Accelerate Your Path to a Career in Nursing
A second-degree nursing program that builds on your academic foundation and prepares you for licensure.
This intensive, 16-month program is designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and are ready to transition into nursing. Delivered in a full-time, cohort-based format, the program prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN and begin their careers as registered nurses. Students take 14–17 credits per semester for a total of 60 credits.
“I realized I wanted to be a nurse during my senior year of undergrad. This program helped me get there—fast.”
Chitra Patel, Second Degree Nursing Graduate
What to Know Before You Apply
The Second Degree Option is a full-time, academically rigorous program. Students are strongly encouraged to avoid outside employment to fully commit to the 16-month curriculum.
Admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on supporting student success. Applicants previously dismissed from a nursing program at Penn State or another institution should consult with the designated campus contact.
All nursing students must complete state and federal background checks. A criminal record may limit clinical placement options, delay academic progress, or affect eligibility for the NCLEX-RN. Individuals with a felony conviction within the past ten years are not permitted to sit for the licensing exam.
To participate in clinical experiences, students must be up to date on required vaccinations, including COVID-19 and influenza. Clinical placements occur within a 50-mile radius of campus, and students are responsible for transportation and related costs.
Additional requirements include:
- Official Penn State Nursing scrubs and uniform attire
- Professional liability insurance
- Annual health examination
- Criminal background and child abuse clearances
- Drug screening
- American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification
- Compliance with any additional clinical site requirements
Information Sessions
The application cycle for fall 2026 is expected to open on August 1, 2025. Learn more at a virtual Information Session!
- Thursday, 7/10/25, 8-9:15 a.m.
- Monday, 8/18/25, 12-1:15 p.m.
- Tuesday, 9/16/25, 6-7:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, 10/15/25, 8-9:15 a.m.
- Thursday, 11/20/25, 12-1:15 p.m.
To join an information session, reach out to the contacts listed below!
Locations
The Second Degree program is offered at the following campuses:
Penn State Altoona
Contact: Ryan Costanzo
Penn State Harrisburg
Contact: Ronda Stump
Penn State Behrend
Contact: Ronda Stump, Jenn Zeanchock, Joyce Bevan, Kim Streiff
All campuses share the same four-semester curriculum. Students must remain at the campus to which they are accepted. Changes of campus are not permitted.
Admissions
Admission to the Second Degree Program is competitive and based on several key factors:
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Completion of all prerequisite coursework
- Availability of space in the program
Application review begins once all materials — including transcripts — have been received. Please note that admission offers may not be deferred. Students unable to begin the program with their admitted cohort may reapply for the following year.
GPA-Based Application Review
- GPA 3.25 or Higher
- Eligible for either an immediate (all requirements met) or contingent (some requirements in progress) offer
- Reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the application cycle
- GPA 2.750 to 3.249
- Applications are reviewed in January
- Admission decisions released in February
- GPA Below 2.750
- Not generally eligible for admission to the program. However, students are encouraged to discuss individual circumstances and explore potential next steps with the contact(s) at their campus of interest.
Prerequisite Requirements
Applicants must have successfully (with a grade of “C” or higher) completed the following college-level prerequisite courses by the end of the upcoming spring semester. Prerequisite coursework may be the Penn State course equivalents listed below, or course equivalents at another accredited institution.
College-level courses in Psychology, Sociology, and Algebra, although not required for an offer to the major, will support a student’s success in the program.
- Anatomy & Physiology I (PSU BIOL 161 & 162 OR BIOL 129, 4 credits)
- Anatomy & Physiology II (PSU BIOL 163 & 164 OR BIOL 141 & 142, 4 credits)
- Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology (PSU HD FS 129 OR PSYCH 212, 3 credits)
- Introductory Chemistry with lab (PSU CHEM 101 OR CHEM 110 & 111 OR CHEM 130, 3-4 credits)
- Introductory Nutrition (PSU NUTR 251, 3 credits)
- Elementary Statistics or Introduction to Biostatistics (PSU STAT 200 OR 250, 3–4 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (PSU MICRB 106 & 107, 3–4 credits)
Prerequisite courses may be taken at any Penn State campus or other colleges and universities. If you are unsure whether a course from another college will transfer, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office or the contact(s) at your campus of interest.
Application and Offer Timeline
All application materials must be received by December 1. As space permits, eligible candidates will be reviewed throughout spring and summer prior to the fall program start. Our applicant pool is large, and incomplete applications or late submissions will not be considered. Applications are not considered complete until Penn State has received transcripts from all Higher Education institutions attended. Students who do not provide the required information by the deadline may reapply for a future cohort.
Successful applicants will receive either a full or conditional offer. Conditional offers automatically become full offers in May after successful prerequisite completion, provided students maintain a competitive GPA and graduate from their bachelor’s degree program on time.
| Rolling Admission | Standard Review | |
|---|---|---|
| Application Window | August 1–December 1 | August 1–December 1 |
| Cumulative GPA | 3.25 and higher | 3.24 and below |
| Notified of Admission Decision | Rolling notifications August 1 through December 1 | Mid-February or earlier |
| Course Status | Full/Immediate Offer: All prerequisite courses complete at time of application. Conditional/Contingent Offer: All prerequisite courses scheduled for fall or completed before end of spring semester of upcoming year. | Full/Immediate Offer: All prerequisite courses complete by end of fall semester. Conditional/Contingent Offer: All prerequisite courses completed by end of spring semester of upcoming year. |
| Additional Criteria | Full/Immediate Offer: Complete your fall courses with a “C” or higher and maintain your competitive GPA Conditional/Contingent Offer: Complete your fall and spring courses with a “C” or higher and maintain your competitive GPA | Full/Immediate Offer: Complete your fall courses with a “C” or higher and maintain your competitive GPA Conditional/Contingent Offer: Complete your fall and spring courses with a “C” or higher and maintain your competitive GPA |
How to Apply
The steps to apply to the Second Degree program depend upon a prospective student’s educational background. See the headings below to determine which steps you should follow.
Previous Penn State Students and Fall Penn State Graduates
If you previously attended Penn State as an undergraduate student, you must:
1. Submit an Undergraduate Re-enrollment Form to the Registrar’s office at the campus to which are you applying. Re-enrollment forms will be accepted from August 1 through December 1.
2. Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application between August 1 and December 1 (see: Application and Offer Timeline).
3. Send official transcripts for any non-Penn State course work that was not previously submitted to Undergraduate Admissions.
4. If you are taking classes in the upcoming spring semester, email a copy of your spring schedule (or an unofficial transcript showing scheduled coursework) to the Nursing contact at your preferred location no later than the third week of December.
5. If you are an international student (not a permanent resident or US citizen residing in the United States with international transcripts), there are additional requirements, including, but not limited to, all official transcripts, translated transcripts, language proficiency scores, secondary school records, and financial verification records. We have an International Admissions Team that will work on your review.
Penn State Spring Graduates
If you are a Penn State student who will graduate in the spring term before you wish to start the Second Degree program, you must:
- Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application after submitting your intent to graduate in January (see: Application and Offer Timeline).
- Send official transcripts for any non-Penn State course work that was not previously submitted to Undergraduate Admissions.
- If you are taking classes in the upcoming spring semester, email a copy of your spring schedule (or an unofficial transcript showing scheduled coursework) to the Nursing contact at your preferred location no later than the third week of December.
- File your Intent to Graduate on LionPATH as soon as you may do so.
- After filing your Intent to Graduate in January, submit the Undergraduate Re-enrollment Form to the Registrar’s office at the campus to which are you applying.
Never Attended Penn State (Transfer or Advanced Standing Applicants)
An advanced standing applicant or transfer applicant is one who never attended Penn State as an undergraduate degree-seeking student. Between August 1 and December 1, transfer (advanced standing) applicants must:
- Complete the Undergraduate Admissions online application and pay the processing fee.
- Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application.
- Submit all materials (including official college and study abroad transcripts and AP or CLEP scores) directly to Undergraduate Admissions. Items must be received by December 1. Offer timelines may extend beyond mid-February, as Admissions must review your transcripts before they are shared with the Nese College of Nursing.
- If you are taking classes in the upcoming spring semester, email a copy of your spring schedule (or an unofficial transcript showing scheduled coursework) to the Nursing contact at your preferred location no later than the third week of December.
Undergraduate Admissions will calculate your cumulative GPA based on all undergraduate course work from all postsecondary institutions.
International Applicants
International transcripts may be reviewed only by Undergraduate Admissions staff at University Park. This process takes a significant amount of time; applying by early September is encouraged. In some cases, applicants may need to apply for a future cohort. To have your international transcript reviewed, you must:
- File an application and submit an official transcript to Undergraduate Admissions, who will review your transcripts and add transfer credits.
- Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application between August 1 and December 1. Offer timelines may extend beyond mid-February, as your transcripts may take longer for Admissions to review once received.
- Notify the Nursing program office at your preferred location that your transcripts are ready to be reviewed for the required Second Degree Program prerequisites. The Admissions Office will provide the Nursing contact with your cumulative GPA for review.
- If you are taking classes in the upcoming spring semester, email a copy of your spring schedule (or an unofficial transcript showing scheduled coursework) to the Nursing contact at your preferred location no later than the third week of December.
