Pennsylvania State University
Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Nursing, B.S.N. – Second Degree Option, NURS SCND) · University Park, PA · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
ActiveIn personlast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses Penn State Altoona says you need before you start, as published on its own pages. Credits, labs, and minimum grades are shown where the school states them.
- 01Anatomy & Physiology IAnatomy and Physiology I with lab · BIOL 161/162Course code and C minimum are from the bulletin.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (4 credits)”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 02Anatomy & Physiology IIAnatomy and Physiology II with lab · BIOL 163/164Course code and C minimum are from the bulletin.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (4 credits)”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 03Lifespan / Human Growth & DevelopmentLifespan Development or Developmental Psychology · HDFS 129Penn State equivalent is HDFS 129 (bulletin).
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology (3 credits)”
credits3min gradeC - 04General ChemistryChemistry with lab · CHEM 130 or CHEM 110 & 1113–4 credits. Penn State equivalent is CHEM 130, or CHEM 110 with CHEM 111 (bulletin).
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Chemistry with lab (3-4 credits)”
labrequiredmin gradeC - 05NutritionNutrition · NUTR 251
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Nutrition (3 credits)”
credits3min gradeC - 06StatisticsStatistics or Biostatistics · STAT 200 or STAT 2503–4 credits.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Statistics or Biostatistics (3–4 credits)”
min gradeC - 07MicrobiologyMicrobiology with lab · MICRB 106/1073–4 credits.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Microbiology with lab (3–4 credits)”
labrequiredmin gradeC
Minimum prerequisite grade
C or better
This comes from the bulletin. The Altoona program page does not state a minimum grade.
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Course age limit Not published. Confirm with the school.
Prerequisite attempt limit Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“Two attempts per prerequisite requirement” vs “Two attempts of any prerequisite course”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
GPA and grades
Minimum cumulative GPA for admission Not published. Confirm with the school.
Science GPA Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Is there an entrance exam?
Entrance exam Not published. Confirm with the school.
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Where can courses be taken?
Where prerequisites may be taken
Any Penn State campus or any other accredited college or university
Community colleges are not addressed specifically.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Prerequisite courses may be completed at any Penn State campus or any other accredited college or university.”
Online labs Not published. Confirm with the school.
Pass/fail Not published. Confirm with the school.
AP/CLEP credit Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Application deadlines and start dates
Upcoming cycles Penn State Altoona publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
August cohort (annual)Rolling admissionApplication opens August 1 and closes December 1; program starts the following August. No years are printed, so no dates are filled. Prerequisites must be done by the end of the spring semester before the August start (no year printed). Offers are rolling and may also follow a January–February review.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“The application cycle begins on August 1 for classes that begin the following August. Complete application materials must be received by December 1. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Offers may be extended on a rolling basis throughout the application cycle and may also be extended following a review process in January and February.”
Application system
No NursingCAS; Nese College of Nursing departmental application plus the Penn State application or re-enrollment form
source · altoona.psu.edu
“All applicants must complete the Departmental Application required for the Nese College of Nursing (use the link above between August 1 and December 1) in addition to either the required Standard Admission Application (for transfer students) or a Re-Enrollment Form .”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Cost
Tuition and fees as the school publishes them. Living costs vary; the source link has the full table.
Application fee
A processing fee applies (amount not stated)
Stated for transfer (never attended Penn State) applicants.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Complete the Undergraduate Admission online application and pay the processing fee.”
Tuition Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Prior bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree in another discipline required
The bulletin also states: "The SCND degree option admits students who have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline to the Nursing major through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process."
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“Requirements for the Major must be completed prior to admission for students taking the Second Degree Option.”
International transcripts
Reviewed at University Park; applying in early August is encouraged
The page adds that some applicants may need to apply for a future cohort.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“International transcripts may be reviewed only by Undergraduate Admission staff at University Park. This process takes a significant amount of time, and applying in early August is encouraged.”
- Send official transcripts (including study abroad) and any AP/CLEP scores to Undergraduate Admission by December 1.
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Submit all materials (including official college and study abroad transcripts and AP or CLEP scores) directly to Undergraduate Admission . Items must be received by December 1.”
- Clinical compliance: liability insurance, annual health exam, state and federal background checks, child abuse clearance, drug screen, and CPR certification.
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“Students must carry professional liability insurance; complete an annual health examination, criminal background (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearance and drug screening; maintain CPR certification; and adhere to any additional requirements of the clinical facilities.”
- Students pay for their own clinical transportation and expenses and may need a car.
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student.”
Interview Not published. Confirm with the school.
Essays Not published. Confirm with the school.
Recommendations Not published. Confirm with the school.
CNA Not published. Confirm with the school.
Healthcare experience Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Good to know
What the school says about the program that is not a requirement: how it selects, how many it admits, what to expect.
Format
On campus at the campus of admission
Clinicals take place at facilities within about 50 miles of the campus.
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.”
Start term
August (Fall)
source · altoona.psu.edu
“All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring semester immediately preceding the start of the program, which is in August.”
One location per applicant
You may apply to only one of the three locations
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Candidates may apply to only one Second Degree Program location (Altoona, Erie, or Harrisburg).”
One location only
Applicants may apply to only one of the three locations
source · altoona.psu.edu
“Candidates may apply to only one Second Degree Program location (Altoona, Erie, or Harrisburg).”
Admission review
Competitive Entrance to Major Review
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“The SCND degree option admits students who have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline to the Nursing major through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process.”
Outside employment Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“Recommended not to work during the program” vs “Recommended to forgo outside employment”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for Penn State Altoona, with when we last checked it. Tier 1 is the program's own pages; tier 2 the nursing school's general pages; tier 3 university-wide pages.
- Second Degree Nursing Program - Nursing | Penn State Altoonatier 1 · program page · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Visit Us - Admissions | Penn State Altoonatier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Applying for Admission | Penn State Altoonatier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Financial Aid 101 - Tuition and Financial Aid | Penn State Altoonatier 1 · tuition · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Student Handbooks – Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursingtier 3 · catalog · checked Oct 14, 2026
- AD91 Non-Discrimination Policy | Penn State Policiestier 3 · policy · checked Oct 14, 2026
- https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/nursing/nursing-bsn/nursing-bsn.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 14, 2026PDF text truncated (11 pages)
- https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/nursing/nursing-bsn/nursing-bsn_suggestedacademicplantext.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 14, 2026
- https://www.nursing.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/General-Bachelor-of-Science-Nursing-Student-Handbook-07.01.24.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 14, 2026PDF text truncated (188 pages)
Open questions we're still checking
- The bulletin's Common Requirements for the Major include PSYCH 100 and SOC 1/5 and must be completed before admission for the Second Degree Option. The Altoona program page does not list them. Are they required prerequisites?
- No minimum cumulative or prerequisite GPA is published.
- Application dates (August 1 – December 1) are printed without years.
- The application fee amount and second-degree tuition are not stated.
- Is a C- accepted? Does the two-attempt prerequisite limit apply at admission review?
- No minimum cumulative or prerequisite GPA is published; Undergraduate Admission calculates a cumulative GPA but the threshold is not stated.
- The Bulletin's Requirements for the Major include PSYCH 100 and SOC 1/5, which are not on the Altoona prerequisite list; it is unclear whether Second Degree applicants need them.
- Application dates (August 1–December 1) are printed without years.
- Whether NursingCAS is used is not stated; the pages describe a Nese College of Nursing Departmental Application plus Penn State admission forms.
- The application processing fee amount and tuition are not published on these pages.
- Whether C- grades are accepted and whether the two-attempt limit is applied at admission are not explicit.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on attempt_limits: Two attempts per prerequisite requirement | Two attempts of any prerequisite course.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on other: Recommended not to work during the program | Recommended to forgo outside employment.
Something wrong here? Report an error
ABSNcheck summarizes requirements that schools publish on their own websites, with a link to each source and the date we last verified it. Schools change requirements, sometimes contradict themselves, and make individual decisions. Results show whether you meet published minimums; they are not an admission decision or a guarantee, and are not official advice from any school. Always confirm requirements with each program before you apply or enroll in a course.
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