Community College of Philadelphia Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & What to Expect (2026)
Philadelphia’s public community college offers one pre-licensure nursing degree—the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing—with Traditional, Post-Baccalaureate Accelerated, and LPN/military Advanced Placement tracks. Figures below come from CCP and Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing sources; confirm every deadline and cost before you apply.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
CCP’s nursing program is an NLN Center of Excellence (Enhancing the Professional Development of Students) and combines city-supported tuition with clinical training across Philadelphia hospitals and community agencies—useful if you want an associate-level path to the NCLEX-RN without leaving the city.
Overview & Why Students Choose Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia sits in the city’s academic and health corridor on Spring Garden Street, serving residents of Philadelphia and the wider region with low per-credit tuition for Philadelphians. The Department of Nursing delivers a single, ACEN-accredited Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing that prepares graduates to take the NCLEX-RN; the college also highlights NLN Center of Excellence recognition for student professional development.
Rather than separate BSN or MSN degrees on campus, CCP focuses on stackable pathways: a traditional two-year sequence, a condensed option for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, and advanced placement for experienced LPNs and qualifying military medics—each with its own prerequisite list and application cycle.
CCP publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of 80.15% (2022), 86.58% (2023), 90% (2024), and 92.13% (2025) on its Nursing Intake Process page, with additional history on its Nursing program page. Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs publishes program-level RN spreadsheets—for example the 2024–2025 RN NCLEX 5-Year Spreadsheet (PDF)—where you can cross-check Community College of Philadelphia. Confirm the latest cohort with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the college.
Reasons students choose Community College of Philadelphia
Affordable city tuition
Philadelphia residents pay $159 per credit in tuition (plus technology and general college fees) per the college’s published tuition table—far below most four-year options—making the ADN path accessible if you qualify for residency.
Recognized nursing quality
ACEN accreditation and Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approval signal that the curriculum meets national and state standards; CCP also promotes repeated NLN Center of Excellence designations.
Multiple entry tracks
Traditional, post-baccalaureate accelerated, and LPN/military advanced placement options let you match the timeline to your prior education—provided you meet competitive prerequisites and the Kaplan scoring expectations.
Urban clinical variety
Students practice in acute, long-term, and community settings throughout Philadelphia, including medical–surgical rotations and community experiences concentrated in the 19130 zip code per CCP’s intake materials.
Nursing Programs Offered
CCP confers one nursing credential: a 64-credit Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing that satisfies Pennsylvania’s educational requirement to sit for the NCLEX-RN after licensure review. The catalog describes three pathways into that same degree outcome.
Pre-licensure (associate)
Traditional A.A.S. Nursing
For first-time college students or transfer students who complete prerequisites (including Chemistry 110 or high school chemistry, Biology 109, English 101, MATH 150 or 251, and a general elective, commonly Allied Health 101). Classes typically begin in Summer II with a July program start per the Nursing Intake Process page.
Post-Baccalaureate Accelerated A.A.S.
Designed for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s (or higher) in a non-nursing field. Additional science prerequisites include Biology 110 and 241 plus Nutrition 111; nursing courses run across roughly 14 months with a Spring cohort start.
Advanced Placement (LPN / military medic)
LPNs and qualifying military medics complete a noncredit transition experience and join the sequence at Nursing 132. Applications are competitive and space-dependent; documentation of prior learning and PA LPN license (where applicable) is required.
CCP does not list stand-alone BSN, MSN, or DNP degrees in its nursing department materials. Graduates who want a BSN typically transfer to partner universities—see CCP’s transfer pages after you confirm articulation agreements.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to Pennsylvania’s 2024–2025 RN NCLEX five-year spreadsheet, the Community College of Philadelphia ADN row lists 89.76% first-time (114 of 127 testers) for Oct 1, 2024–Sep 30, 2025 (leftmost column). Community College of Philadelphia’s nursing disclosures separately report calendar-year first-time rates—80.15% (2022), 86.58% (2023), 90% (2024), and 92.13% (2025)—which may use different boundaries than the Board workbook.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (PA DOS, Oct 2024–Sep 2025) | 89.76% (114 / 127, CCP ADN row) |
| NCLEX-RN first-time (most recent year on CCP intake page) | 92.13% (2025, school-reported) |
| Prior years (school-reported) | 90% (2024); 86.58% (2023); 80.15% (2022) |
| Source | Board: 2024–2025 RN NCLEX spreadsheet (PDF). School: CCP Nursing Intake Process; CCP Nursing program. Confirm cohort definitions with both. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the school.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with Community College of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Community College of Philadelphia’s international office and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Nursing at CCP is a selective Allied Health program: meeting the minimum GPA and prerequisite list does not guarantee admission. Applicants are ranked with a point system that combines GPA patterns, withdrawal/grade history, and scores on the Kaplan Pre-Admission Test (composite ≥70 required; higher scores earn more points). Only one Allied Health application is allowed at a time.
Application timeline
| Track | Deadline / testing | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Priority: application Oct 31 · Kaplan by Nov 23 · decision by Dec 22. Final: application May 31 · Kaplan by Jun 20 · decision by Jun 30. | July (Summer II entry) |
| Post-Baccalaureate Accelerated | Priority: application Aug 31 · test by Sep 15 · decision by Oct 13. Final: application Nov 30 · Kaplan by Dec 15. | Spring cohort |
| Advanced Placement | Application May 31 · decision by Jun 30 (per intake page). | Fall transition course, then spring Nursing 132 |
CCP requires prerequisites posted to your transcript by the listed deadlines and assigns Kaplan testing after you submit a complete application. Because details can shift, treat the Nursing Intake Process page as the live schedule.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum college GPA | 2.75 (higher GPAs are advantaged in the point system); no D/F grades and no withdrawals within the past two academic years without remediation per CCP policy |
| Entrance exam | Kaplan Pre-Admission Test (not TEAS); composite score ≥70 required; science may be used as a tie-breaker |
| Age requirement | Must be 18 on or before the first day of the semester nursing courses begin |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
CCP posts residency-based tuition online. Philadelphia residents receive the lowest instructional rate; other Pennsylvanians and out-of-state students pay higher per-credit tuition plus capital fees.
| Metric | Value (published tuition page) |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | Philadelphia residents $159; other Pennsylvanians $318; non-Pennsylvanians $477 |
| Mandatory fees (examples) | Technology fee $30 per credit; general college fee $4 per credit. Nonresident capital fee $10/credit (PA outside Philadelphia) or $20/credit (non-PA) |
| Allied health nursing estimate | For a Philadelphia resident, base tuition+technology+general fees equal $193 per credit before course-specific clinical/lab fees ($85–$345 per course when applicable) and optional online/hybrid course fees ($35 per online/hybrid section) |
| Program length | 64 credits total for the A.A.S. (full program cost depends on remaining gen-ed credits at entry) |
| Source | Community College of Philadelphia Tuition & Fees. Confirm current rates, fees, and payment deadlines before registering. |
CCP’s intake documents list additional nursing-specific expenses (uniforms, background checks through CastleBranch, textbooks, liability insurance, etc.) that sit outside standard tuition; budget using the “Additional Program Costs” table on the intake page.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
CCP’s Nursing Intake Process publishes outcome metrics alongside NCLEX data. Treat job-placement percentages as survey-based rather than a census of all graduates.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (most recent) | 92.13% in 2025 per CCP Nursing Intake Process disclosures; prior years also listed on the same page |
| On-time program completion | 63.58% in 2025 (intake page); earlier cohorts 34.8–76% depending on year |
| Job placement (survey respondents) | CCP reports 98% of 2025 respondents placed; earlier years reported 100% of respondents—confirm methodology and response rates with the college |
| Source | CCP Nursing Intake Process. Confirm current outcomes with the college and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. |
Is Community College of Philadelphia the Right Fit for You?
CCP works well if you need an accredited associate pathway in Philadelphia and can commit to rigorous science prerequisites plus high-volume clinical hours. It is not the right choice if you expect an immediate BSN completion or guaranteed admission after meeting minimums.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want an NLN-recognized ADN program with comparatively low per-credit tuition for city residents.
- Can attend daytime clinical blocks (often 6:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) and occasional evenings or weekends when sites require it.
- Already meet—or can quickly complete—biology, chemistry, math, and English prerequisites without repeated withdrawals.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully online pre-licensure nursing program (CCP emphasizes on-campus classes with in-person labs and clinicals).
- Expect automatic admission after reaching a 2.75 GPA (the class is competitive and points-based).
- Want MSN or DNP coursework immediately after graduation without transferring elsewhere.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Philadelphia anchors one of the densest hospital markets in the United States, so CCP nursing students rotate through a mix of tertiary centers, community hospitals, long-term care sites, and neighborhood clinics. Specific affiliate agreements change; confirm the current list with the Department of Nursing.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Acute-care hospitals | Medical–surgical experiences introduce high-acuity skills and interprofessional teamwork typical of Philadelphia’s largest health systems. |
| Long-term & subacute care | Second-year rotations emphasize restorative care, medication management, and transitions of health. |
| Community agencies | CCP notes community clinical experiences focused in the 19130 zip code, aligning coursework with population-health priorities. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing courses convene on the main campus with skills laboratories that pair classroom theory with supervised practice. Expect a demanding schedule: CCP warns that Nursing 101 alone can exceed 36 in-class/clinical hours weekly before study time. Student services—advising, financial aid, and the MyCCP portal—support registration, but nursing progression requires continuous grades of C or better in each required course.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Philadelphia, PA
- Address
- 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, US
- Nursing / Allied Health telephone
- +1 (215) 751-8010 (general nursing information line listed on program pages; admissions questions may also go to selectprogram@ccp.edu)
- Contact email
- selectprogram@ccp.edu
- Website
- ccp.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read the Nursing Intake Process in full and note the deadlines for the Traditional, Post-Baccalaureate, or Advanced Placement track you want.
- Log into MyCCP and verify that prerequisites will post before the deadline; order official transcripts if any coursework is external.
- Schedule or prepare for the Kaplan Pre-Admission Test (composite ≥70). Use materials CCP recommends rather than assuming TEAS content.
- Attend a remote nursing information session (registration links appear on the intake page) to confirm clinical expectations.
- Budget tuition, fees, CastleBranch clinical compliance costs, uniforms, texts, and transportation using CCP’s posted tables.
- Bookmark the PA RN NCLEX spreadsheet (2024–2025 PDF) to monitor Board-published outcomes.
- Email selectprogram@ccp.edu with timeline-specific questions after reviewing published materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Community College of Philadelphia a strong choice for nursing school?
The program is ACEN-accredited, approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, and repeatedly highlighted as an NLN Center of Excellence for student development. CCP publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates (for example 92.13% in 2025 on its intake page). Confirm the latest outcomes with the college and the Board.
Does Community College of Philadelphia offer a BSN degree?
No—CCP’s publicly listed nursing degree is the 64-credit Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing. Students who want a BSN generally transfer after graduation using agreements CCP maintains with partner universities.
What GPA do you need for the Community College of Philadelphia nursing program?
CCP states a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for consideration, but admission is competitive and uses a point system that rewards higher GPAs, cleaner transcript patterns, and stronger Kaplan scores.
Does Community College of Philadelphia require TEAS or HESI?
Neither—CCP requires the Kaplan Pre-Admission Test with a minimum composite score of 70. Science can factor into close decisions, so treat every section seriously.
How competitive is admission to Community College of Philadelphia nursing?
The program is limited-enrollment; meeting minimum GPA and Kaplan criteria does not guarantee a seat. Applicants are ranked by points and admitted until capacity is reached, with slightly different criteria for Traditional, Post-Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement candidates.
What is the NCLEX pass rate for Community College of Philadelphia?
According to CCP’s Nursing Intake Process disclosures, the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 92.13% for 2025, with 90% (2024), 86.58% (2023), and 80.15% (2022) in earlier years (calendar-year school reporting). Pennsylvania’s 2024–2025 RN NCLEX spreadsheet lists the CCP ADN row at 89.76% first-time (114/127) for Oct 1, 2024–Sep 30, 2025—definitions can differ. Confirm current cohorts with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the college.
How much is tuition for Community College of Philadelphia nursing?
Tuition depends on residency: Philadelphia residents pay $159 per credit in instructional tuition, while other Pennsylvanians pay $318 and non-residents pay $477, plus technology ($30/credit), general college ($4/credit), and applicable capital fees. Nursing courses may add clinical/lab course fees. See the official Tuition & Fees page for the active academic year.
Can LPNs bridge to RN at Community College of Philadelphia?
Yes—licensed practical nurses (and qualifying military medics) can apply to the Advanced Placement option after completing transition requirements, documentation of prior learning, and the same competitive review process as other applicants.
When are Community College of Philadelphia nursing application deadlines?
Deadlines differ by track (Traditional, Post-Baccalaureate Accelerated, Advanced Placement) and include separate priority and final dates plus Kaplan testing windows. Use the Nursing Intake Process page as the authoritative schedule because dates can change.
References
- Community College of Philadelphia – Nursing degree overviewccp.edu/degree-programs/nursing
- Community College of Philadelphia – Nursing intake and deadlinesnursing-intake-process
- Community College of Philadelphia – Tuition and Feestuition-and-fees
- Community College of Philadelphia – Pass rates of recent graduatespass-rates page
- Pennsylvania State Board of Nursingdos.pa.gov Nursing Board
- Pennsylvania — 2024–2025 RN NCLEX 5-Year Spreadsheet (PDF)2024-2025-nclex-rn-5-year-spreadsheet.pdf
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursingacenursing.org
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment with CCP’s published nursing pages, tuition schedule, and Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing resources.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Published: 2026-03-31 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy