Best RN Programs in Pennsylvania for 2024

Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT) is a two-year public educational institution in Williamsport. This MSCHE-accredited college has an average class size of 16. Moreover, it places emphasis on hands-on learning which has been its legacy for more than 100 years. Students in its nursing programs have the opportunity for international internships and semester exchange. Moreover, the college’s simulation lab also offers high fidelity manikins.

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) Nursing - Students who would want to pursue advanced healthcare administrative and clinical roles can do so through this BSN program. Classes are in small size taught by master’s and doctoral-prepared faculty. With limited program slots, admission is selective and competitive.

Nursing, RN to B.S.N., Completion, Online - This 100% online program is designed for working registered nurses who want to obtain a BSN degree. Part-time and full-time study options are available, with flexible scheduling. With endorsement from ACEN, faculty teaching this program are master’s and doctoral-prepared.

Nursing (A.A.S.) - With small class size, the curriculum of this program places emphasis on hands-on experiences through clinical experiences and laboratory work in specialized labs. Graduates are conferred an Associate Degree in Nursing and are prepared to fulfill their roles as registered nurses.

Nursing, LPN to RN (A.A.S.) - Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) can obtain an associate degree in nursing and become registered nurses in just three semesters through this program. With an accelerated format, classes and clinicals are conducted on Fridays and Weekends, allowing students to work while enrolled in the program.

Nursing: Nursing Education Concentration (M.S.N.) Online - With a concentration in Nursing Education, this Master of Science in Nursing Program is offered 100% online. It equips students with the competencies needed for curriculum development and outcome measurement. The program can be completed part-time with hands-on nursing experience of 585 hours. Due to the limited seat availability, admission is on a competitive and selective basis.

Practical Nursing (A.A.S.) - With 3 semesters of nursing coursework, graduates of this program are eligible to sit in the practical nursing licensing exam. The program has more than 900 hours of hands-on learning, preparing them for work under the supervision of an RN, dentist, or physician.

Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, College of Health Sciences is a private educational institution. It is the only college with an exclusive focus on health sciences in the area. The college was originally founded as a nursing school, around 100 years ago. Presently, it holds an accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The college also holds an advanced simulation lab which allows students to pair their classroom learning with practical knowledge. In terms of accreditation, its Associate in Science in Nursing Program is ACEN-accredited with Continuing Accreditation as the most recent decision. Meanwhile, its master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program is CCNE-accredited.

Nursing Associate Degree- Students seeking an Associate of Science in Nursing Degree from Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences can choose among various degree paths depending on their current academic credentials and their schedule. The said tracks are the five-semester track, three-year track, and LPN track.  The LPN track is offered for licensed practical nurses as an accelerated enrolment option, allowing them to choose between daytime or evening/weekend classes. The curriculum for all tracks is built on a learner-centered collaborative learning environment.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Similar to the associate degree, this baccalaureate in nursing program also has several paths available. An accelerated three-year BSN option, which is the region’s sole offering of this option, is designed for students who want to fast track their way towards obtaining a degree. Meanwhile, students wanting a lesser credit load per semester can enroll in another option—the four-year BSN. Students enrolled in the Associate Degree Program can concurrently work their way towards a BSN degree through the ASN+BSN option. This allows for an efficient and seamless approach towards getting the two degrees. Lastly, registered nurses can also obtain their BSN degree through the RN to BSN program. It is an accelerated program with online delivery of coursework.  All of these paths guarantee hands-on and high-tech simulation-based learning.

Master of Science in Nursing - Students enrolled in this MSN program can choose between Administration or Education as their tracks. The former is a 34-credit program geared towards equipping students with policy expertise. Meanwhile, the Education track is a 39-credit program designed to prepare students for the academe. These two tracks are also offered as a post-master’s certificate option for master’s-prepared students with an unexpired license. Meanwhile, a Nurse Practitioner program with concentrations in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care, Family/Individual Across the Lifespan, and Psychiatric/Mental health is also offered as an MSN degree or as a Post-Master’s Certificate Option.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Designed for a part-time study, this program requires 1,000 clinical hours as one of its requirements. Students can choose between two tracks: Clinical Leadership Track, or DNP APRN/NP Track. Collaborative clinical learning is given emphasis in the program, and is in partnership with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

Mount Aloysius College (MAC) is a private educational institution in Cresson. This Catholic college was founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy. MAC has an average class size of 14 and a student to faculty ratio of 11:1. In terms of its Nursing Program, it has provided Nursing Excellence for more than 50 years. The college houses the Nursing Resource & Simulation Center (NRSC) which has a four-bed simulation nursing unit and 19 state-of-the-art manikins. Hence, students gain hands-on experiences through the NRSC which provide a nursing environment similar to that of real-world settings.

Nursing- Traditional BSN - With eight-semester (3 ½ year) completion, this traditional BSN program has a blend of general education courses and nursing curriculum as part of its curriculum. The former is given attention in the first two years, while in the last 17 months of the program, emphasis is given for the nursing curriculum. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.

Nursing (2+2 Assoc/Bach) - This two-plus-two program allows seamless transition from the Associate of Science in Nursing Program to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. The Associate Degree can be completed in as few as five semesters or two years. Upon completion of the said program, students can progress into the baccalaureate degree.

Nursing – Second Degree BSN (Accelerated) - This 16-month program is designed for individuals with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees and are seeking a career change. This fast-paced, accelerated, and intensive program provides eligibility to sit in the NCLEX-RN. It is designed for a full-time study with a cohort-based course progression.

Nursing – RN to BSN (Online) - This RN to BSN program has coursework offered fully online, however, students also have the option to take general education courses, face-to-face. Courses are in eight-week sessions and are sequenced to cater to students' varying needs and desired schedule.

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is a public college in Blue Bell with satellite campuses in Pottstown and Lansdale. It was founded in 1964 and is presently recognized in areas of faculty credentials and technological advancement. In terms of accreditation, MCCC is MSCHE-accredited. Its associate’s degree program is also accredited by ACEN and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Nursing (Associate’s Degree Program) - This program prepares students for entry-level nursing roles and for the NCLEX-RN. The curriculum is a blend of liberal and nursing science in order to produce graduates who are able to think critically and provide nursing care for patients in various healthcare settings. Theoretical knowledge is also reinforced with practical application through the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center located at Blue Bell Campus. Graduates can seamlessly transfer to various RN to BSN programs.

Nurse Aide Training Certification Program - With less than six weeks of completion, this Nurse Aide Certification equips students with skills for safety and emergency procedures, infection control, client rights, and client independence, among others. Program completion provides eligibility to sit in the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Competency Examination and be enrolled in the Nurse Aide Registry for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Nursing Reactivation - RNs with inactive/lapsed licenses can now refresh their med-surg competencies through this Nursing Reactivation Program. The program consists of three component courses—Theory, Laboratory, and Clinical, with 60, 40, and 80 hours, respectively. This program received approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Nursing Refresher- This program is for RNs with an active license and would want to refresh their med-surg knowledge and skills. Two options are offered—2 or 3 component courses. The latter consists of Theory, Laboratory, and Clinical, while the 2-component course no longer requires clinicals.

Located in Pittsburgh, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is a public educational institution with four satellite campuses and four centers. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MS-CHE). Students in its Nursing Programs will have access to scholarships such as: Pittsburgh Foundation Nursing Scholarships, Edward and Dorothy Livingston Fund, William Henry Fitch Memorial Trust Fund Scholarship, Sheena M. Taylor Scholarship, and CCAC Scholarships.

Associate Nursing Program - Through a combination of liberal arts, selected sciences, and nursing in the curriculum, this program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam and for their roles as entry-level nurses. It requires at least 67 or 68 credits in order to graduate. The program is offered as a Traditional Track or as a Boyce Fast Track. The latter is offered at the Boyce Campus with evening/weekend classes. This allows completion for as few as 17 months. In terms of accreditation, this associate nursing program is accredited by ACEN with Continuing Accreditation as the most recent decision. It is also approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Founded in 1967, Northampton Community College is a two-year public college with three campuses—Bethlehem, Monroe, and Fowler Southside Center. Moreover, the college has state-of-the-art facilities and class sizes are small to provide individualized attention to students. Individuals interested in nursing can enroll in the Associate Degree Nursing or LPN programs. The former has an accreditation from ACEN and an approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Practical Nursing (PN) certificate program - With 3-semester completion, this 43-credit program is designed for students seeking entry into the nursing profession as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The required 43 credits are divided into 16 and 27 credits for general education courses and nursing courses, respectively. Program graduates are eligible to sit in the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Associate Degree Nursing Program - This 71-credit Associate Degree Nursing Program is designed for individuals seeking a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). With program completion as few as four semesters, students are equipped with the competencies needed for nursing practice. Hands-on experiences through laboratory, clinicals, and simulations are part of the curriculum. Working individuals can still enroll in the program since an evening/weekend schedule is also offered. Graduates are eligible to sit in the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and practice as entry-level nurses. Students interested in pursuing a BSN degree can have a seamless transition in four-year institutions offering a BSN degree, made possible through the college’s various articulation agreements. These educational institutions include but are not limited to: Bloomsburg University, DeSales University, and Moravian College.

Butler County Community College (BC3) is an educational institution with 6 locations throughout Pennsylvania. BC3 places emphasis on a student-centered learning environment. Moreover, it received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Students with an associate degree from BC3 can seamlessly transfer to any institution in the Pennsylvania State with a junior standing. This seamless transition is made possible through a partnership with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Some of these institution partners include: Franklin University, LaRoche College, Chatham University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Nursing, R.N., A.A.S. - This two-year program prepares graduates for direct care nursing provision. It is accredited by ACEN and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Courses are offered in-classroom, online, and hybrid. Students get flexibility with the schedule as there are several session start dates per semester. The College Within the High School and College Pathways programs also allow students to earn transferable credits while they are in high school. This jump starts their college education. Graduates are fully-equipped for their roles as registered professional nurses in various healthcare settings.

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford is located in Bradford, Pennsylvania.  University of Pittsburgh has received many awards, one of which is one of the "150 Best Value Colleges in the United States" in 2012 by the Princeton Review.  They offer both an ADN degree and a BSN degree.  Their BSN degree is specifically an RN to BSN program.

Community College of Philadelphia is a public educational institution with its Main Campus located in Spring Garden Street. The College also has Regional Centers situated in Townsend Road, West Godfrey Avenue, and Chestnut Street. One of the strong points of this college is its small class sizes which makes it possible to provide a personalized and supportive learning environment to its students. Meanwhile, its nursing curriculum received accreditation from ACEN and approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Nursing Program (Associate in Applied Science) - With 64 credits required, three admission options are offered in the nursing program to cater to students’ various academic credentials. Students with either first-time college students or with previous college experience can enter the program through the traditional admission process. This allows completion of the four nursing courses in around two years. Meanwhile, students with baccalaureate degrees in other fields can enroll in the Post Baccalaureate Accelerated Associate Degree Option. This allows completion of the four nursing courses in as few as 14 months. Lastly, an Advanced Placement Option is available for Licensed Practical Nurses wanting to become Registered Nurses. The nursing curriculum in general aims to prepare students for acute, long-term nursing care provision. Graduates of any of the three entry tracks are conferred a degree in Associate in Applied Science (AAS). This provides eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is a public educational institution with campuses and centers in Monaca, Beaver Falls, Oakdale, and Canonsburg. In terms of accreditation, CBCC is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Its ADN program has full accreditation from  ACEN and received an approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Nursing (ADN) - With a blend of general education and nursing courses in the curriculum, this ADN program prepares students for their roles as registered nurses. Hands-on experiences are given emphasis in the program through patient simulation and clinical laboratory experiences in various healthcare settings. Graduates are conferred an Associate in Applied Science Degree and can sit in the NCLEX-RN.

Practical Nursing - This program allows individuals to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in as few as three semesters (spring, summer, and fall). They are fully-equipped for safe and quality nursing care provision under the direction of a physician, dentist or registered nurse. Upon completion, graduates are conferred a Diploma and can sit in the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX - PN).

Reading Area Community College is located in Reading, Pennsylvania.  They offer a practical nursing program and an ADN program.  RACC has a transfer center; the transfer center is where students can go if they know they eventually will want to transfer to a 4-year program.  The transfer center will evaluate and help plan the courses that should be taken.