Best Online Nursing Programs in Reading, PA (2026)

Updated June 11, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Reading, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Reading has a population of about 94,836. Median household income is $45,599 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 11.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Pennsylvania, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $221,530 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Nursing Schools to Reading

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Reading. Distances are calculated from Reading city center.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Reading. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Reading Area Community College

Reading, PA 0.6 miles from Reading BOC Score42.2
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#2

Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School

Lebanon, PA 24.5 miles from Reading
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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#3

Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown

Allentown, PA 25.6 miles from Reading BOC Score38.5
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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#4

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Lancaster, PA 25.6 miles from Reading BOC Score71.5
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#5

Chester County Intermediate Unit

Downingtown, PA 26.3 miles from Reading BOC Score69.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania nursing page.

Nursing Wages Near Reading

Reading is part of the Reading, PA metro area (BLS area code 39740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Registered Nurse$98,470Reading, PA$101,411
Licensed Practical Nurse$64,950Reading, PA$66,890
Nurse Anesthetist$221,530PA statewide$228,146
Nurse Midwife$124,470Reading, PA$128,187
Nurse Practitioner$135,390Reading, PA$139,434
Nursing Assistant$45,530Reading, PA$46,890

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Reading at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population94,836Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$45,599Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+11.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)97.1 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Nursing-related employment in Berks County13,081 workers, 159 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Reading-Area Cities With Nursing Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Reading, PA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Reading. The closest is Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA (0.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Chester County Intermediate Unit (26.3 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Reading?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Reading are: Nurse Anesthetist ($221,530), Nurse Practitioner ($135,390), Nurse Midwife ($124,470). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Pottstown instead of Reading?

Pottstown, PA is 16.1 miles from Reading and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Reading an affordable place to study nursing?

Reading’s median household income of $45,599 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Reading while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Nursing Programs

Other Programs Available in Reading

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Reading:

Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania (2026)

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