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Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

260 Colleges
$78,873 Avg Salary
$26,663 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

With 322,592 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, nursing is the #3 most popular major in the United States.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This report analyzed 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for nursing majors pursuing a .

Top 25 Top Middle Atlantic Region Schools in Nursing

Our analysis found Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the city of Philadelphia, Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Nursing majors at Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Report

Out of the 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing landed the # 2 spot on the list. Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Teaneck.

Nursing majors at Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing take out an average of $29,603 in student loans while working on their egree.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large suburb of Bethlehem, St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing take out $21,381 in student loans while working on their degree.

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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing is a great place for nursing students. Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, West Penn Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $20,000 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing Report

Out of the 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing take out $27,892 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#6

Citizens School of Nursing

New Kensington, PA

Citizens School of Nursing ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Citizens School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of New Kensington.

Nursing majors at Citizens School of Nursing take out an average of $21,312 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Citizens School of Nursing

Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. RHSHS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from RHSHS carry an average student debtload of $25,208.

Read full report on Nursing at Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences

With a ranking of #8, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. UPMC Mercy School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Pittsburgh.

Nursing majors at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing take out an average of $24,743 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing

UPMC Jameson School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the town of New Castle, UPMC Jameson School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at UPMC Jameson School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $24,750 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at UPMC Jameson School of Nursing

With a ranking of #10, Washington Hospital School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Washington Hospital School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Washington.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Washington Hospital School of Nursing take out is $23,719.

Read full report on Nursing at Washington Hospital School of Nursing

DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Memorial Medical Center is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Johnstown.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Memorial Medical Center carry an average student debtload of $24,420.

Read full report on Nursing at DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center

With a ranking of #12, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the distant town of Pottsville, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing take out $29,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing Report

#13

Albany Medical College

Albany, NY

Albany Medical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. AMC Albany is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Albany.

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Helene Fuld College of Nursing came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the city of New York, HFCN is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Nursing majors at HFCN take out an average of $33,485 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Helene Fuld College of Nursing

#15

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, PA

Saint Vincent College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

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Saint Michael College of Allied Health ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the city of Alexandria, Saint Michael College of Allied Health is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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With a ranking of #17, Arnot Ogden Medical Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Arnot Ogden Medical Center is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Elmira.

Full Nursing at Arnot Ogden Medical Center Report

With a ranking of #18, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. SUNY Downstate is a small public school located in the city of Brooklyn.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SUNY Downstate take out is $21,875.

Full Nursing at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Report

#19

Best Care College

East Orange, NJ

With a ranking of #19, Best Care College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large suburb of East Orange, Best Care College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Nursing at Best Care College Report

With a ranking of #20, Cochran School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Cochran School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Yonkers.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Cochran School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $26,219 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Cochran School of Nursing Report

#21

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

With a ranking of #21, Excelsior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Excelsior College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Albany.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Excelsior College accumulate an average of around $23,176 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #22, St. Joseph’s College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. St Joseph's College of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at St Joseph's College of Nursing take out is $20,751. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $380, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#23

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UPenn is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UPenn carry an average student debtload of $20,861.

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#24

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, NY

The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized public school located in the city of New York.

Nursing majors at The Graduate Center take out an average of $17,170 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at The Graduate Center, CUNY Report

With a ranking of #25, St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Rego Park.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens carry an average student debtload of $30,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $191, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

Rest of the Top Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

#27

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ
#28

Wagner College

Staten Island, NY
#29

New York University

New York, NY
#30

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA
#31

Molloy College

Rockville Centre, NY
#32

Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ
#33

Villanova University

Villanova, PA
#34

Georgetown University

Washington, DC
#39

Chamberlain University - New Jersey

North Brunswick, NJ

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
40 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA
41 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
42 Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing Troy, NY
43 Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA
44 Adelphi University Garden City, NY
45 University of Scranton Scranton, PA
46 Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA
47 Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD
48 Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY
49 University of Delaware Newark, DE
50 Wilmington University New Castle, DE
51 Union County College Cranford, NJ
52 York College of Pennsylvania York, PA

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing colleges for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
Pennsylvania 11,477
New York 17,708
Maryland 4,104
New Jersey 5,648
District of Columbia 990
Delaware 1,267

One of 30 majors within the area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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