What are the best nursing programs in Pa.?

RegisteredNursing.org has announced the results of its third annual registered nurse program rankings and analyzed 77 nursing schools in Pennsylvania. The rankings are based on the pass rates of the National Council Licensure Examination RN exam.

Methodology

The organization developed the rankings by obtaining the NCLEX-RN exam pass rates for all RN programs for the past five years. The NCLEX-RN exam is used to help assess a student’s competency and is required for licensure. The organization analyzed the exam pass rates. Schools pass rates were averaged together and weighted with the most recent tests having a higher value. For example, exam pass rates in 2017 count more towards overall rankings than scores from 2014. The rankings are based on exams taken between 2014 and 2018.

Midstate

The counties of Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, York, Berks and Franklin counties all have nursing programs. Messiah College in Upper Allen Township is the highest ranked midstate school and it is ranked in the top 15 in the state. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences in Lancaster County is ranked in the top 30. York College is ranked in the top 40 and HACC is ranked in the top 50.

Here are the top 50 nursing programs based in Pennsylvania, according to RegisteredNursing.org’s rankings based on its analysis of the NCLEX-RN exam pass rate:

1. Saint Francis University

Loretto

Score: 100.00| Programs: BSN, MSN

2. Waynesburg University

Waynesburg

Score: 98.66| Programs: BSN

3. Geisinger Lewistown School of Nursing

Danville

Score: 98.11| Programs: Diploma

4. Carlow University

Pittsburgh

Score: 98.01| Programs: BSN

5. Bloomsburg University

Bloomsburg

Score: 97.47| Programs: BSN, MSN

6. Aria Health School of Nursing

Trevose

Score: 96.84| Programs: Diploma

7. Northampton Community College

Bethlehem

Score: 96.82| Programs: Associate in Nursing

8. Cedar Crest College

Allentown

Score: 96.02| Programs: BSN, MSN

9. Eastern University

Wayne

Score: 95.12| Programs: BSN

10. Drexel University

Philadelphia

Score: 95.06| Programs: BSN

11. Messiah College

Mechanicsburg (Upper Allen Township)

Score: 94.88| Programs: BSN

12. Mansfield University

Mansfield

Score: 94.77| Programs: BSN, MSN

13. University of Scranton

Scranton

Score: 94.76| Programs: BSN

14. Alvernia University

Reading

Score: 94.74| Programs: BSN

15. DeSales University

Center Valley

Score: 94.56| Programs: BSN

16. Penn State University - College of Nursing

University Park

Score: 94.41| Programs: Associate in Nursing, BSN, MSN, DNP

17. PA College of Technology

Williamsport

Score: 94.31| Programs: Associate in Nursing, BSN

18. Gannon University

Erie

Score: 93.82| Programs: BSN, MSN

19. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

Score: 93.67| Programs: BSN

20. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

Score: 93.54| Programs: BSN

21. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

Score: 93.18| Programs: BSN, MSN

22. Misericordia University

Dallas

Score: 92.98| Programs: BSN, MSN

23. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Score: 92.89| Programs: BSN

24. Temple University

Philadelphia

Score: 92.75| Programs: BSN

25. Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing

Villanova

Score: 92.70| Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP

26. St. Luke’s School of Nursing

Bethlehem

Score: 92.46| Programs: Diploma

27. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Lancaster (East Lampeter Township)

Score: 92.33| Programs: ASN+BSN

28. Roxborough Memorial Hospital

Philadelphia

Score: 92.31| Programs: Diploma

29. Mount Aloysius College

Cresson

Score: 92.23| Programs: Associate in Nursing

30. Neumann University

Aston

Score: 91.70| Programs: BSN

31. West Chester University

West Chester

Programs: BSN

Score: 91.57

32. Allegany College of Maryland

Everett

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 91.42

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Programs: BSN

Score: 91.37

34. Community College of Allegheny County

808 Ridge Ave.

Pittsburgh

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 91.15

35. Edinboro University

Edinboro

Programs: BSN

Score: 91.05

36. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

Programs: BSN

Score: 90.92

37. Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing - Schuylkill Health

Pottsville

Programs: Diploma

Score: 90.86

38. La Salle University

Philadelphia

Programs: BSN

Score: 90.77

39. York College of Pennsylvania

York (Spring Garden Township)

Programs: BSN

Score: 90.74

40. Butler Community College

Butler

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 90.57

41. Washington Health System School of Nursing

Washington

Programs: Diploma

Score: 90.49

42. Moravian College

Bethlehem

Programs: BSN

Score: 90.33

43. University of Pittsburgh - Bradford

Bradford

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 89.78

44. Community College of Beaver County

Monaca

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 89.75

45. Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing

25 Heckel Road, McKees Rocks

Programs: Diploma

Score: 89.71

46. HACC (formerly Harrisburg Area Community College)

Harrisburg

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 89.50

47. East Stroudsburg University

East Stroudsburg

Programs: BSN

Score: 89.24

48. Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Programs: Associate in Nursing

Score: 89.16

49. Jameson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing

New Castle

Programs: Diploma

Score: 89.08

50. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

Programs: Associate in Nursing, LPN Advanced Placement ADN

Score: 88.57

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