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10 Best ADN Programs in Pennsylvania – 2023

ADN programs in Pennsylvania are the fastest way to prepare for a career as a registered nurse in the Keystone State. Whether you’re looking for an online program or a traditional campus experience, Pennsylvania nursing schools that offer Associate Degrees in Nursing have flexible scheduling options that make it easy to enroll. You’ll make good money as an ADN-prepared RN in the Keystone State: Average salaries come to around $73,510 a year. There’s no time like the present to get started on an exciting new career. Find out more about the 10 best ADN programs in Pennsylvania for 2023 by reading the information below.


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Pennsylvania ADN Program Cost & Length

The tuition range displayed below displays total program cost. Lasting only two years, this is a great choice for people who have a limited amount of time for education.

Our ADN Ranking Methodology

Here are the 10 Best Pennsylvania Board of Registered Nursing Approved RN (ADN) Programs in Pennsylvania for 2023

1) PA College of Technology, Williamsport

In PCT, they train future nurses for staff positions in health care institutions. Graduates of this program can continue their studies in nursing through LPN to RN Advanced Placement.

Students undertaking this course of study need to maintain a GPA of 2.0 in order to stay in the program. If you were to fall short though, you will then be placed on probation. However, if you were to receive lower than 2.5 in math and sciences subjects, or less than 2.0 in Nursing, Biology, Health and Chemistry, then you would need to repeat the course. Graduation does ensure eligibility for NCLEX.

2) PA College of Health Sciences , Lancaster

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences actually begun as a nursing school well over 100 years ago, and boasts one of the nation's best experiential learning classes.

From the day you start classes, learning will be hands-on as you will experience real-life situations that you are expected to experience as an RN. The schools affiliate is Penn Medical Lancaster General Health. The school offers different paced programs. Aside from the regular two-year course, you may also enroll in a three-year evening/weekend course or a 2+2(ASN+BSN) option with to breaks in between.

3) Mount Aloysius College, Cresson

The program here at Mount Aloysius has a tradition of turning out students and future nurses of quality and distinction, and they take pride in it.

The ADN program in MAC is designed to give the students what they need to tackle not only the NCLEX but also life as an RN. They put you together in small class sized in order to ensure students are catered to. Their clinical experience practices occur in an affluential Nursing Simulation Center, and they offer both a four-semester course for ADN as well as a five-semester program.

4) Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh

The ADN program in CCAC is offered at five college sites including one in California. They have a time-tested course outline that will prepare students for the responsibility and the exacting requirements of being an RN.

The program is not limited to only Nursing subjects but also classes in the liberal arts. For LPNs, there is an advanced placement option available, and if they pass the requirements, they are given credits for certain subjects so they no longer have to take them. The course contains four semesters and one summer class, and it requires a minimum of 67-68 credits in order to graduate.

5) Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg

The Harrisburg Area Community College ADN curriculum is carefully cultivated to make sure upon graduation, you will be ready to face the NCLEX head on.

The program requires you to get at least a 58.7 score or higher on you TEAS and also have a GPA of 2.5 or above in order to apply, and you may only apply once. The campus offers both a full-time, as well as a part-time course. Admission to the HACC program does not mean you are immediately able to get in the clinical program as well. Close work with the adviser is necessary.

6) Northampton Community College, Bethlehem

In Northampton Community College, they prepare well-versed, technically competent nurses. The ADN program in NCC aims to mold NCLEX-ready students and turn them into successful RNs.

The program consists of four semesters with an average of five subjects per semester and 70 units all in all. Clinical learning experiences happen in different healthcare agencies in Lehigh Valley and its surrounding areas. These are scheduled between 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the school may possibly schedule these at night or during weekends when necessary.

ADN is also offered for students who want an evening or weekend schedule. Students who choose this are admitted in the spring semester of every even year, so the next batch after 2018 will be on the spring of 2020. Classes and laboratory are available between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m.

7) Butler County Community College, Butler

BCCC has a curriculum that puts emphasis on academic achievement in order to prepare the graduate for the demands of NCLEX and even beyond.

The program is two years long and has an average graduation rate of 70.4% for 2014-2017, and a NCLEX passing rate of 87.65%. Employment rate based on graduate-survey responses is 92% in 2016. The course includes core subjects like Pharmacology, General Psychology, and a structured course for Nursing Care, starting from Introduction and ending in Transition to Practice.

8) Community College of Beaver County, Monaca

Aside from nursing courses, the Community College of Beaver County is also focused on general education classes.

Clinical laboratory experience classes are conducted in various different health-related agencies located in Beaver, Allegheny, and Lawrence County areas. Interactive video and audio-visual tools are used in order to give you a more in-depth experience of learning. Graduates mostly participate in giving safe and up-to-standard care in a variety of environs and settings in order to prepare graduates for RN duties.

9) Lock Haven University, Clearfield

The Lock Haven University program coursework consists of selected sciences classes as well as liberal arts and, of course, nursing subjects.

The program requires an SAT score minimum of 900 and a GPA of 2.7 or above. TEAS entrance exams are also required of you and consist of Reading, Math, Science and English. The entire program also lasts four semesters and a combined total of 70 credits attained are required in order to graduate. Subjects focused on are Nursing Foundations, Medical Surgical Nursing, Geriatrics, Behavioral Health and Maternal Child.

10) Clarion University of PA, Oil City

The ASN program in Clarion University of PA prepares students not only for the patient care aspect, but also for the other technical aspects of the course like administrative paperwork.

Their two-year program has classes that give experiences in order to promote a diverse set of skills that include nursing judgment and professional identity. After passing the NCLEX and becoming an RN, employers may offer financial support for higher nursing degrees if you're interested in attaining a higher level of education in nursing. Classes also encourage an inquisitive outlook to better prepare students for the duties of an RN.

How to Get My RN License in PA?

After graduation from the chosen ADN course, you will only need to apply for a license and register for and pass the NCLEX in order to get a license.

Salary of RN with ADN in Pennsylvania

The average annual salary for an RN with an ADN in Pennsylvania is $10,000 higher than the annual median household income for the state as of 2016.

Type	Salary Range	Average Salary
Hourly	$22.35 - $44.59	$32.24
Monthly	$3,870 - $7,730	$5,590
Annual	$46,480 - $92,740	$67,060

(Source: Compiled using data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Employment Outlook for ADN Graduates in PA

Number of RN's with ADN		10 Year New Job Growth Projection (2016-2026)		Projected Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement)
2016	2026	Growth in Number	Growth in %
46,030	52,000	5,970	12.97%	3,170

(Source: Compiled using data from careeronestop.org)