Online Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania: Exploring Programs

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

CNAs play an important part in healthcare, and enrolling in this type of program is an efficient way to enter the field. By the time you finish training to become a CNA, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to perform tasks such as taking vital signs, moving people with mobility issues, and dressing wounds.

You’ll also learn how to prepare rooms for patients and ensure supplies are well-stocked to keep the unit running smoothly.

Example: Northampton Community College

• Cost: $1,899
• Length: 3 to 4 weeks
• Mode: On campus

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

The curriculum of LPN diploma or certificate programs is designed to prepare you to work in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, and outpatient care centers. When students complete the program, they have the skills and knowledge needed to provide basic daily care to patients, which includes helping them eat, bathe, and dress.

Example: United Career Institute

• Cost: $18,554
• Length: 12 months
• Mode: Hybrid

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

An associate degree in nursing (ADN or ASN) prepares students with little or no previous college-level study or nursing experience for the NCLEX-RN exam to become RNs. ADN programs usually take two years to complete and are common at community colleges and vocational schools, but are also available through nursing schools at four-year colleges and universities.

ADN and ASN curriculums combine general education and foundational nursing courses with hands-on clinical experiences at nearby healthcare facilities. They offer a fast track into the profession and can be an affordable option for those interested in pursuing a career in bedside nursing.

Example: Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

• Cost: $3,997 per semester in-state; $9,993 per semester out-of-state
• Length: 24 months
• Mode: On campus

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A traditional bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) is designed for students with little or no previous college-level study or nursing experience who want to become RNs. Given the more extensive education and training than with an ADN, BSN degree holders tend to be more attractive to employers.

Traditional BSN programs are typically offered by four-year colleges and universities and require four years of full-time study to complete.

Example: University of Pennsylvania

• Cost: $63,204 per year (tuition only)
• Length: Four years
• Mode: On campus (hybrid options available from branch campuses)

Accelerated BSN (ABSN)

Accelerated BSN programs are for students with no prior nursing experience, but who possess a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Accelerated BSN programs provide the necessary coursework and clinical practice hours needed to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

Accelerated degrees are mostly available from the same four-year schools offering traditional BSN programs, but not all nursing departments offer this faster track. Completion times are typically 15 to 24 months.

Example: Holy Family University

• Cost: $17,550 per semester
• Length: Two years
• Mode: Hybrid

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Standard MSN programs offer advanced leadership and practice outcomes, as well as eligibility for nurse practitioner (NP) certification. Depending on the program, you may be able to complete all of the coursework online.

However, some degrees may require in-person clinical work at a healthcare facility, as well as lab work that is regularly done on campus.

Example: Pennsylvania State University

• Cost: $52,780 per year
• Length: Two years
• Mode: Online

DNP and PhD Doctoral Programs

The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree is for students seeking to become leaders in top nursing administration and advanced nursing practice positions. A PhD in nursing prepares nursing scientists to conduct research and develop new clinical knowledge that advances professional practice.

DNP and PhD nursing programs come in a variety of formats and with different specializations. Completion lengths are three to seven years or longer depending on degree type, specialization, and study pace.

Example: Drexel University

• Cost: $1,182 per credit hour
• Length: Two to three years depending on specialty
• Mode: Hybrid

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Experienced nurses may want to become experts in a specific subsection of the nursing field without investing time and money in a full advanced degree. Post-graduate certificate programs provide opportunities to specialize in a particular area of nursing practice. Certificate topics may cover administration, education, nurse anesthesia, public health nursing, and several nurse practitioner fields.

Example: Wilkes University

• Cost: $10,514 to $22,530
• Length: 12-18 months
• Mode: Online

LPN to RN and LPN to BSN

LPN to RN and LPN to BSN programs are open to current LPNs interested in advancing their careers by taking the NCLEX-RN exam and becoming RNs. Both LPN to RN and LPN to BSN programs include didactic coursework and clinical hours required for licensure.

LPN to RN programs are often offered by community colleges and vocational schools, and sometimes by four-year institutions. They typically require three semesters or more of full-time study. LPN to BSN programs are normally available at four-year schools and require two to four years of study depending on whether you choose to enroll full-time or part-time.

Example: Wilson College

• Cost: $485 per credit hour
• Length: Two to three years
• Mode: Online

RN to BSN

RN to BSN programs provide licensed RNs without a bachelor’s degree with a convenient and affordable path to earning a BSN. Most such programs in Pennsylvania are available in fully online formats from four-year schools offering undergraduate nursing programs.

Admission requirements include a current RN license and an ADN. A BSN degree in an RN to BSN program requires about 120 credit hours, and completion times vary.

Example: Pennsylvania College of Technology

• Cost: $623 per credit hour for in-state students
• Length: Two to three years
• Mode: Online

RN to MSN

RN to MSN programs offer current RNs a direct path to an MSN, sometimes bypassing the need to complete a separate BSN. In some cases, however, students do receive a BSN as part of their program.

Full-time students can finish an RN to MSN program within three years, but most are designed for working RNs and feature part-time tracks lasting about three to four years. Hybrid and online programs may be available, which can help nurses best incorporate their studies into their schedules.

Example: Wilkes University

• Cost: $751 per credit hour
• Length: Three years
• Mode: Online

BSN to DNP

If you’re thinking about earning a doctorate and are concerned about how long it will take, this bridge program can help you finish your studies quickly. BSN to DNP programs generally take three or four years to complete, which is faster than obtaining each degree separately.

During this time, you may receive a combination of online and campus-based coursework, so you learn the theoretical and practical foundations to provide advanced nursing care to patients.

Example: University of Pittsburgh

• Cost: $1,280 per credit hour
• Length: Three years
• Mode: Online

Direct-Entry MSN

If you’re thinking about a second career and always wanted to become a nurse, you don’t have to restart your education from square one. Direct-entry MSN programs provide the foundation you need to qualify for your nursing license while giving you the opportunity to simultaneously earn a master’s degree.

Throughout the program, you’ll learn how to deliver safe patient care from coursework that emphasizes both theory and practice. Earning your MSN opens doors for positions in nursing leadership and specialty bedside roles.

Example: Saint Vincent College

• Cost: $1,000 per credit hour
• Length: 24 months
• Mode: On campus