Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg is one of 24 campuses operated by Penn State. It is a public institution in Middletown, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1966 and originally only served juniors and seniors. In 2004, the Harrisburg location began accepting freshman and sophomores. Harrisburg is conveniently located about two hours from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. There are currently 33 full baccalaureate programs offered at the Harrisburg campus. However, the college also offers courses for completing the freshman and sophomore years for over 160 different majors offered through the Penn State University system.

Three BSN programs are offered at the Harrisburg campus. However, they do not offer graduate degrees in nursing. The CCNE-accredited baccalaureate programs include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN. For the traditional BSN program, students must complete 120 credits. The RN to BSN and accelerated BSN programs can be completed more quickly, and all three options include clinical rotations. With the accelerated program, students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field may earn their BSN in 16 months. The clinical rotations are completed at nationally recognized facilities and healthcare groups in the region, including the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, the Pinnacle Health System, and the Holy Spirit Health System.

Updated on: 07 Nov, 2025

Program Length & Format

16-month accelerated program delivered in a full-time, cohort-based format
Four consecutive semesters beginning each fall (late August)
Graduation in December of the second fall semester
Students must remain at the campus to which they are accepted; campus changes not permitted

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required
Admission factors: completion of baccalaureate degree, cumulative undergraduate GPA, completion of all prerequisite coursework, availability of space
Applicants previously dismissed from a nursing program should consult the designated campus contact
Criminal background check required; felony conviction within the past 10 years disqualifies eligibility to sit for NCLEX-RN

Entrance Exams

No entrance exam requirement specified

Prerequisites

All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher by the end of the upcoming spring semester
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 HDFS 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 accredited institutions; contact campus for transfer equivalency

Deadlines

Application cycle for the Second Degree Program: August 1–November 30 (annual)
Information session dates for fall 2026 cycle: 2025-10-15, 2025-11-20

Application

Submit Second Degree Program application during the open application cycle
Previous Penn State students: submit re-enrollment form to campus Registrar between August 1 and December 1, submit Second Degree application, and send official transcripts for non-Penn State coursework
Transfer/advanced-standing applicants: complete Undergraduate Admissions application, pay processing fee, submit Second Degree application, and submit official transcripts, AP/CLEP scores, and study abroad transcripts by deadline
All applicants: official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended required for application completion
If taking spring courses, provide spring schedule or unofficial transcript showing scheduled coursework to nursing contact by third week of December

Selection Process

Admission offers: full (immediate) or conditional (contingent); conditional offers become full offers in May after successful prerequisite completion and maintenance of GPA and timely bachelor’s degree completion
GPA-based review timeline:
- Cumulative GPA 3.25 or higher: reviewed on a rolling basis; eligible for immediate or contingent offer
- Cumulative GPA 2.750–3.249: applications reviewed in January; decisions released in February
- Cumulative GPA below 2.750: generally not eligible; applicants encouraged to consult campus contact
Admission offers may not be deferred; admitted students who cannot begin with their cohort must reapply for a future year

Clinical & Simulation Lab

Clinical placements occur within a 50-mile radius of campus; students are responsible for transportation and related costs
Clinical requirements before participation: state and federal background checks, required vaccinations including COVID-19 and influenza, annual health examination, drug screening, child abuse clearances, American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification, professional liability insurance, official Penn State Nursing scrubs/uniform
Regional clinical site examples: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Pinnacle Health System, Holy Spirit Health System, Masonic Village

Professional Licensure and Accreditation

Graduates eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon program completion
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791

International Students

International applicants must submit official and translated transcripts, language proficiency scores, secondary school records, and financial verification records as required by Undergraduate Admissions
International transcripts reviewed only by Undergraduate Admissions staff at University Park; review may take additional time and may require applying by early September for timely consideration