Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania

Home to the first zoo in the United States, the state of Pennsylvania also has a rich history and is widely known in the world of college sports. That said, armed with a prosperous and thriving economy that is made up of the banking, agriculture, gambling, and film industries, the state of Pennsylvania is ranked in the top 10 states in the GSP rankings. There are also lots of nursing schools in Pennsylvania.

Because the state of Pennsylvania’s economy has performed well, the cost of living is very attractive if you're living off a nurses' salary. You can easily live both comfortably and affordably almost anywhere in the state. This goes for any nurse working in any profession within the medical field.

Nursing Education in Pennsylvania

Aspiring and advancing nurses have a wide selection of colleges available to them throughout the state of Pennsylvania. While the majority of all colleges and universities are open to the public, some of the more outstanding schools include the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University; all of which provide some form of nursing degree programs.

Overall, is not uncommon for many of these universities and colleges to offer various degree programs as it pertains to an Associates, Bachelor’s, Masters, and Doctoral’s or Ph.D.’s. Different requirements are attached to each program as it pertains to the area of study and work that is desired.

Upon graduating and becoming a licensed nurse, you will have the option of applying to several of the well-known major hospitals, doctors' offices, health clinics, and other healthcare facilities in the state.

While the current job market for nurses is is strong, nursing jobs across all skill levels are believed to experience a dramatic increase in the next ten years – particularly in the registered nurse and LPN positions. Of course, salary amounts will vary based on the area of medicine as well as the skill level. Nonetheless, no matter what the annual salary the cost of living is easily affordable.

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Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing

Located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania’s fourth-largest city, Gannon University is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university. The nursing programs at the Villa Maria School of Nursing are fully accredited by CCNE.

In addition to a traditional baccalaureate program, Gannon offers an online RN to BSN completion route, an online post- bachelor’s certificate in school nursing, and an on-campus RN to MSN program.

Students benefit from a small student to faculty ratio, almost 1000 hours of varied clinical placements, and access to a patient simulation laboratory. Clinical experience doesn’t end there, as summer internships in hospital settings are also available, and both students and faculty are active participants in service-related health care activities.

109 University Square

Erie, PA 16541

814-871-7000

Website: http://www.gannon.edu/

Villanova University College of Nursing

Founded in 1842, Villanova is a private Catholic university that emphasizes critical thinking, compassion, and service to others. Villanova is located in the affluent western suburbs of Philadelphia and is home to more than 10,000 students. Since 2004, the School of Nursing at Villanova has been continuously named by the National League for Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

BSN students at Villanova have the choice of a standard BSN, a four-semester second-degree BSN and a 14-month accelerated BSN. Four MSN concentrations are on offer plus a range of post-master’s certificates. Doctoral students may opt for a standard DNP, a DNP-Nurse Anesthesia, or a scholarly Ph.D.

The BSN, MSN and standard DNP program at Villanova are accredited by CCNE. The DNP-Nurse Anesthetist program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

800 E. Lancaster Avenue

Villanova, PA 19085

610-519-4500

Website: http://www1.villanova.edu/main.html

West Chester University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

West Chester University is the largest college in Pennsylvania’s state system of higher education with over 17,000 students. The academic profile of admitted freshman students across all subjects includes a high school GPA of 3.3 plus a combined SAT score of 1120 or ACT score of 24. Nursing programs at the school have accreditation in place from CCNE.

Students looking to embark upon a baccalaureate in nursing at West Chester may opt for a standard 120 credit full first-degree pathway, an 18-month accelerated pathway or the RN to BSN option. All courses are delivered on campus.

Adult-Gerontology and Nursing Education are both 40 credit plus programs which represent the two possible concentrations for master’s students and are also studied on campus. However, the 35 credit DNP program is delivered almost completely online.

700 South High Street

West Chester, PA 19383

610-436-1000

Website: http://www.wcupa.edu

The Pennsylvania State University School of Nursing

Penn State is a private research university that is consistently included in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Penn State’s nursing programs have been granted accreditation from CCNE. Although the main campus is located near to the city of State College, the university maintains a long list of satellite campuses across Pennsylvania and most nursing programs are offered at multiple campuses and/or online.

Penn State offers a comprehensive range of nursing education. Three variants of BSN are offered alongside five specialization options for master’s students, two of which may be studied wholly online. Aspiring PhD students can opt for an interdisciplinary Ph.D. or a dual-title Ph.D. in Nursing and Bioethics. DNP programs are included in the range of doctoral choices and prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical practice.

201 Old Main

University Park

Pennsylvania 16802

814-865-4700

Website: http://www.psu.edu

Pennsylvania Board of Nursing Approved Schools

Alvernia College School of Nursing
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1958
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.alvernia.edu

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1839
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.bloomu.edu

California University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: California, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1852
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.cup.edu

Carlow University School of Nursing
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1929
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.carlow.edu

Cedar Crest College School of Nursing
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1867
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.cedarcrest.edu

Clarion University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Oil City, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1867
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.clarion.edu

College Misericordia School of Nursing
Location: Dallas, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1924
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.misericordia.edu

DeSales University School of Nursing
Location: Center Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1964
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.desales.edu

Drexel University School of Nursing
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1891
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
and ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.drexel.edu

Duquesne University School of Nursing
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD
Founded: 1878
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.duq.edu

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1893
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www3.esu.edu

Eastern University School of Nursing
Location: Saint Davids, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1952
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.eastern.edu

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1857
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.edinboro.edu

Gannon University Villa Maria School of Nursing
Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1925
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.gannon.edu

Gwynedd Mercy College School of Nursing
Location: Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1948
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.gmc.edu

Holy Family University School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1954
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.holyfamily.edu

Immaculata University School of Nursing
Location: Immaculata, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1920
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
and ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.immaculata.edu

Indiana University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Allied Health
Location: Indiana, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1875
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.iup.edu

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1866
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.kutztown.edu

La Roche College School of Nursing
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1963
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.laroche.edu

La Salle University School of Nursing
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1863
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.lasalle.edu

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Robert Packer School of Nursing
Location: Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1857
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.mansfield.edu

Marywood University School of Nursing
Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1915
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.marywood.edu

Messiah College School of Nursing
Location: Grantham, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1909
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.messiah.edu

Millersville University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Millersville, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1855
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.millersville.edu

Moravian College Saint Luke’s School of Nursing
Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1742
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.moravian.edu

Mount Aloysius College School of Nursing
Location: Cresson, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1939
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.mtaloy.edu

Neumann College School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Location: Aston, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1965
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.neumann.edu

Pennsylvania College of Technology School of Nursing
Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1965
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.pct.edu

The Pennsylvania State University University Park School of Nursing
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD
Founded: 1855
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
and ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.psu.edu

Saint Francis University School of Nursing
Location: Loretto, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1847
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.francis.edu

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1889
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.sru.edu

Temple University School of Nursing
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1884
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.temple.edu

Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1824
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.tju.edu

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD
Founded: 1740
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.upenn.edu

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD
Founded: 1787
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.pitt.edu

University of Pittsburgh Bradford School of Nursing
Location: Bradford, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN
Founded: 1963
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.upb.edu

The University of Scranton School of Nursing
Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1888
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.scranton.edu

Villanova University College of Nursing
Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD
Founded: 1842
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
and ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.villanova.edu

Waynesburg College School of Nursing
Location: Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1849
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.waynesburg.edu

West Chester University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1871
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.wcupa.edu

Widener University School of Nursing
Location: Chester, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD
Founded: 1821
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.widener.edu

Wilkes University School of Nursing
Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1933
Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Website:http://www.wilkes.edu

York College of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Location: York, Pennsylvania
Programs: BSN, MSN
Founded: 1787
Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing
Website:http://www.ycp.edu