Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania

Villanova University is a private institution in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Order of Saint Augustine founded the university in 1842. It maintains its affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church and is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association. The university was an all-male institution until 1918. The college began offering evening classes for nuns. However, it was not until 1953 that the college became fully coeducational. The campus covers 254 acres about 12 miles from Center City. The campus is known for its greenery, as it includes over 1,500 trees, but it is not considered an official arboretum.

Several undergraduate and graduate nursing programs are offered at the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. The undergraduate options include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN. Graduate programs include MSN, Ph.D., and BSN to Ph.D. programs. All programs are accredited by the CCNE. With the RN to BSN program, registered nurses may complete their BSN studies in two years. The traditional BSN program is a four-year program that also presents students with the chance to study abroad. Students may choose to complete their sophomore year studying at the University of Manchester in England. The university also offers several study-abroad programs during the summer.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA) is a public institution in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is also part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, along with nine other campuses. WCUPA is also the largest of the 14 universities that belong to the system. The university was established in 1871 as the West Chester Normal School. It initially offered a four-year program to educate teachers and added a liberal arts program a couple of years after its founding. It now offers a wide selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the nursing programs. 

Four CCNE-accredited nursing programs are offered through the WCUPA Department of Nursing, including three BSN programs. Students can enroll in traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, or RN to BSN programs. The university also offers an MSN program. The accelerated program is designed to be completed in 18 months, while the traditional BSN program is a standard four-year program. Both programs include clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities, such as retirement centers, day care centers, community health clinics, and nursing homes. The nursing program has a low student to faculty ratio, with eight students per instructor in clinical settings. Students also receive training at a high-tech learning laboratory located on campus. 

Established in 1891, Drexel University is a private institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded by a financier as an institute of art, science, and industry. It now offers over 70 undergraduate programs and over 100 graduate degree programs. The university is structured into several colleges and schools. These institutions include the College of Nursing and Health Professions, which offers over 25 programs for undergraduate and graduate students in the nursing and health fields. Along with nursing, the college offers programs in health services, nutrition, and radiologic technology. The main campus is in the University City district of Philadelphia and includes 77 acres of urban space.

The undergraduate nursing programs offered at Drexel University include traditional BSN, RN to BSN, and accelerated BSN. Graduate degree programs include MSN, RN to MSN, DNP, and BSN to DNP programs. All nursing programs at Drexel University are accredited by the CCNE. Students who enroll in the four-year BSN program may take part in the co-op program. This program is designed to allow students to divide their time between coursework and real-world experience with placements at local facilities. Along with these opportunities, students may receive their clinical experiences at nearby hospitals and clinics.

Luzerne County Community College is located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. This public community college was established in 1967 and has become a very important part of the community. It serves more than 7000 students but despite this, the school generally offers small class sizes. With more than 100 academic, career, and technical programs to choose from, this school helps students to find the best possible career paths. LCCC has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The nursing program at this school allows students to pursue associate’s degrees in nursing. Students are prepared to care for patients as thoroughly as possible. The nursing program has classroom instructional experiences and clinical experiences as well. Students can also sign up for either the traditional daytime nursing classes or they can enjoy the evening nursing courses. The nursing program at this school has been approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. There are a total of ten campuses in this school system, including the Bloomsburg location. The university was established in 1839 as the Bloomsburg Academy. It has undergone numerous name changes over the years, taking its current name in 1983. The university now offers 57 undergrad majors, 66 minors, and 21 graduate programs. The students are very active with clubs and organizations on the campus, with more than 250 student-organized clubs. The university was recently ranked near the top 100 regional universities in the north in a US News & World Report ranking.

The CCNE-accredited nursing programs offered at the university include traditional BSN, RN to BSN, accelerated BSN, MSN, and RN to MSN. The traditional BSN program includes hands-on experiences at inpatient and outpatient facilities in the area. The location of these clinics and hospitals varies between 1 and 40 miles. With the MSN program, students have four specialty tracks to choose from, including Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administration, and Community Health Specialization. The MSN program is also a hybrid learning experience. Students complete their curriculum with a combination of online courses and on-campus courses.

University of Pennsylvania is a private institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin established the university in 1740, making it one of the oldest universities in the country. It is also one of the nine colonial colleges that were chartered before the American Revolution. It has become an Ivy League university that is regularly ranked as the top institution in a variety of national rankings. Over 20,000 students enroll each year. Many of the academic buildings on the main campus are historic buildings. However, the campus also includes many state-of-the-art facilities. It also operates one of the most highly funded nursing schools in the US. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing receives $480 million from the National Institutes of Health. 

Penn Nursing considers itself the top nursing school in the world. They offer three BSN paths, including traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN. There are also several Ph.D. programs and an MSN program. The MSN program includes four specialty tracks, including Clinical Nurse Specialist. The BSN, MSN, and Ph.D. programs are accredited by the CCNE. With the traditional BSN program, students receive clinical experiences at the two teaching hospitals and various clinical sites throughout the region, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is a public institution in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. It is also part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. This school system includes ten campuses located throughout the state. Edinboro was established in 1857 and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. More than 6,000 students enrolled during the 2018 school year. The main campus is about 18 miles from Lake Erie and includes over 42 buildings spread across 585 acres. It also includes ten residence halls, housing about 2,500 students. The university offers over 150 different degree programs.

Several nursing programs are offered at the university. These options include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN programs. The university also offers an MSN program with the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track that includes hybrid online and classroom learning. All programs are accredited by the CCNE and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The accelerated BSN program can be completed in just 15 months, while the traditional BSN is a four-year program. With the accelerated program, students complete an intensive three semesters of coursework and clinical placements. The traditional program also includes clinical rotations, which are completed at clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.

Duquesne University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1878 as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost. The first school year, just 40 students enrolled. The university now has an annual enrollment that exceeds 10,000 students. The main campus has grown over the years and now encompasses more than 49 acres in the Uptown neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The campus includes 31 buildings, and several of the buildings feature Victorian Gothic architecture. Duquesne University offers many different undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its nine schools and colleges, including the Duquesne School of Nursing.

The School of Nursing was established in 1935. Students may enroll in traditional BSN, RN to BSN, accelerated BSN, MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. nursing programs. These options are accredited by the CCNE. The nursing school was also the first in the nation to offer a Ph.D. program online. The RN to BSN program is also offered online. The traditional BSN program is designed to be completed in four years. The accelerated program is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a separate field and includes two pathways. These options include a 12-month program and a 16-month program. The BSN programs include clinical practice at local healthcare clinics and hospitals.