Harcum College (harcum.edu) is a two-year residential college near the city center of Bryn Mawr. Though the college does not grant Bachelor's degrees it is the oldest independent, two-year college in the Philadelphia region. Harcum College has a two-year nursing program that is offered in two tracks. The day program is a part-time program that begins in the fall of each year. The deadline for application for the day program is March 15. The evening program is an 18-month part-time program that begins in May of each year. The deadline for application for the evening program is December 1.
Villanova University (villanova.edu/nursing) is a four-year private university located just five miles from Bryn Mawr in Radnor Township. Founded in 1842, the school is distinguished as the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania. The College of Nursing at Villanova offers several programs from nursing students including a Bachelor of Science (BSN), a Master's of Nursing (MSN) and a Doctoral degree (PhD). Students are also available to study abroad in countries such as Japan, Nicaragua, Ireland, Peru and South Africa.
Aria Health School of Nursing (ariahealth.org) is located approximately 10 miles from Bryn Mawr in Philadelphia. Founded specifically as a nursing school in 1904, Aria Health School of Nursing has been producing nurses for over 100 years. The school is located just one block away from Frankford Hospital, where students get hours of hands-on experience integrated into their studies. This two-year, 10-month program is designed to focus on clinical nursing, nursing theory and therapeutic intervention. According to the school's website, Aria Health School of Nursing has a 95 percent student pass rate on the nursing boards.
The University of Pennsylvania, (nursing.upenn.edu) commonly referred to as Penn, is a top-rated university. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is ranked the number one private nursing institution in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The nursing program offers concentrations in nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwifery and nursing service administration. Students also have the opportunity to study other fields as a part of Penn's joint degree program.