Best Online Nursing Programs in Wilkes-Barre, PA (2026)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has a population of about 44,217. The city’s median household income is $47,970 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 133 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Wilkes-Barre, with tuition ranging from $6,450 to $52,673 per year for indexed programs. In the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $210,350 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Wilkes-Barre
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 133 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Wilkes-Barre. Distances are calculated from Wilkes-Barre city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King’s College | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 0.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 0.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Practical Nursing | Wilkes Barre, PA | 3.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke, PA | 7.0 mi | $6,450 - $15,810 | – |
| Misericordia University | Dallas, PA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Scranton | Scranton, PA | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lackawanna College | Scranton, PA | 16.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fortis Institute-Scranton | Scranton, PA | 16.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Marywood University | Scranton, PA | 18.0 mi | $39,570 - $52,673 | – |
| Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County | Scranton, PA | 18.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
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.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,450 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $87,019 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $61,310 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $65,502 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $210,350 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $224,733 |
| Nurse Midwife | $107,740 | PA statewide | $115,107 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,120 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $136,880 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,830 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $41,485 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 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
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,217 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $47,970 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 19.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Luzerne County | 9,379 workers, 101 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
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 133 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Wilkes-Barre. The closest is King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA (0.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County (18.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Wilkes-Barre?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Wilkes-Barre are: Nurse Anesthetist ($210,350), Nurse Practitioner ($128,120), Nurse Midwife ($107,740). 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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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)
Return to Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania (2026)