Compare costs, NCLEX outcomes, and schedules for nearby practical nursing programs ranked for 2026.
Cranberry Township sits at the intersection of Interstate 79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, roughly 25 minutes north of Pittsburgh and 20 minutes south of Butler, making it a practical hub for LPN training across western Pennsylvania. The region’s nursing homes, hospitals, and outpatient services depend on a steady flow of licensed practical nurses, and programs within a 75-mile radius supply much of that workforce. Cost, schedule, and clinical placements vary widely, even among accredited options. What separates stronger programs is a combination of transparent net-price data, consistent NCLEX-PN pass rates, and a clear pipeline from classroom to clinical floor.
The programs below are ranked for LPN students in the Cranberry Township area, using a statewide pool when local options are limited. Each card includes net price after aid, institution-wide graduation rate, and campus format, along with approximate drive time from Cranberry Township. Program-level first-year earnings are not yet available for most of these programs, so value is framed around cost, completion, and NCLEX preparation.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Penn Commercial Business/Technical School | Washington, PA | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | Western PA residents wanting in-person training | |
Penn Commercial in Washington, PA runs a 12-month, in-person Practical Nursing diploma with clinical rotations at hospitals, nursing facilities, dialysis centers, and rehab sites across southwestern Pennsylvania. For Cranberry Township residents, the campus is roughly a 40-mile drive south, typically under an hour. The school reports a 71% licensure pass rate and a school-wide graduation rate of about 84%, though program-specific earnings are not yet published. Net price after aid averages about $18,350.
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| #2 | York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education | York, PA | $13,000/yr (est. net price) | Adult learners wanting fast daytime training | |
York County School of Technology's Adult & Continuing Education Center offers a Practical Nursing program in under a year, with daytime classes, lab simulations, and supervised clinical rotations. It is about a 2.5-hour drive southeast of Cranberry Township. The program reports an 87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate and full approval from the PA Board of Nursing; institution-wide graduation rate is not reported. Net price after aid averages about $13,490, and program-level first-year earnings are not yet available.
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| #3 | Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology | Pleasant Gap, PA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | One-year diploma seekers wanting ACEN accreditation | |
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap offers an ACEN-accredited, one-year, 1,500-hour Practical Nursing diploma with January and August starts. The campus is roughly a 2.5-hour drive east of Cranberry Township. Net price after aid averages about $9,857, and the school-wide graduation rate is about 95%. Program-level first-year earnings are not yet published. ACEN accredited
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| #4 | Chester County Intermediate Unit | Downingtown, PA | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
Chester County Intermediate Unit runs an ACEN-accredited Practical Nursing Program from its West Grove campus, with Monday through Friday class, lab, and clinical schedules. The drive from Cranberry Township takes roughly three and a half to four hours southeast. Net price after aid averages about $14,441; institution-wide graduation rate is not reported, and program-level first-year earnings are not yet available.
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| #5 | Schuylkill Technology Center | Frackville, PA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Schuylkill Technology Center's Practical Nursing program offers an 18-month daytime track and a two-year evening/weekend option, with clinicals starting in long-term care. The campus is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive east of Cranberry Township. Net price after aid averages about $6,797, among the lowest in this ranking; institution-wide graduation rate is not reported. Program-level first-year earnings are not yet published.
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| #6 | Lancaster County Career and Technology Center | Willow Street, PA | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | ||
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center's LPN program has 12-month daytime and 18-month evening tracks at its Health Sciences Campus in Willow Street. The drive from Cranberry Township is roughly three and a quarter hours southeast. Net price after aid averages about $17,505, and the school-wide graduation rate is about 91%. Program-level first-year earnings are not yet published.
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| #7 | Delaware County Technical School-Practical Nursing Program | Broomall, PA | $22,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Delaware County Technical School's Practical Nursing Program trains students in 12 months in Broomall, with hands-on patient care and support for veterans and adult learners. It is about a four-hour drive southeast of Cranberry Township, making it the farthest option here. Net price after aid averages about $22,365; institution-wide graduation rate is not reported. Program-level first-year earnings are not yet available.
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Our ranking identifies LPN programs within 75 miles of Cranberry Township by balancing affordability, student success, and earnings potential. Each school is evaluated on four weighted factors drawn from the most recent federal data: net price, institution-wide graduation rate, program-level median earnings, and number of completions.
NCLEX-PN pass rates are not factored into our ranking model because the internal dataset lacks this metric. Instead, we highlight recent Pennsylvania Board of Nursing pass-rate data in a dedicated section so you can assess licensure readiness separately. Only programs with sufficient data points are included; if a key metric is missing, that school may still appear but receives a provisional score. The 75-mile radius ensures options are geographically feasible, but we expand it when fewer than three schools appear.
The table below compares the sticker price and net cost for LPN programs near Cranberry Township. Public institutions often offer lower tuition for Pennsylvania residents, while private schools typically charge a single rate and may provide more institutional aid. Keep in mind that the net price reflects institution-wide averages for all undergraduates; actual costs for LPN students may differ depending on program-specific fees and individual financial aid eligibility.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) | School Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County Community College | $9,000 | $12,000 | $6,233 | Public |
| Laurel Business Institute | $13,713 | $13,713 | $7,825 | Private |
| Reading Area Community College | $11,310 | $12,510 | $9,228 | Public |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | $9,495 | $12,472 | $14,471 | Public |
| Mercyhurst University | $45,770 | $45,770 | $19,444 | Private |
| Carlow University | $35,874 | $35,874 | $20,786 | Private |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | $17,940 | $25,680 | $25,110 | Public |
In 2024, All-State Career School in Essington reported an NCLEX-PN pass rate of 81.58% among 38 test-takers1, a result that edges just past Pennsylvania’s statewide minimum pass rate of 80%2. Pass rates like these are a practical indicator for anyone comparing LPN programs near Cranberry Township, but the most current and comprehensive numbers are spread across a few essential sources.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing compiles annual NCLEX-PN pass rates for every approved program in the state. The latest published dataset covers fiscal year 20241, and it is the single most authoritative place to see how schools stack up. Visiting the Board’s website lets you pull program-level results directly, giving you an apples-to-apples view without relying on third-party summaries.
Many LPN programs post their own pass rates on their official websites, often alongside accreditation details and graduate placement statistics. When numbers are not immediately visible, call the admissions office and ask for the most recent cohort’s performance. Staff are usually prepared to share that data, and a quick conversation can also clarify how the school supports students who need to retake the exam.
For broader context, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) publishes national NCLEX-PN pass rate averages that serve as a benchmark. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website also tracks nursing employment trends that can inform how pass rates relate to workforce demand in western Pennsylvania. Checking both can help you understand whether a program’s performance is competitive on a larger scale.
Practical nursing programs in western Pennsylvania have standardized many of their admission requirements in recent years, making the pathway clearer for students who prepare ahead. While each school sets its own criteria, a core set of prerequisites, exams, and clearances now applies across most institutions near Cranberry Township.
Every program expects a high school diploma or GED. A minimum GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 is common, Manor College, for instance, requires a 2.5. Prerequisite coursework usually includes anatomy and physiology with a lab component. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology wants a C or higher in those courses, while Butler County Community College (BC3) requires chemistry with lab completed within the last five years. Some schools allow you to take certain prerequisites concurrently with LPN coursework, but it is essential to verify this with each program.
Testing policies vary. Lancaster County Career & Technology Center uses the TEAS 7 exam, and Greater Johnstown CTC enforces a 30-day waiting period before retakes. Other programs, like Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, do not require an entrance exam. Background clearances are universal: all programs mandate Pennsylvania State Police, FBI, and child abuse clearances, as well as a drug screening. Many also require a physical exam and a mandatory orientation session. Manor College adds an interview and essay to the application process, and Pennsylvania Institute of Technology cautions that a past misdemeanor or felony could affect your eligibility for NCLEX-PN licensure down the road.
Most practical nursing programs in the region admit students on a rolling basis or through fixed annual cohorts. You should plan to apply 3–6 months before your intended start date. Some schools, like HACC, accept students into an Allied Health associate degree first and then allow an internal application to the practical nursing component. Since requirements and timelines differ from one institution to the next, always review the current admissions page on the school’s website before you submit materials.
After finishing any required prerequisites, full-time LPN programs near Cranberry Township take 11-12 months, while evening and weekend tracks last 18-24 months. Graduates then take the NCLEX-PN exam for state licensure.
Healthcare hiring in western Pennsylvania continues its steady expansion, fueled by an aging population and a growing network of outpatient and long-term care services. For Licensed Practical Nurses in the Pittsburgh metro area, which includes Cranberry Township, the most recent BLS data shows a median annual wage of $48,040. Earnings typically range from about $38,150 at the 10th percentile to $60,220 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the difference between entry-level and experienced roles.
These figures put Pittsburgh-area LPNs slightly above the national median for the occupation, as reflected in LPN salary by state data, and pay can vary by setting and shift differentials.
Nationally, the BLS projects LPN employment to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. In western Pennsylvania, an older population and increased need for home health and skilled nursing services underpin steady hiring. Top employers include UPMC and Allegheny Health Network (AHN), which operate multiple hospitals and outpatient clinics. Long-term care facilities and home health agencies throughout Butler and Allegheny counties remain active recruiters, offering full- and part-time options.
Getting into an LPN program near Cranberry Township means navigating timelines, costs, and state rules. These answers cover the most common questions prospective students ask, from program length to PA scope-of-practice limits.
