Pennsylvania ABSN Programs - Accelerated Nursing Schools

Pennsylvania has 19 accelerated nursing programs spread across four distinct markets:

Pittsburgh (4 programs),
Philadelphia and its suburbs (7 programs),
the Lehigh Valley (3 programs),
Northeast PA (2 programs),

with three additional programs serving central and rural PA and the state’s flagship Big Ten university offering three campus options.

Costs run from roughly $26,000 at a Lehigh Valley college to over $100,000 at a two-year Philadelphia pathway.

The fastest program completes in 11 months; the most flexible runs 23.

Multiple programs embed graduate-level credits directly in the BSN curriculum, two offer loan repayment arrangements worth up to $40,000, and one accepts 65+ college credits in lieu of a completed bachelor’s degree. Geography narrows the list first. Then cost, format, and outcomes take over.

Pennsylvania ABSN Programs at a Glance

School	Location	Est. Cost	Duration	Min. GPA
Cedar Crest College *	Allentown	$27K	15 months	3.0
Penn State University	Altoona / Harrisburg / Erie	$27K–$31K	16 months	2.75 (tiered review)
University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	$32K (after $8K scholarship)	1 year	Not stated; rolling review
Immaculata University	Immaculata	$37K (flat all-in)	15 months	3.0 preferred
Kings College	Wilkes-Barre (hybrid)	$47K	12 months	3.0 (3.2 non-science)
York College of Pennsylvania	York	$48K	17 months	3.0
Saint Francis University	Loretto	$49K	15 months	3.0 cumul. / 2.6 science
DeSales University	Center Valley	$49K	15 months	2.75 (3.0 ABSN+)
Moravian University	Bethlehem	$50K	16 months	2.75
Gwynedd Mercy University	Gwynedd Valley	$50K (before loan repayment)	16 months	3.0
Holy Family University	Online (Newtown East residency)	$51K	14 months	3.0
Widener University	Chester	$53K	15 months	3.0
Robert Morris University	Pittsburgh	$55K (before $40K loan repayment)	15 months	3.0 (B+ math/science)
Villanova University	Villanova	$55,620 (either track)	14 months (Express) or 23 months (Flex)	3.0; no GRE/TEAS
Thomas Jefferson University (1-Year)	Philadelphia / Horsham	$60K	12 months (3 semesters)	3.0
Wilkes University	Wilkes-Barre (hybrid)	$63K	15 months	3.0
Carlow University	Pittsburgh	$44K–$67K (transfer-dependent)	15 months	2.85
Drexel University	Philadelphia	$67K	11 months	3.0+
Duquesne University	Pittsburgh	$70K	12 or 16 months	3.0
Thomas Jefferson University (2-Year)	Philadelphia / Horsham	$105K	2 years (4 semesters)	3.0

* Cedar Crest College’s baccalaureate nursing program holds ACEN accreditation. Its graduate nursing programs (MSN, DNP) hold separate CCNE accreditation. Confirm acceptance of an ACEN-accredited BSN with intended graduate programs or employers before enrolling.

Best Pennsylvania ABSN Programs by Goal

Fastest finish in Pennsylvania: Drexel University — 11 months across four 10-week terms, the fastest ABSN in the state
Lowest in-state cost: Penn State University — $28K–$31K in-state across three campuses (Altoona, Harrisburg, Erie)
Most transparent all-in cost: Immaculata University — flat $37K total (tuition and fees included)
Best published NCLEX outcomes. All schools below report 100% first-time NCLEX pass rates in recent cohorts:
- Carlow,
- Cedar Crest,
- Duquesne,
- Saint Francis
Graduate school fast-track built into the BSN:
- Thomas Jefferson University embeds 9 graduate credits with guaranteed MSN/DNP admission for 3.20+ GPA graduates.
- DeSales (ABSN+ option) and Cedar Crest (3 embedded grad credits) offer similar pathways.
Most scheduling flexibility:
- Drexel University — Fall and Spring starts, the only PA ABSN with two annual entry points.
- University of Pittsburgh also admits Fall and Spring cohorts.
Online or hybrid format:
- Holy Family University — delivers coursework mostly online with one week on campus;
- Wilkes University — uses a hybrid model with a two-week residency
- Kings College offers a hybrid format in Wilkes-Barre.
Loan repayment programs:
- Robert Morris University — up to $40,000 through Penn Highlands Healthcare and Temple Health
- Gwynedd Mercy University — up to $40,000 through health-system partners
Most advanced simulation infrastructure:
- Kings College — $8 million Kowalski Center with cadaver lab, augmented reality, and 3D imaging/printing
- Robert Morris University — SSH-accredited RISE Center
- Duquesne — 7,000 sq. ft. Learning and Simulation Center with augmented reality and wearable simulators
No bachelor’s degree required: York College of Pennsylvania — accepts students with 65+ non-nursing college credits
Slower pace for working students:
- Villanova University Flex Track (23 months, designed for part-time work)
- Thomas Jefferson University 2-Year ABSN+ pathway offer the most extended timelines

How to Choose the Best ABSN Program for You

Best Pennsylvania ABSN Programs by Student Type

You need the fastest finish in Pennsylvania

Drexel University — 11 months; Philadelphia; four 10-week terms; Fall or Spring start; 96.63% NCLEX (2023-24)
University of Pittsburgh — 1 year (3 terms); Pittsburgh; UPMC + 50+ facilities; 810 clinical hours; ~$31K net; Fall or Spring start
Duquesne University (12-month track) — Pittsburgh; clinicals start week one; 100% NCLEX (most recent); up to $30K scholarships
Kings College — 12 months; Wilkes-Barre; hybrid; $8M simulation center with cadaver lab and AR

You want to keep working or need a slower pace

Villanova University (Flex Track) — 23 months; designed for part-time work; same $55,620 tuition as the 14-month Express; no GRE or TEAS required
Thomas Jefferson University (2-Year ABSN+) — Philadelphia; four semesters over two years; 9 embedded grad credits; optional Rome global capstone; ~$105K
Saint Francis University — 18 months; Loretto; 100% NCLEX; 1:8 clinical ratio; five simulation suites; Franciscan tradition

You want the lowest cost

Cedar Crest College — ~$26,730 (ACEN-accredited; confirm graduate-school acceptance before enrolling); 819 clinical hours; 100% NCLEX; Allentown
Penn State University — ~$27,600–$30,800 in-state; Big Ten nursing degree; Altoona, Harrisburg, or Erie campus
University of Pittsburgh — ~$31,261 net (after guaranteed $8,333 scholarship); 810 clinical hours; 93% NCLEX; UPMC access; Pittsburgh
Immaculata University — $36,975 flat (all-in, tuition and fees included); holistic nursing focus; AHNA recognized; Immaculata

You want loan repayment tied to post-graduation employment

Robert Morris University — up to $40,000 through Penn Highlands Healthcare and Temple Health (3-year commitment); Pittsburgh; 98/100% NCLEX; SSH-accredited simulation center
Gwynedd Mercy University — up to $40,000 through health-system partners; Gwynedd Valley (Philadelphia suburbs); 100+ regional clinical affiliations

You want graduate school credit built into the BSN

Thomas Jefferson University — 9 graduate credits embedded; guaranteed MSN/DNP admission with 3.20+ GPA; optional global capstone in Rome; Philadelphia
DeSales University (ABSN+) — graduate courses embedded; direct entry to MSN or DNP; 92% five-year NCLEX; Center Valley (Lehigh Valley)
Cedar Crest College — 3 graduate credits included at no extra cost (6 more optional); seamless MSN transition; Allentown; ACEN-accredited BSN

You prefer online or hybrid coursework

Holy Family University — mostly online with one one-week on-campus residency; #1 in PA (RegisteredNursing.com 2026); clinical placement team arranges local sites; geographic eligibility applies
Wilkes University — hybrid with two-week on-campus residency in Wilkes-Barre; #3 in PA; Geisinger + LVHN + Commonwealth + St. Luke’s clinical partners
Kings College — hybrid format; 12 months; Wilkes-Barre; $8M Kowalski Center for on-campus lab and simulation days

You’re in Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh — ~$31K net; 1 year; 810 clinical hours; UPMC + 6 teaching hospitals; 93% NCLEX; guaranteed scholarship
Duquesne University — 12 or 16 months; 100% NCLEX; UPMC + AHN clinical access; up to $30K scholarships; first-week clinicals
Robert Morris University — 15 months; 98/100% NCLEX; up to $40K loan repayment; SSH-accredited RISE simulation center; optional international travel
Carlow University — 15 months; 100% NCLEX (recent); transfer-credit flexibility lowers cost; Sisters of Mercy Catholic tradition

You’re in Philadelphia or its suburbs

Drexel University — 11 months; fastest in PA; Fall or Spring; 96.63% NCLEX; ~$66K
Thomas Jefferson University — 1-Year or 2-Year ABSN+; 9 embedded grad credits; Jefferson Health clinical system; optional Rome capstone
Villanova University — 14-month Express or 23-month Flex; no GRE/TEAS; social justice + health equity focus; $55,620 either track
Gwynedd Mercy University — 16 months; Gwynedd Valley; up to $40K loan repayment; 100+ clinical affiliations; ~$49K
Holy Family University — 14 months; mostly online; #1 in PA; geographic eligibility restrictions apply
Immaculata University — 15 months; $36,975 flat; holistic (AHNA recognized); January cohorts; Immaculata
Widener University — 15 months; Chester; 4-course Knowledge Synthesis sequence; daytime/evening/weekend options; Fall 2026 waitlist

You’re in the Lehigh Valley

Cedar Crest College — 15 months; Allentown; ~$26,730 (ACEN); 819 clinical hours; 100% NCLEX; MSN pathway
DeSales University — 15 months; Center Valley; $48,800; 92% NCLEX (5-yr); ABSN+ grad pathway; St. Luke’s + LVHN clinicals
Moravian University — 16 months; Bethlehem; $49,458; Honduras clinical; integrated therapies course; 48-student cohort cap

You’re in Northeast Pennsylvania or the Wyoming Valley

Kings College — 12 months; Wilkes-Barre; hybrid; $8M Kowalski Center; ~$46,250
Wilkes University — 15 months; Wilkes-Barre; hybrid + 2-week residency; #3 in PA; Geisinger + LVHN + St. Luke’s clinicals; ~$62K

You have no bachelor’s degree completed

York College of Pennsylvania — the only PA program accepting 65+ non-nursing college credits as an alternative to a completed four-year degree; 17 months; ~$48K; simulation in every course; York

Which Program Length Is Right for You?

Need the Fastest Path Into Nursing?

Drexel University — 11 months across four 10-week terms; Philadelphia; the fastest ABSN in Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh — 1 year (3 terms); Pittsburgh; Fall or Spring start
Duquesne University (12-month track) — Pittsburgh; August start; clinicals from week one
Kings College — 12 months; Wilkes-Barre; hybrid format

Want 14–15 months?

Holy Family University — 14 months; mostly online; #1 in PA; geographic eligibility restrictions apply
Villanova University (Express Track) — 14 months; Villanova; no GRE/TEAS; social justice + health equity focus
Carlow University — 15 months; Pittsburgh; 100% NCLEX; transfer-credit flexibility
Cedar Crest College — 15 months; Allentown; ~$26,730; 819 clinical hours; ACEN-accredited
DeSales University — 15 months; Center Valley; 92% NCLEX; ABSN+ grad option; May start
Immaculata University — 15 months; Immaculata; $36,975 flat; January cohorts; holistic
Robert Morris University — 15 months; Pittsburgh; up to $40K loan repayment; 98/100% NCLEX
Widener University — 15 months; Chester; Knowledge Synthesis sequence; Fall 2026 waitlist
Wilkes University — 15 months; Wilkes-Barre; hybrid + 2-week residency; #3 in PA

Want 16 months?

Duquesne University (16-month track) — Pittsburgh; spreads load across 4 semesters; same 100% NCLEX; lower per-semester intensity
Gwynedd Mercy University — Gwynedd Valley; 16 months; up to $40K loan repayment; hybrid; 100+ clinical partners
Moravian University — Bethlehem; 16 months; Honduras clinical; integrated therapies; 48-student cohort
Penn State University — 16 months; Altoona, Harrisburg, or Erie; lowest public in-state cost; Big Ten credential
Thomas Jefferson University (1-Year ABSN+) — Philadelphia; 12 months of intensive study but listed as a year-long program across 3 semesters; 9 embedded grad credits; ~$60K

Want or need more time?

York College of Pennsylvania — 17 months; York; ~$48K; 65+ credits accepted (no bachelor’s required); simulation in every course
Saint Francis University — 18 months; Loretto; 100% NCLEX; 1:8 clinical ratio; 5 simulation suites; rural PA campus
Villanova University (Flex Track) — 23 months; designed for working students; same $55,620 tuition; August start
Thomas Jefferson University (2-Year ABSN+) — Philadelphia; 4 semesters over 2 years; ~$105K; 9 grad credits; guaranteed MSN/DNP admission

Most Affordable Programs

Cedar Crest College — ~$26,730: At $495 per credit for 54 nursing credits, Cedar Crest’s tuition is the lowest published rate among Pennsylvania programs. The tradeoff is ACEN rather than CCNE accreditation for the BSN — confirm acceptance with any graduate programs or employers of interest.

Penn State University — ~$27,600–$30,800 in-state: Penn State’s commonwealth campuses (Altoona, Harrisburg, Erie) offer the most affordable CCNE-accredited ABSN pathway in Pennsylvania.

University of Pittsburgh — ~$31,261 net: Pitt’s guaranteed $8,333 scholarship brings the three-term in-state cost to roughly $31,000, making it the most affordable CCNE-accredited program for Pittsburgh-area residents.

Prerequisite Course Patterns

Every Pennsylvania ABSN program requires Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Statistics as the foundational pre-nursing core. Nutrition and a lifespan development or developmental psychology course appear across most checklists.

Pathophysiology is a standalone prerequisite at Carlow, RMU, Villanova, and Pitt — not just integrated into the curriculum — which reduces in-program credit load at those schools but adds planning time before enrollment.

Science recency windows range from 5 years (Carlow A&P, Duquesne A&P, Penn State sciences, Widener A&P, York core sciences) to 7 years (RMU, Immaculata, GMercyU, Saint Francis) to 10 years (Carlow other prerequisites, Drexel, Holy Family, Wilkes).

No PA program requires a TEAS or HESI as a universal admission component. Villanova explicitly states no GRE or TEAS required. Cedar Crest waives the TEAS for ABSN applicants. Duquesne requires an Exit HESI exam with a score of 900 to complete the program (not for entry).

Start Dates and Cohort Availability

School	Start Date(s)	Application Deadline	Notes
Drexel University	Fall and Spring	Oct 15 / Dec 1 (Fall); Apr 15 / Jun 1 (Spring)	Only PA ABSN with two annual starts; rolling after priority dates
University of Pittsburgh	Fall and Spring	Rolling; ~30 students per term	Guaranteed $8,333 scholarship; target cohort ~30
Immaculata University	January	March 1–August 1	January-only cohorts; Pre-Nursing route available for 12+ prereq credits remaining
DeSales University	May	January 1	May start; ABSN+ requires 3.0 GPA
Cedar Crest College	May (Summer Term)	Contact program	ACEN-accredited BSN; TEAS waived for ABSN track
Duquesne University	August	June 1	12 or 16-month track; up to $30K scholarships; Fall only
Moravian University	August	November 1 (Early); February 1 (Regular)	48-student cohort cap; $400 deposit by June 1
Widener University	August (mid)	January 15 / March 1	Fall 2026 waitlist noted; contact program for availability
Villanova University (Express)	May	Sep 15 (priority); Dec 15 (final)	No GRE/TEAS; scholarship decisions Nov 1; $25 app fee
Villanova University (Flex)	August	March 15	23 months; designed for working students; same $55,620
Penn State University	August	December 1	3 campuses; tiered GPA review; rolling (3.25+) vs. Feb decisions (2.75–3.24)
Holy Family University	Contact program	Contact program	Geographic eligibility restrictions; #1 in PA; mostly online
Carlow University	Fall	Rolling	100% NCLEX; transfer credit lowers cost; Pittsburgh
Gwynedd Mercy University	Contact program	Contact program	Up to $40K loan repayment; 4 prereqs must be complete before decision
Kings College	Contact program	Contact program	12 months; hybrid; nursing interview required
Robert Morris University	Contact program	Deposit due December 1	Up to $40K loan repayment; SSH-accredited simulation center
Saint Francis University	Contact program	Rolling	18 months; 100% NCLEX; 1:8 clinical ratio; rural PA campus
Thomas Jefferson University	Contact program	Contact program; interview required	1-Year or 2-Year track; 9 embedded grad credits; guaranteed MSN/DNP admission
Wilkes University	Contact program	Contact program	Hybrid; 2-week Wilkes-Barre residency; #3 in PA; 70+ year nursing history
York College of Pennsylvania	Fall (with Summer start)	February 2	65+ credits accepted; ~$48K all-in; simulation every course; 17 months

Two programs with Fall AND Spring starts: Drexel and Pitt are the only Pennsylvania programs offering both, providing meaningful scheduling flexibility in a state where most programs admit one cohort per year.

Widener’s waitlist: Widener University published a waitlist for Fall 2026, meaning applicants may be deferred. Contact the program directly to confirm seat availability and whether a later start term is an option.

Holy Family’s geographic eligibility: Holy Family’s Distance Hybrid BSN excludes residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties — those students should consider Holy Family’s on-campus Fast-Track programs instead.

Clinical Training Structure

Highest published clinical hours:

Cedar Crest College (819 hours, including 105 one-on-one preceptor hours) and University of Pittsburgh (810 hours across UPMC and 50+ facilities, including Pittsburgh’s six major teaching hospitals) publish the highest clinical totals in Pennsylvania.

Holy Family requires 504 hours; ECU (for reference) requires 504 hours.

Pittsburgh clinical access:

Duquesne provides access to both UPMC and Allegheny Health Network (AHN), naming 15+ specific clinical sites including UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, Magee-Womens, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, AHN Allegheny General, and St. Clair Hospital.

Pitt rotates primarily within UPMC.

RMU and Carlow use regional Pittsburgh healthcare agencies and hospital systems.

Philadelphia clinical networks:

Gwynedd Mercy University names 100+ regional affiliations including Abington Jefferson, Einstein Jefferson Montgomery, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Cooper University Medical Center, and Grand View Hospital.

Thomas Jefferson students rotate within Jefferson Health’s Philadelphia campus network.

Drexel draws on its College of Nursing’s broad Philadelphia regional affiliations.

Simulation standouts:

Kings College’s $8 million Kowalski Center features cadaver labs, augmented reality, 3D imaging and printing, and a pediatric lab, physical rehabilitation lab, and daily living lab — among the most feature-rich simulation environments at a regional nursing school nationally.

RMU’s RISE Center is one of only a few freestanding nursing programs worldwide accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Duquesne’s 7,000 sq. ft. center uses augmented reality, wearable simulators, and control-room-operated simulation rooms.

York College integrates simulation into every nursing course rather than concentrating it in dedicated simulation sessions.

Clinical placements arranged for you:

Holy Family University uses a dedicated Clinical Placement Support team that identifies sites and preceptors in students’ own communities — particularly valuable for the Distance Hybrid program serving students statewide.

Cedar Crest uses CastleBranch for compliance management and coordinates placement logistics. Most other PA programs expect students to arrange their own transportation to assigned sites.

Pennsylvania ABSN Program Summaries

Carlow University ABSN Program

Pittsburgh | $43,785 | 15 Months

Carlow University offers a 15-month Accelerated Second Degree BSN in Pittsburgh for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. A Catholic university in the Mercy tradition, it pairs a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate — among the highest in Southwestern Pennsylvania — with clinical access to major hospital systems.

Highlights

100% first-time NCLEX — among the highest in SW Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh location near major hospital systems
Up to 32 transfer credits to lower tuition