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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

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 42,404 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which healthcare program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for healthcare students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 25 Top Middle Atlantic Region Schools in Nursing

Our 2023 rankings named Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing the best school in the Middle Atlantic Region for nursing students. Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing take out is $20,000.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large suburb of Teaneck, Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing take out is $29,603.

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The excellent programs at St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bethlehem.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $21,381.

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Out of the 260 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing landed the # 4 spot on the list. West Penn Hospital School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh.

On average, nursing graduates from West Penn Hospital School of Nursing take out $20,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $27,892.

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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. Located in the suburb of New Kensington, Citizens School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Citizens School of Nursing take out is $21,312.

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With a ranking of #7, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Reading, RHSHS is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Nursing majors at RHSHS take out an average of $25,208 in student loans while working on their egree.

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UPMC Mercy School of Nursing ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing take out is $24,743.

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UPMC Jameson School of Nursing landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UPMC Jameson School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of New Castle.

On average, nursing graduates from UPMC Jameson School of Nursing take out $24,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Washington Hospital School of Nursing landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the large suburb of Washington, Washington Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Washington Hospital School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $23,719 in student debt.

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

Nursing majors at Memorial Medical Center take out an average of $24,420 in student loans while working on their egree.

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

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $29,000.

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#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. Located in the small city of Albany, AMC Albany is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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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. HFCN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at HFCN take out is $33,485.

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#15

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, PA

Saint Vincent College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Saint Vincent is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Latrobe.

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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. Saint Michael College of Allied Health is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Alexandria.

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Arnot Ogden Medical Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the city of Elmira, Arnot Ogden Medical Center is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the large city of Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at SUNY Downstate accumulate an average of around $21,875 in student debt.

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#19

Best Care College

East Orange, NJ

Best Care College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Best Care College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of East Orange.

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Cochran School of Nursing ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large suburb of Yonkers, Cochran School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Cochran School of Nursing take out $26,219 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#21

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Excelsior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Excelsior College take out $23,176 in student loans while working on their degree.

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St. Joseph’s College of Nursing ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse, St Joseph's College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at St Joseph's College of Nursing accumulate an average of around $20,751 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $380.

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#23

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

With a ranking of #23, University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

Nursing majors at UPenn take out an average of $20,861 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#24

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, NY

With a ranking of #24, The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at The Graduate Center take out is $17,170.

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

Nursing majors at St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens take out an average of $30,500 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $191.

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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

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Nursing students in the Middle Atlantic Region that almost earned our 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 schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

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

Nursing is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

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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