Nursing schools in the State of Pennsylvania are some of the renown schools in terms of U.S. nursing education; however, these days, Pennsylvania nursing schools are looking at a future of severe shortage in nursing faculty. This, somehow, affects the number of applicants that get accepted in PA nursing programs.
Graduates of the BSN degree in Pennsylvania colleges and universities obtain the necessary skills to survive in the healthcare industry. In fact, more and more students are opting to become registered nurses, than ever before. A lot of Pennsylvania hospitals are now seeking RNs that hold the Baccalaureate degree to meet their improved standards in healthcare. An RN, therefore, that has a BSN or a higher degree has the potential to earn more money than her diploma or certificate holder counterparts.
Salary and Job Outlook for PA Registered Nurses
The Health Resources and Services Administration stated that PA healthcare providers are now experiencing a 9% vacancy rate. By the year 2020, HRSA might rise to a vacancy rate of 30% or more. This is now the best time to become a registered nurse with over 40,000 vacancies to fill in in the next decade or so.
To become a competent PA registered nurse, here are some nursing schools that you might want to consider –
Villanova University
Located in Reading, PA, this school offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programs in nursing which are all accredited by the CCNE or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. These programs are also approved by the State Board of Nursing.
If you want to become an excellent nurse that has been trained with ethics and skills, then you can take part in the challenging BSN program of VU. As an applicant, you need to take the designated courses in sciences and humanities as well as math and English.
VU combines outstanding education in liberal arts and sciences so that the student gets a holistic approach in studying nursing. The BSN program also lays out a seamless transition into the university’s graduate programs. You can also participate in their Honors Program which is given to the best of the best nursing students.
It is essential to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. If you even wish to study abroad, the university can allow sophomores to study at the University of Manchester in England. Summer programs abroad are also available.
Bloomsburg University
The university’s BSN program is awarded to applicants that have fulfilled the requirements for this degree. Recipients become eligible to take the NCLEX-RN which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
To be admitted, you must achieve the following –
- At least 18 academic units from your secondary school
- The units must include a minimum of 4 English units, 2 Math units (one should be Algebra), and 2 science units with equivalent or related lab experience
- A GPA of B or higher when you were in high school
- A score of 1100 in SATs preferably 500 for each section
- A member of the upper 25% in high school ranking
Advanced Placement is also available to the best candidates.
Updated: February 25, 2026
