- Conway Scholarship available
- 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate reported
Luzerne County Community College
#9Nanticoke, PA · ~$9,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
A public community college offering both a two-year associate degree in nursing and an LPN to RN bridge, each ACEN accredited and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The associate program reports a 99.1% NCLEX-RN pass rate and a 95% employment rate, while the bridge track packs 73 credits into two years with day, evening, and weekend options. Admission is selective and clinical slots are limited, so early application matters. Both tracks prepare graduates for RN licensure.
- ACEN accredited
- Two-year Associate of Applied Science program
- 99.1% NCLEX-RN pass rate reported; 95% employment rate
- Selective admission with limited clinical slots
- Minimum grade of C required in all nursing courses
- Specializations available
- Approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
- ACEN accredited and state board approved
- 73 total credit hours across two years
- Day, evening, and weekend options
- Northumberland campus location available
- 95% licensure pass rate and 80% job placement reported
- Clinical times depend on healthcare site availability
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
#10West Chester, PA · $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
A public university whose CCNE-accredited BSN runs on a 1:8 faculty-to-student ratio in clinical, with an on-campus learning lab where students practice skills before patient contact. Clinical experiences span acute care and community health alongside school and veterans hospital settings, and no entrance exam is required, though admission is competitive. About 71% of students finish their degrees institution-wide, and many graduates go on to advanced study after a few years of practice.
- CCNE accredited
- No entrance exam required; admission is competitive
- 1:8 faculty-to-student ratio in clinical
- On-campus learning laboratory for skills practice
- Clinical placements in acute care and community health
- Veterans hospital and school-based clinical settings
- Graduates often pursue graduate study
Behind the List: NCLEX Weighting, Board Approval, and CCNE/ACEN Checks
Why First-Time NCLEX Results Matter Most
The NCLEX-RN is the national licensing exam every new nurse must pass before working as a registered nurse. That makes a school's first-time pass rate the clearest signal of whether its graduates are ready for that gate, and knowing how to read NCLEX-RN pass rate data helps you weigh that signal. Passing on the first attempt also means starting your career on schedule rather than paying to retest and waiting for a new exam date.
Look at several years together, not one. Small cohorts swing wildly: in a class of 20, just three additional failures drops the pass rate by 15 points. A three-year average weighted by the number of test takers smooths out those blips and shows how a program performs consistently.
State Approval vs. National Accreditation
These two credentials are often confused, but they do different jobs, knowing how to verify nursing school accreditation can help you separate state permission from national accreditation.
- Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approval: This is the state regulator's permission for a program to operate, and graduating from a Board-approved program is what allows you to sit for the NCLEX in Pennsylvania. The Board's July 6, 2026 list includes 95 approved professional nursing programs, each marked Full, Initial, or Provisional.
- CCNE or ACEN accreditation: This is voluntary, nongovernmental peer review of program quality. CCNE reviews baccalaureate, graduate, and nurse residency/fellowship programs, where nurse residency program accreditation is one mark of quality. ACEN covers practical nursing, diploma, certificate, and associate programs through doctoral degrees. Graduate schools, the military, and some employers often expect it.
A program can be Board-approved without holding CCNE or ACEN accreditation. Accreditation also applies to the specific program, not automatically to every nursing degree at the same school.
A Three-Step Verification Routine
- Check the Board list: Find your exact program on the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing's "Board Approved Professional Nursing Programs" list. The July 6, 2026 update is the current version.
- Search the accreditor directories: Use CCNE's Accredited Programs directory (searchable by institution, state, and program) or ACEN's "Search ACEN Programs" tool. A CCNE "new applicant" is affiliated, not accredited.
- Read the status letter: Full approval is the strongest standing. If a program shows Initial or Provisional status, ask the school what it means for your cohort and review current Board records before you enroll.
NCLEX Pass Rates in PA: How ADN, BSN, and Diploma Programs Compare
On the 2025 exam, Pennsylvania's diploma programs led with a 92.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, 3.2 points ahead of BSN programs (89.1%) and 4.4 points ahead of ADN programs (87.9%). All three program types topped the most recent national first-time rate for U.S.-educated candidates, 86.8% as of 2026 Q2, though that benchmark covers a different reporting period. Statewide averages hide wide school-to-school variation, so a strong program type does not guarantee a strong individual school. Check each school's multi-year pass-rate history in the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing's published NCLEX statistics before you apply.
Cheapest Nursing Schools in PA: Net Price, Debt, and Early Earnings
If cost is your deciding factor, these three public community college ADN programs carry the lowest average net price among our NCLEX-ranked Pennsylvania schools, and each still posts an NCLEX-RN pass rate above 97%. Net price is an approximate, institution-wide average after grants and scholarships, drawn from 2024 U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS data, so your actual cost will depend on your aid package and residency. Public community college ADNs and hospital-based diploma programs often cost far less in tuition than four-year BSNs, especially at private universities, and many graduates take the NCLEX first, start earning as RNs, and then complete an RN to BSN later.
| School | Location | Program | Avg. Net Price After Aid (approx., institution-wide) | In-State Tuition and Fees (annual, institution-wide) | NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (3-year) | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown, PA | Associate Degree Nursing Program | $6,389 | $5,683 | 97.2% | ACEN |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading, PA | Associate Degree Nursing Program | $9,228 | $6,480 | 99% | ACEN |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke, PA | Nursing Program (ADN) | $9,433 | $6,600 | 97.6% | ACEN |
What Pennsylvania RNs Earn
Before weighing the net prices above, it helps to see what an RN license is worth in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania by City
Explore other Pennsylvania related topics
Two-Year, Diploma, 2+2, or Accelerated BSN: Mapping Your Route to an RN License
Yes, there are 2-year nursing programs in PA: community college ADN programs typically take about two years once prerequisites are done. Accelerated second-degree BSN programs in Pennsylvania generally run roughly 12 to 24 months for applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. Every route below ends the same way: you must complete Pennsylvania's RN licensure process, including passing the NCLEX-RN.
| Route | Typical Length | Credential Earned | Best For | PA Examples and Entry Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADN (community college) | About 2 years after prerequisites | Associate degree in nursing (A.A.S. at some schools) | Students who want a faster, degree-based path to RN licensure | Community colleges statewide, such as Lehigh Carbon Community College's Nursing A.A.S., which has partnership agreements with several RN-to-BSN programs |
| Hospital diploma | Varies by school; confirm each program's published schedule | Nursing diploma (not a college degree) | Students who want hospital-based, clinically focused preparation | Hospital-affiliated nursing schools; confirm current board approval and whether credits transfer toward a later degree |
| Traditional BSN | Typically 4 years | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | First-time college students who want a bachelor's degree from the start | Four-year colleges and universities across Pennsylvania |
| 2+2 dual admission (ADN to BSN) | Associate degree first, then BSN; HACC's cited partner BSN option runs about 20 months, fully online or hybrid in Lancaster | Associate degree, then BSN | Central PA students who want a lower-cost start with a planned bachelor's pathway | HACC Dual Admission: sign a transfer agreement with a specific four-year school before completing 30 credits |
| Accelerated BSN: Widener University | 15 months | BSN | Applicants who hold a bachelor's degree or will finish one before the program starts | Chemistry with lab; Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, each within 5 years; Microbiology with lab; Statistics; Nutrition; C or better in each; 3.0 cumulative GPA |
| Accelerated BSN: Carlow University | 15 months | BSN | Career changers ready for an intensive second-degree curriculum | Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs; Chemistry with lab; Life Span Development; Microbiology with lab; Nutrition; Pathophysiology; Sociology; Statistics; 2.85 cumulative GPA or better |
| Accelerated BSN: Penn State Altoona | 16 months | BSN | Bachelor's degree holders in another field seeking an accelerated route | Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs; Lifespan or Developmental Psychology; Chemistry with lab; Nutrition; Statistics or Biostatistics; Microbiology with lab |
| Accelerated BSN: Villanova University | 14 months (Express Track) or 23 months (Flex Track) | BSN | College graduates with a bachelor's in another discipline | Prior bachelor's degree required; choose a faster full-time pace or a longer flexible schedule |
How Hard Is It to Get Into Nursing School in Pennsylvania?
Admission to nursing in Pennsylvania has split into two different contests, and which one you enter depends largely on whether you apply as a high school senior or after a year of college coursework.
Direct Entry vs. Competitive Entry
Penn State admits qualifying first-year students directly into the BSN major, so the nursing seat comes with the acceptance letter. Most Pennsylvania programs work the other way. Pitt requires every student to apply to and be accepted by the School of Nursing separately,1 and Duquesne's Fall 2026 BSN admission is competitive after prerequisite or transfer work, with applicants needing one full semester of college coursework finished and another in progress.2 Penn College uses reserved seats that students must earn and keep. Penn reviews BSN applicants holistically through central undergraduate admissions, with no guaranteed freshman nursing seat. Community college ADN programs add a third wrinkle: selective admission and waitlists are common, and clinical cohorts are capped by available placements regardless of how many students enroll at the college.
What the Posted Minimums Actually Mean
Published nursing school requirements are lower than what admitted students present. Duquesne lists a 3.0 cumulative GPA and C or higher in requested transfer coursework, with SAT/ACT waived for Fall 2026.2 Pitt's RN-to-BSN requires a 3.0 plus an essay, resume, three recommendations, and a formal interview,3 while competitive transfer applicants to the traditional BSN typically bring a 3.5 after 24 credits with B or better in the sciences.1 Penn College holds reserved-seat students to a 2.5 in math and science.4 Penn publishes no minimum GPA at all. Note that none of these programs publishes a required entrance exam score; where an exam such as the TEAS is used, as at Reading Area Community College, the cutoff is not posted in public materials, so applicants may want to check broader TEAS score requirements for nursing school.
Prerequisites and the Admission Rate Spread
Expect to clear a standard science core: anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics. Institution-wide acceptance rates among ranked schools run from 5.4% at Penn and 27% at Villanova to 83.6% at Duquesne, with community colleges effectively open-access. Those are university-level figures, not nursing-specific odds, and the nursing gate is almost always tighter.
Campus Closures and Program Changes to Check Before You Apply
Is the Pennsylvania nursing program you are applying to still going to exist when you graduate? For a handful of campuses, the honest answer is no, and that changes how you should work through your nursing school acceptance checklist.
The Penn State Commonwealth campus closures
On May 22, 2025, Penn State's board of trustees voted 25-8 in a Trustees Ratify Plan to Reshape Commonwealth Campuses decision to close seven Commonwealth campuses after spring 2027: DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York. These campuses stopped taking new and transfer students beyond fall 2025, and the 2026-27 academic year is the final full year of instruction.1
For nursing, the picture is uneven. B.S.N. coursework is still listed at Fayette, Mont Alto, and Shenango, but the nursing bulletin bars new students at those locations. Penn State has said first- and second-year nursing students at Fayette and Mont Alto may be able to complete their third and fourth years at a nearby campus, though clinical and academic requirements limit the options.2 Separately, the 2+2 B.S.N. pathway went on hold for new students at Shenango and University Park as of June 5, 2026. The long-term home for several of these nursing programs remains unresolved; at a March 2026 hearing, President Neeli Bendapudi declined to comment on Fayette's future.3
Reuse does not mean continuation
Starting July 1, 2026, Mount Aloysius College leases part of the Swift Building at Penn State DuBois for a new nursing program, along with surgical technology and radiography. Penn State retains ownership of the building through spring 2027.4 That is a different institution standing up its own program, not a continuation of Penn State's.
Three questions for admissions
- Is this program admitting a new cohort for my intended start term?
- If the campus closes mid-program, where exactly would I finish, and are clinical placements guaranteed there?
- How does the teach-out arrangement work in writing, and who signs off on it?
Pennsylvania RN Licensing at a Glance
More Pennsylvania RN Programs by Region: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Beyond
The ranked programs above reflect the strongest recent NCLEX-RN results in the state. The directory below widens the view to other nursing colleges in Pennsylvania, grouped by the part of the state each one serves: Greater Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Each entry notes the city, the degree level, the format, and the average net price the school reports.
Greater Philadelphia
- Associate Degree Nursing Program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Co-op)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated Career Entry)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Non-Co-op for Transfer Students)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Lehigh Valley and the Poconos
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Nursing (B.S.)
Northeastern Pennsylvania
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Central Pennsylvania
- Nursing, B.S.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Critical Care)
- Nursing, B.S.N.
- Nursing, B.S.N.
- Nursing, B.S.N. (RN to BSN)
- Nursing, B.S.N.
- Nursing, RN Preparation
- Nursing, LPN to RN
Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
- Nursing Program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Hospital Diploma in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Nursing
- Associate of Science in Nursing