Reading, PAprivate nonprofitreading.towerhealth.org
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences is a tightly focused, clinically immersive health sciences school embedded within a major Pennsylvania hospital system. With a 29% acceptance rate and nursing as its dominant program (84% of graduates), it offers direct pipelines into Tower Health jobs—nearly half of recent grads joined the health system. The vibe is pragmatic and hands-on, with tuition under $13K and scholarships targeting workforce needs.
Getting into Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences is competitive but not cutthroat, with a 29.2% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (31 students admitted from 106 applications in 2024). The school receives about 110 applications annually. Admissions are selective, evaluating applicants on:
A $30 non-refundable application fee is required, with deadlines varying by program. Nursing is the most popular major, drawing over half of all students.
This is a school for doers, not theoreticians. Programs are laser-focused on immediate workforce needs, with 84% of graduates earning degrees in Registered Nursing—the rest split between Radiologic Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Surgical Technology. Key features:
Don’t expect frat parties or study-abroad semesters—this is a commuter school where students juggle clinicals and coursework. That said:
The proof is in the scrubs: 54% of recent graduates (43 out of 79) were hired directly into the Tower Health system. For context:
The school doesn’t trumpet graduation rates, suggesting some attrition in rigorous clinical programs.
At ~$12,225 for tuition (same in/out-of-state), this is one of Pennsylvania’s more affordable health programs. Financial details:
Pro tip: Check the hospital’s tuition scholarships for Nursing and Medical Imaging students.
This school is a stealth bargain for pragmatic students who want:
1. Hospital-embedded training—no ‘campus’ distractions, just ORs and ICUs 2. Direct hiring pipelines—over half of grads get jobs in the Tower Health system 3. Nursing dominance—84% of degrees are RNs, creating a tight-knit cohort 4. No-frills affordability—$12K tuition beats most private health programs
Downsides? Limited social life and no four-year degrees. But for focused future clinicians, it’s hard to beat the ROI.