Best Online Nursing Programs in Wilkes-Barre, PA (2026)

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Wilkes-Barre has a population of about 44,217. Median household income is $47,970 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $199,800 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Nursing Schools to Wilkes-Barre

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

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

Nursing Wages Near Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes-Barre is part of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area (BLS area code 42540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.

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.

Wilkes-Barre at a Glance

Other Wilkes-Barre-Area Cities With Nursing Programs

• Scranton, PA – 15.4 mi away (387,448 pop)
• Hazleton, PA – 21.1 mi away (55,301 pop)
• Mount Pocono, PA – 28.3 mi away (23,308 pop)
• Bloomsburg, PA – 34.6 mi away (52,637 pop)
• East Stroudsburg, PA – 40.1 mi away (56,230 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Wilkes-Barre, PA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Wilkes-Barre. The closest is Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Practical Nursing in Wilkes Barre, PA (0.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County (18.4 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Wilkes-Barre?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Wilkes-Barre are: Nurse Anesthetist ($199,800), Nurse Practitioner ($126,820), Nurse Midwife ($119,990). 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 Scranton instead of Wilkes-Barre?

Scranton, PA is 15.4 miles from Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre an affordable place to study nursing?

Wilkes-Barre’s median household income of $47,970 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wilkes-Barre 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

• Nursing accreditation: what to look for
• Nursing concentrations and specializations
• Is a Nursing degree worth it?
• Main Nursing degree guide
• Online Nursing programs in Pennsylvania
• Nursing programs by state

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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.