Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (PSU or Penn State) is a public institution. The campus is part of the Penn State school system, which includes ten campuses throughout the state. The Altoona campus offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The Altoona campus was established in 1939. Immediately after opening the campus, the university struggled to keep up with the increased demand. They soon purchased more land and expanded the campus to accommodate the growing student population. Students are also active in the community and on campus, with over 75 student groups and organizations.

The Altoona campus of Penn State offers an associate’s degree in nursing, along with a traditional BSN program and an accelerated BSN program. The BSN programs are accredited by the CCNE. With the traditional BSN program, students receive training at a state-of-the-art simulation learning center and through clinical experiences. This is a full-time program that is designed to be completed in the standard four years. The accelerated program is a 16-month program for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field. It includes several prerequisite courses that can be completed at Penn State or any accredited institution. The RN to BSN program is intended for registered nurses that have a diploma or associate’s degree in nursing.

Not reviewed yet

Updated on: 07 Nov, 2025

Program Length & Format

16-month
Program start: August (classes begin the following August after the application cycle)
Offered at three Penn State locations: Altoona, Erie (Behrend), Harrisburg

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing required
Completion of listed prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester immediately preceding the August start
Departmental Second Degree Nursing application to Nese College of Nursing required between August 1 and December 1
Candidates may apply to only one Second Degree Program location

Prerequisites

Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (4 credits) and Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
Chemistry with lab (3–4 credits) and Microbiology with lab (3–4 credits)
Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology (3 credits), Nutrition (3 credits), Statistics or Biostatistics (3–4 credits)

Deadlines

Application window: August 1 through December 1 for cohort starting the following August
Complete application materials must be received by December 1
Applicants with cumulative GPA ≥ 3.25 may receive immediate or contingent offers on a rolling basis during the application cycle; applicants with GPA 2.75–3.24 reviewed in January and February

Application

Submit the Second-Degree Nursing Program Application and the Departmental Application for Nese College of Nursing between August 1 and December 1
Prior Penn State undergraduates: submit re-enrollment form to the campus Registrar between August 1 and December 1; send transcripts for any non–Penn State coursework
Spring Penn State graduates: file Intent to Graduate on LionPATH; submit re-enrollment form to campus Registrar; send transcripts for any non–Penn State coursework
Transfer/advanced standing applicants who never attended Penn State as undergraduates: complete Undergraduate Admission, pay processing fee, and submit official college and study abroad transcripts plus AP/CLEP scores by December 1

Selection Process

Applicants with cumulative GPA ≥ 3.25 may receive immediate or contingent offers on a rolling basis during the application cycle
Applicants with cumulative GPA between 2.75 and 3.24 are reviewed in January and February
All applicants are notified of application status by email

Credit Transfer

Prerequisite courses may be completed at any Penn State campus or any other regionally accredited college or university
Undergraduate Admission calculates cumulative GPA based on all undergraduate coursework for transfer applicants
Contact the program adviser for questions about how coursework from another institution may fulfill prerequisites

International Students

International transcripts may be reviewed only by Undergraduate Admission staff at University Park
International transcript review can take significant time; applicants may need to apply in early August or for a future cohort
To initiate review, file an application and submit official international transcripts to Undergraduate Admission and notify the nursing adviser at the preferred location when transcripts are ready for review

Contacts

Academic Adviser, Nursing: Ryan Costanzo; Sheetz Family Health Center, room 103D
Director, Undergraduate Nursing Education: Sheetz Family Health Center, room 106
Teaching Professor, Nursing and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: contact via Penn State Altoona Sheetz Family Health Center