Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, program length, and outcomes for Lehigh Valley practical nursing schools.
For aspiring LPNs in Allentown, the biggest hurdle isn't tuition or admissions: it's geography. The city's healthcare employers need more practical nurses, yet Allentown itself has no on-the-ground LPN programs.
Seven Pennsylvania programs appear in this ranking, each approved by the state board of nursing. They differ sharply in price, from under $10,000 at community colleges to over $45,000 at private universities, and in NCLEX-PN pass rates that range from 79% to near-perfect.
Because none sit inside the city limits, your choice will hinge on drive time, clinical placement policies, and whether an accelerated 12-month format or a part-time evening schedule fits your life.
The schools ranked below represent the top practical nursing programs across Pennsylvania, all approved by the state board of nursing. While none are located directly in Allentown, several are within a feasible commute and each offers a direct pathway to LPN licensure with strong NCLEX preparation. We evaluated programs on cost, length, pass rates, and graduate outcomes to help you find the best fit.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Laurel Business Institute | Uniontown, PA | $8,000/yr (net price) | Affordable 12-month pathway to LPN | |
Laurel Business Institute offers a practical nursing diploma in Uniontown, PA, completed in just 12 months. The program combines 300 lab hours and 670 clinical hours with coursework in pharmacology and medical-surgical nursing. With a low net price of $7,825 and small class sizes, it provides an affordable, focused path to NCLEX-PN eligibility.
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| #2 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport, PA | $25,000/yr | Learners needing flexible scheduling options | |
Pennsylvania College of Technology's practical nursing program in Williamsport provides over 1,536 hours of instruction through both full- and part-time schedules. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on healthcare training, and financial aid and scholarships are available. Graduates earn a certificate and are prepared for the NCLEX-PN, with strong median earnings after graduation.
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| #3 | Reading Area Community College | Reading, PA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | Allentown-area students seeking proven NCLEX success | |
Reading Area Community College's practical nursing certificate is a one-year, full-time day program located within commuting distance of Allentown. With a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate and job placement record, the program offers clinical rotations at regional hospitals and nursing homes. Graduates can also pursue an advanced placement pathway into RACC's associate degree nursing program.
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| #4 | Mercyhurst University | Erie, PA | $19,000/yr (net price) | ||
Mercyhurst University in Erie offers a 30-credit LPN certificate completed in one year, blending theory with simulation lab practice using high-fidelity mannequins. The program boasts nearly 100% job placement and is NLN CNEA accredited. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-PN and can seamlessly bridge to an RN associate degree.
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| #5 | Carlow University | Pittsburgh, PA | $20,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Carlow University's 16-month practical nurse certificate in Pittsburgh features a curriculum of 44 credits at $559 per credit. With 75 years of nursing education excellence, the program emphasizes ethical, compassionate care and includes on-campus clinical skills labs. Pittsburgh's status as a top LPN employer in Pennsylvania supports strong job prospects.
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| #6 | Butler County Community College | Butler, PA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Butler County Community College's three-semester practical nursing certificate offers an Anatomy and Physiology track, providing in-depth study of the human body. The 48-credit program includes hands-on clinical experiences and prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN licensure. Located in Butler, PA, this program meets state requirements and provides a strong foundation for nursing.
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| #7 | Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg, PA | $14,000/yr | ||
Harrisburg Area Community College's practical nursing certificate spans four semesters, preparing students for LPN roles with a strong NCLEX pass rate of 96.8%. The program offers hybrid delivery, multiple campus locations including Harrisburg and Lancaster, and full- and part-time options. It also provides a stackable pathway to an RN degree.
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The sticker price of an LPN program can be misleading. What matters more is the net price, the average amount students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Below is how the net price compares across the ranked programs in the Allentown area, based on the most recent federal data. Keep in mind that these figures are institution-wide averages and not a guaranteed quote for any individual student.
Penn State University - Lehigh Valley reported a 78.79% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for the 2024-2025 cycle,1 providing a concrete benchmark for LPN programs in Pennsylvania. Pass rates can shift year to year, so prospective students should verify current figures for each program.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing publishes annual NCLEX-PN performance reports that detail school-level results. These reports are the most authoritative source and are typically available as downloadable documents on the board's website. Reviewing multiple years of data can reveal trends, not just a single snapshot.
Schools often publish their NCLEX-PN outcomes under sections like 'Accreditation' or 'Student Outcomes.' For Allentown-area programs, check the websites of Lincoln Tech Allentown, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Falcon Institute, and Northampton Community College. If the data isn't publicly posted, contacting the nursing department or admissions office directly can yield the most current pass rates, sometimes more recent than what appears in state reports.
Professional organizations such as the National League for Nursing aggregate NCLEX statistics and offer broader context about national and state averages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) also supplies employment and wage data for LPNs, helping you weigh program quality against career prospects.
Most LPN programs in the Allentown area take between 12 and 18 months to complete, but the actual time on your calendar depends on whether you attend full-time, part-time, or need to finish general education prerequisites first.
The fastest standard track is the full-time option at private vocational schools like Falcon Institute of Health and Technology, where you can finish the Practical Nurse Education Program in 12 months. Part-time students at Falcon need 18 months. At community colleges, full-time study generally means three semesters of concentrated nursing coursework once you begin the clinical sequence.
Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Practical Nursing Certificate is designed as a three-semester program after prerequisites are met. Those prerequisites, often anatomy, physiology, and math, can add an extra semester before you start nursing courses. Similarly, Northampton Community College offers a practical nursing certificate that follows a comparable structure. Always confirm whether the published duration includes any required pre-nursing classes.
Private institutions such as Lincoln Tech in Allentown may compress the training into an intensive full-time schedule, but that speed usually comes with higher tuition. If affordability matters more than speed, a community college path with a part-time option might spread costs over time.
When comparing programs, ask for a sample plan of study that shows every semester from admission to graduation. Some schools list only the nursing coursework duration, omitting the prerequisite or co-requisite semesters that can stretch the timeline by three to six months.
Lehigh Carbon Community College requires applications by February 1, 2026 for its practical nursing certificate. Across Allentown-area programs, a high school diploma or GED is the baseline, but many schools also set minimum GPA thresholds and require TEAS or other entrance exam scores as part of their LPN prerequisites. Exact cutoffs vary: some programs admit students with a TEAS score of 60 or above, while more competitive options may require a higher score.
Health clearances are nearly universal. Northampton Community College mandates a health assessment and CPR certification, along with a criminal background check. Lehigh Carbon Community College adds a COVID-19 vaccine requirement, a history and physical exam, and likely drug screening.1 Immunization records, including for hepatitis B and flu, should be up to date before clinical placements start.
Applications may be accepted on a rolling basis, but several programs fill quickly. LCCC's fixed spring deadline means early preparation is essential. Even at schools with rolling admissions, submitting materials months ahead improves your odds. Competitive programs often have waitlists, so it is wise to apply to more than one school to secure a seat.
Confirm each program's exact prerequisites and deadlines through their nursing department, as requirements can shift between cycles.
The following table shows Pennsylvania state-level wage and employment figures for licensed practical nurses and related nursing occupations. City-specific data for Allentown is not available, but these statewide numbers offer a reliable reference for earnings in the region. LPNs in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of approximately $62,000, with the top quarter of earners making over $70,000.
| Occupation | Employment | Median Annual Wage | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 31,140 | $62,010 | $56,350 | $70,110 |
| Registered Nurses | 146,840 | $87,610 | $78,570 | $102,030 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 4,860 | $79,920 | $59,330 | $98,430 |
LPN-to-RN bridge programs offer licensed practical nurses a streamlined route to become registered nurses, building on existing clinical experience and coursework rather than starting from scratch. In the Allentown area, several colleges provide these pathways with flexible formats and credit for prior learning.
Start with the official websites of local schools. Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC), Northampton Community College, DeSales University, and Moravian University often detail LPN-to-RN tracks on their nursing or admissions pages, including prerequisites, duration, and available formats such as online, evening, or accelerated options. For a broader list, consult the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing website, where you can filter approved programs by region to pinpoint Lehigh Valley offerings.
Professional nursing associations also supply useful directories. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) and the National League for Nursing (NLN) sometimes publish guidance on bridge pathways, helping you compare programs across the state.
Direct contact with admissions or nursing departments is essential. Inquire about articulation agreements that may fast-track your progress, how your LPN work hours count as clinical credit, and the typical program length, often 12 to 24 months, depending on full-time or part-time enrollment. Ask whether the curriculum includes flexible scheduling, such as hybrid or evening classes, to accommodate working nurses.
If you're considering a practical nursing career in Allentown, PA, you likely have questions about program duration, cost, and outcomes. Below are answers to the most common inquiries from prospective LPN students in the Lehigh Valley.
