Best Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 41 colleges offering Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 7,009 recent graduates. Graduates earn $65,633 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $64,009.

School choice matters significantly: University of Scranton graduates earn $80,779 while Gannon University graduates earn $54,760 — a $26,019 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in PA

$65,633

PA Avg. Earnings

$64,009

National Avg.

896

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing in Pennsylvania

Public Schools (8)

$64,224

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (32)

$66,005

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $1,781 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania, Ranked by Earnings

University of Scranton

Scranton, PA · Private

$80,779

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $75,695

Graduates: 134

Acceptance: 84.4%

Immaculata University

Immaculata, PA · Private

$78,507

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $78,969

Graduates: 141

Acceptance: 78.5%

Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA · Private

$75,011

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $70,087

Graduates: 475

Acceptance: 93.6%

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$73,199

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $72,616

Graduates: 887

Acceptance: 77.5%

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$73,052

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $73,794

Graduates: 284

Acceptance: 25.1%

Neumann University

Aston, PA · Private

$72,435

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $73,235

Graduates: 161

Acceptance: 76.4%

Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$71,388

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $71,818

Graduates: 334

Acceptance: 74.2%

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$70,761

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $71,147

Graduates: 394

Acceptance: 86.1%

La Salle University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$70,642

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $74,181

Graduates: 181

Acceptance: 86.2%

#10

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$70,100

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $70,899

Graduates: 112

Acceptance: 82.9%

#11

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$70,009

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $68,279

Graduates: 85

Acceptance: 5.9%

#12

Widener University

Chester, PA · Private

$69,023

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $68,072

Graduates: 302

Acceptance: 84.0%

#13

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, PA · Public

$68,079

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $67,383

Graduates: 66

Acceptance: 92.9%

#14

Chatham University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$67,180

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $63,779

Graduates: 47

Acceptance: 70.1%

#15

Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster

Lancaster, PA · Private

$67,180

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $70,076

Graduates: 145

Acceptance: 44.1%

#16

DeSales University

Center Valley, PA · Private

$66,852

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $67,552

Graduates: 134

Acceptance: 78.6%

#17

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$66,653

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $68,346

Graduates: 88

Acceptance: 79.2%

#18

Eastern University

Saint Davids, PA · Private

$66,355

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $69,766

Graduates: 83

Acceptance: 93.6%

#19

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private

$65,035

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $64,105

Graduates: 156

Acceptance: 91.5%

#20

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, PA · Public

$64,990

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $72,336

Graduates: 105

Acceptance: 89.4%

#21

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Williamsport, PA ·

$64,990

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $64,670

Graduates: 92

Acceptance: N/A

#22

Moravian University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$64,659

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $65,636

Graduates: 132

Acceptance: 54.0%

#23

Alvernia University

Reading, PA · Private

$64,553

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $66,956

Graduates: 127

Acceptance: 62.3%

#24

Cedar Crest College

Allentown, PA · Private

$64,406

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $64,377

Graduates: 111

Acceptance: 99.1%

#25

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA · Public

$63,749

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $65,217

Graduates: 139

Acceptance: 74.6%

#26

Misericordia University

Dallas, PA · Private

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA · Private

$63,362

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $67,210

Graduates: 130

Acceptance: 94.2%

#28

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA · Private

$62,546

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $62,117

Graduates: 52

Acceptance: 78.5%

#29

Mount Aloysius College

Cresson, PA · Private

$62,409

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $63,201

Graduates: 106

Acceptance: 90.4%

#30

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$60,900

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,313

Graduates: 391

Acceptance: 78.8%

#31

Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · Private

Waynesburg University

Waynesburg, PA · Private

$60,358

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,376

Graduates: 108

Acceptance: 91.7%

#33

University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

Bradford, PA · Public

$60,207

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,973

Graduates: 285

Acceptance: 90.8%

#34

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

$60,207

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,973

Graduates: 285

Acceptance: 49.7%

#35

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA · Public

$59,807

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,262

Graduates: 266

Acceptance: 91.2%

#36

Carlow University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$58,919

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,706

Graduates: 136

Acceptance: 87.1%

#37

Robert Morris University

Moon Township, PA · Private

$58,881

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,571

Graduates: 150

Acceptance: 90.6%

#38

Saint Francis University

Loretto, PA · Private

$58,866

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,723

Graduates: 33

Acceptance: 76.9%

#39

La Roche University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$57,995

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,802

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 77.6%

#40

Marywood University

Scranton, PA · Private

$57,995

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $62,698

Graduates: 54

Acceptance: 83.7%

#41

Gannon University

Erie, PA · Private

$54,760

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $58,442

Graduates: 67

Acceptance: 76.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing in Pennsylvania?

University of Scranton ranks #1 for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing in Pennsylvania with median graduate earnings of $80,779 within two years of graduation. There are 41 schools offering Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing programs in the state.

How much do Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates earn in Pennsylvania?

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates in Pennsylvania earn an average of $65,633 within two years of graduation. This is 3% above the national average of $64,009 for this major.

What is the hardest Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing school to get into in Pennsylvania?

University of Pennsylvania is the most selective Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program in Pennsylvania with an acceptance rate of 5.9%. The average acceptance rate across Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing programs in the state is 77.8%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, private Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing programs produce average earnings of $66,005 vs $64,224 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 8 public and 32 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Pennsylvania

Computer Science $80,288 Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other $75,470 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $75,030 Industrial Engineering $72,729 Business/Managerial Economics $71,719 Materials Engineering $71,420 Chemical Engineering $71,371 Computer Engineering $71,016

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.