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Second Degree Program

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

Campus Locations

The Second Degree Program is offered at the following campuses:

Penn State Altoona
Contact: Ryan Costanzo, rdc5355@psu.edu

Penn State Harrisburg
Contact: Ronda Stump, rfg2@psu.edu

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Contact: Ellis Stump, aes5727@psu.edu

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.

What to Know Before You Apply

The Second Degree Program 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 2027 opens August 1, 2026. Join us at a virtual Information Session!

  • Monday, August 31, 2026, 12-1:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6-7:30 p.m.

To join an information session, reach out to the campus contact at the Second Degree Program location you are interested in.

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.

Admission to the Second Degree Program at all three locations is competitive. The cumulative GPA required for an offer is dependent on the campus location, space available, and varies in accordance with the applicant pool for each admission cycle.

Prerequisite Requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed (with a grade of “C” or higher – a grade of “C-” or lower will not be accepted) 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, other permitted Penn State course substitutions (talk to your campus contact), 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 at your campus of interest. 

Application and Offer Timeline

We encourage application materials to be received by December 1. As space permits, eligible candidates will be reviewed throughout spring and summer prior to the fall program start. Admission to the Second Degree Program is competitive. 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.

The majority of applicants are notified of their admission decision by February. Due to rolling admissions, some applicants may be notified in spring or early summer. Work with the campus contact at your preferred location.

How to Apply

The Second Degree Program application opens annually on August 1 to review students interested in starting the program the following fall semester. The application may close on December 1 or remain open at a location through spring and early summer as space permits. Individual campus locations may vary in space availability.

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 campus Registrar at the campus to which you are applying.
  2. Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application.
  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 campus contact at your preferred location.

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:

  1. Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application.
  2. Send official transcripts for any non-Penn State course work that was not previously submitted to Undergraduate Admissions.
  3. 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 campus contact at your preferred location.
  4. File your Intent to Graduate on LionPATH as soon as you may do so.
  5. After filing your Intent to Graduate in January, submit the Undergraduate Re-enrollment Form to the campus Registrar at the campus to which you are 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.

  1. Complete the Undergraduate Admissions online application and pay the processing fee.
  2. Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application.
  3. Submit all materials (including official college and study abroad transcripts and AP or CLEP scores) directly 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 campus contact at your preferred location.

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.

If you are an international student (not a permanent resident or US citizen residing in the United States with international transcripts) there may be additional requirements including official transcripts from all secondary school and higher education institutions, translated transcripts, language proficiency exam scores, and financial verification. Our international team will work with you on this process.

To have your international transcript reviewed, you must:

  1. Talk with an admission counselor at your location of choice to determine if the Second Degree Program is a good fit for you.
  2. Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application.
  3. Complete the Undergraduate Admissions online application and pay the processing fee.
  4. Submit official transcripts to Penn State Undergraduate Admissions at University Park (admissions@psu.edu) and provide unofficial copies of your transcripts to the campus contact at your Second Degree Program campus location of choice.
  5. 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 campus contact at your preferred location.