Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Immaculata University, Villanova University and Thomas Jefferson University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Immaculata University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $87,624, College Scorecard. Thomas Jefferson University, Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Pennsylvania: 656, 593 and 452 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 95 Pennsylvania colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 10,926 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Immaculata University Immaculata Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $87,624 | 102 | 71% | $26,941 | $35,593 |
| 2 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $86,241 | 290 | 92% | $33,774 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,656 | 656 | 69% | $26,034 | $30,000 |
| 4 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,441 | 593 | 78% | $36,004 | $30,750 |
| 5 | La Salle University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,400 | 234 | 57% | $21,997 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Eastern University Saint Davids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,733 | 41 | 54% | $25,146 | $30,311 |
| 7 | Widener University Chester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,528 | 190 | 68% | $29,049 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Holy Family University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,363 | 320 | 61% | $12,163 | $29,000 |
| 9 | University of Scranton Scranton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,895 | 90 | 80% | $25,834 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Moravian University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,585 | 141 | 72% | $28,454 | $27,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Philadelphia Private for-profit · Certificate | $81,336 | 57 | — | — | $20,000 |
| 2 | St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $79,203 | 176 | — | — | $24,087 |
| 3 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville Public · Associate degree | $78,322 | 120 | 30% | — | $27,075 |
| 4 | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster Lancaster Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $74,676 | 347 | 69% | $36,413 | $27,498 |
| 5 | Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing Pottsville Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $74,192 | 39 | — | — | $28,250 |
| 6 | Bucks County Community College Newtown Public · Associate degree | $73,282 | 64 | 32% | — | $20,000 |
| 7 | Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Reading Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $71,638 | 48 | 33% | $18,616 | $27,140 |
| 8 | Mount Aloysius College Cresson Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $67,241 | 128 | 57% | $20,154 | $26,500 |
| 9 | Washington Health System School of Nursing Washington Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $66,293 | 31 | — | — | $20,250 |
| 10 | DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Johnstown Private for-profit · Certificate | $65,041 | 21 | 45% | $21,595 | $28,622 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 656 | $85,656 |
| 2 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 593 | $85,441 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 452 | $80,943 |
| 4 | Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre Private not-for-profit | 435 | $77,226 |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 366 | $72,251 |
| 6 | Holy Family University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 320 | $83,363 |
| 7 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 307 | $70,265 |
| 8 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 290 | $86,241 |
| 9 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 242 | $77,809 |
| 10 | La Salle University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 234 | $84,400 |
ShowHide the other 85 Pennsylvania colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Thomas Jefferson University (656 graduates a year), Drexel University (593 graduates a year) and University of Pennsylvania (452 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 95 Pennsylvania colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Immaculata University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $87,624, College Scorecard. Villanova University and Thomas Jefferson University follow. By degrees awarded, Thomas Jefferson University is the largest, with 656 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Immaculata University tops the list at $87,624. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania is $94,020 (median $96,430), across about 146,520 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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