Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania: All 203 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Pennsylvania has 132 schools running 203 board-approved nursing programs — 129 RN-track and 74 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Pennsylvania programs is 91.5%, 5.0 points above the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
203
Approved programs
132
Schools
91.5%
Avg RN pass rate (2025)
86.5%
National RN average
Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding. 12 programs are tied at 100% — the first 10 are shown alphabetically.
- 1100%Allegany College of MarylandEverett · Associate Degree
- 2100%Alvernia UniversityReading · Baccalaureate Degree
- 3100%Cedar Crest CollegeAllentown · Baccalaureate Degree
- 4100%Conemaugh School of NursingJohnstown · RN Diploma
- 5100%Gwynedd Mercy UniversityGwynedd Valley · RN Entry Level Masters
- 6100%Jersey College JenkintownJenkintown · Associate Degree
- 7100%King’s CollegeWilkes-Barre · Baccalaureate Degree
- 8100%Marywood UniversityDunmore · Baccalaureate Degree
- 9100%South CollegeCranberry Township · Associate Degree
- 10100%South College School of NursingCranberry Township · Baccalaureate Degree
Every Approved Nursing Program in Pennsylvania
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
203 of 203 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| Allegany College of Maryland | Everett | Associate DegreeRN | 100% |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 100% |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Associate DegreeRN | 95.2% |
| Bucks County Community College | Newton | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Bucks County Community College | Perkasie | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Associate DegreeRN | 86.8% |
| Butler County Community College | Brockway | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Practical NursingPN | 81.8% |
| Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County | Scranton | Practical NursingPN | 96.6% |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 93.8% |
| Carlow UniversityNew/provisional | Pittsburgh | Practical NursingPN | 52.9% |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 100% |
| Central PA Institute of Science and TechnologyNew/provisional | Pleasant Gap | Practical NursingPN | 64.7% |
| Central Susquehanna LPN Career CenterNew/provisional | Milton | Practical NursingPN | 72.7% |
| Chester County Intermediate Unit | Downingtown | Practical NursingPN | 94.6% |
| Chestnut Hill CollegeNew/provisional | Philadelphia | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Citizens School of Nursing | Tarentum | RN DiplomaRN | 97.6% |
| Clearfield County Career and Technology Center | Clearfield | Practical NursingPN | 95.2% |
| Commonwealth University | Bloomsburg | Associate DegreeRN | 95.1% |
| Commonwealth University | Lock Haven | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Commonwealth University | Bloomsburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 86.9% |
| Commonwealth University | Mansfield | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Associate DegreeRN | 88.2% |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Monroeville | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | West Mifflin | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | Associate DegreeRN | 88% |
| Community College of Beaver County | Canonsburg | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Associate DegreeRN | 92.1% |
| Conemaugh School of Nursing | Johnstown | RN DiplomaRN | 100% |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Associate DegreeRN | 93.7% |
| Delaware County Technical Schools | Broomall | Practical NursingPN | 88.7% |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 92.7% |
| Dotlen Academy of Science | Norristown | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 94.2% |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 96.4% |
| East Stroudsburg University | East Stroudsburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 95% |
| Eastern Center for Arts and Technology | Willow Grove | Practical NursingPN | 82.9% |
| Eastern University | Wayne | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 94.7% |
| Erie County Community CollegeNew/provisional | Erie | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Falcon Institute of Health and ScienceNew/provisional | Bethlehem | Practical NursingPN | 70.8% |
| Fayette County Career and Technical Institute | Uniontown | Practical NursingPN | 94.4% |
| Fayette County Career and Technical Institute | Cheswick | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Fortis Institute, Scranton | Scranton | Practical NursingPN | 96.7% |
| Fortis School of Nursing @ All State Career SchoolNew/provisional | Essington | Practical NursingPN | 68.8% |
| Franklin County Career and Technology Center | Chambersburg | Practical NursingPN | 92.9% |
| Gannon UniversityNew/provisional | Erie | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 75.8% |
| Geisinger College | Lewistown | Associate DegreeRN | 93.8% |
| Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center | Altoona | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center | Johnstown | Practical NursingPN | 89.5% |
| Greene County Career Technology Ctr | — | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 89.6% |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | RN Entry Level MastersRN | 100% |
| Harcum College | Bryn Mawr | Associate DegreeRN | 97.1% |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Associate DegreeRN | 83.8% |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Gettysburg | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Lancaster | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | York | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Practical NursingPN | 91.4% |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Lancaster | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | York | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Hazleton Area Career Center | Hazel Township | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Health & Technology Training Institute | Philadelphia | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Heritage Valley Health SystemNew/provisional | McKees Rocks | RN DiplomaRN | 73.3% |
| Holy Family University | Newtown | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 83.5% |
| Holy Family University | Newtown | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Immaculata University | Malvern | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 89.4% |
| Indiana County Technology Center | Indiana | Practical NursingPN | 96.9% |
| Indiana County Technology Center | Connellsville | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Indiana County Technology Center | Jefferson Hills | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Indiana County Technology Center | Monroeville | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 97.1% |
| Institute of Medical and Business CareersNew/provisional | Erie | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Jefferson College of Nursing | Philadelphia | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 92.4% |
| Jefferson College of Nursing | Horsham | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Jefferson College of Nursing | Center Valley | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Jersey College Jenkintown | Jenkintown | Associate DegreeRN | 100% |
| Jersey College JenkintownNew/provisional | Jenkintown | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Jersey College Scranton | Scranton | Associate DegreeRN | 94.3% |
| Jersey College YorkNew/provisional | York | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Joseph F. McCloskey School of NursingNew/provisional | Pottsville | RN DiplomaRN | 76.9% |
| Juniata CollegeNew/provisional | Huntingdon | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| King’s College | Wilkes-Barre | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 100% |
| La Salle UniversityNew/provisional | Philadelphia | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 77.6% |
| La Salle UniversityNew/provisional | Newtown | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Lackawanna College | Scranton | Associate DegreeRN | 91.7% |
| Lancaster County Career and Technology Center | Willow Street | Practical NursingPN | 92.4% |
| Lansdale School of Business | North Wales | Practical NursingPN | 97.9% |
| LaRoche University | Pittsburgh | RN Entry Level MastersRN | 93.4% |
| Laurel Technical Institute - HermitageNew/provisional | Hermitage | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Laurel Technical Institute - Uniontown | Uniontown | Practical NursingPN | 84.6% |
| Laurel Technical Institute - Uniontown | Export | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Associate DegreeRN | 82.3% |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Tamaqua | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schneckville | Practical NursingPN | 85.7% |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Allentown | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Tamaqua | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Lenape Technical SchoolNew/provisional | Ford City | Practical NursingPN | 74.4% |
| Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown | Allentown | Practical NursingPN | 80.8% |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Associate DegreeRN | 95.2% |
| Luzerne County Community College | Shamokin | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Manor CollegeNew/provisional | Jenkintown | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Marywood University | Dunmore | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 100% |
| Meadville Medical Center Institute for Healthcare ProfessionalsNew/provisional | Meadville | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Meadville Medical Center Institute for Healthcare ProfessionalsNew/provisional | Meadville | RN DiplomaRN | — |
| Mercyhurst UniversityNew/provisional | Erie | Associate DegreeRN | 70.7% |
| Mercyhurst UniversityNew/provisional | Erie | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 75% |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 97.3% |
| Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology | Lewistown | Practical NursingPN | 90.9% |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 95.1% |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Associate DegreeRN | 87.7% |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 91.2% |
| Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | Associate DegreeRN | 94.9% |
| Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 86.7% |
| Neumann University | Aston | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 96.2% |
| Northampton Community College | Bethlehem | Associate DegreeRN | 94.9% |
| Northampton Community College | Tannersville | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Northampton Community College | Bethlehem | Practical NursingPN | 88% |
| Northampton Community College | Tannersville | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Northern Tier Career Center | Towanda | Practical NursingPN | 94.4% |
| Orleans Technical CollegeNew/provisional | Philadelphia | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Penn College at Wellsboro | Wellsboro | Practical NursingPN | 90% |
| Penn College at Wellsboro | Williamsport | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Penn College at Wellsboro | Coudersport | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Penn Commercial Business Technical School | Washington | Practical NursingPN | 86.1% |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Associate DegreeRN | 97.3% |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 87.1% |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | Media | Practical NursingPN | 86.1% |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 94.1% |
| Pennsylvania State University | Altoona | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University | Lemont Furnace | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University | Middletown | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University | Mont Alto | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University | Schuylkill Haven | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University | Erie | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University | Dunmore | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University, Lehigh Valley | Center Valley | Practical NursingPN | 83% |
| Pennsylvania State University, Lehigh Valley | Hazleton | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Pennsylvania State University, Lehigh Valley | West Reading | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Pennsylvania Western University | Clarion | Associate DegreeRN | 90.7% |
| Pennsylvania Western University | Clarion | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Pennsylvania Western University | Clarion | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 86.4% |
| Pennsylvania Western University | Edinboro | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Princeton Information Technology CenterNew/provisional | Wyncote | Practical NursingPN | 65.2% |
| Prism Career InstituteNew/provisional | Philadelphia | Practical NursingPN | 65% |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | Associate DegreeRN | 98.3% |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading | RN DiplomaRN | 91.7% |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Twp | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 89.4% |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing | Philadelphia | RN DiplomaRN | 87.9% |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 96.2% |
| Saint Joseph’s University | Lancaster | Associate DegreeRN | 82.8% |
| Saint Joseph’s University | Lancaster | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 92.9% |
| Saint Vincent CollegeNew/provisional | Latrobe | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Saint Vincent CollegeNew/provisional | Latrobe | RN Entry Level MastersRN | — |
| Schuylkill Technology Center, North Campus | Frackville | Practical NursingPN | 95.8% |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 94.1% |
| Slippery Rock UniversityNew/provisional | Slippery Rock | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| Somerset County Technology Center | Somerset | Practical NursingPN | 94.4% |
| South CollegeNew/provisional | Cranberry Township | Associate DegreeRN | 100% |
| South College | Cranberry Township | Practical NursingPN | 100% |
| South College School of NursingNew/provisional | Cranberry Township | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 100% |
| St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing | Bethlehem | RN DiplomaRN | 81.7% |
| Successful Aging Career InstituteNew/provisional | Upper Darby | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Susquehanna County Career and Technology CenterNew/provisional | Springville | Practical NursingPN | 60% |
| Temple University Barnett College of Public HealthNew/provisional | Philadelphia | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 74.2% |
| The Rapha SchoolNew/provisional | Home | Practical NursingPN | 72.2% |
| The University of Scranton | Scranton | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 93.9% |
| Thiel CollegeNew/provisional | Greenville | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| United Career Institute | Irwin | Practical NursingPN | 87.5% |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 91.5% |
| University of PennsylvaniaNew/provisional | Philadelphia | RN Entry Level MastersRN | — |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 92.3% |
| University of Pittsburgh | Greensburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| University of Pittsburgh | Johnstown | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | — |
| University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Nursing Program | Bradford | Associate DegreeRN | 92.9% |
| University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Nursing Program | Titusville | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| UPMC Jameson School of Nursing | New Castle | RN DiplomaRN | 86.3% |
| UPMC Jameson School of Nursing | Erie | RN DiplomaRN | — |
| UPMC Mercy Hospital School of Nursing | Pittsburgh | RN DiplomaRN | 95.2% |
| UPMC Mercy Hospital School of Nursing | Altoona | RN DiplomaRN | — |
| UPMC Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing | Pittsburgh | RN DiplomaRN | 97% |
| UPMC Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing | Harrisburg | RN DiplomaRN | — |
| UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing | Pittsburgh | RN DiplomaRN | 100% |
| UPMC Washington School of Nursing | Washington | RN DiplomaRN | 100% |
| Venango Technology Center | Oil City | Practical NursingPN | 97.4% |
| Venango Technology Center | Warren | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Villanova University | Villanova | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 92% |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 86.2% |
| West Chester University | West Chester | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 96.1% |
| Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing | Pittsburgh | RN DiplomaRN | 90.2% |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Associate DegreeRN | 90.3% |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Indiana | Associate DegreeRN | — |
| Westmoreland County Community CollegeNew/provisional | Latrobe | Practical NursingPN | — |
| Widener University | Chester | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 85.7% |
| Wilkes Barre Area Career and Technical CenterNew/provisional | Wilkes-Barre | Practical NursingPN | 78.4% |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 92.8% |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 87.1% |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Baccalaureate DegreeRN | 96.7% |
| York County School of Technology | York | Practical NursingPN | 86.1% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Pennsylvania by NCLEX pass rate?
12 RN programs in Pennsylvania tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Allegany College of Maryland in Everett — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 132 schools offering 203 board-approved nursing programs: 129 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 74 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Pennsylvania?
Across Pennsylvania RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 91.5% — 5.0 points above the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Pennsylvania board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
- www.pa.gov — list: Approved list updated 07/06/26; pass rates = exam year Oct 1, 2024-Sep 30, 2025
- www.pa.gov — list: Approved list updated 07/02/26; pass rates = exam year Oct 1, 2024-Sep 30, 2025
- www.pa.gov — list: Pass-rate report, exam years through Sep 30, 2025
Nursing schools in other states
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