Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg
Nursing - Second Degree Program (B.S.N.) · Middletown, PA · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
ActiveIn personlast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses Penn State Harrisburg 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 & Physiology I · BIOL 161 & 162 OR BIOL 129The PSU equivalent BIOL 162 is a lab, but the page does not state 'with lab'.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Anatomy & Physiology I (PSU BIOL 161 & 162 OR BIOL 129, 4 credits)”
credits4min gradeC - 02Anatomy & Physiology IIAnatomy & Physiology II · BIOL 163 & 164 OR BIOL 141 & 142The PSU equivalent BIOL 164 is a lab.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Anatomy & Physiology II (PSU BIOL 163 & 164 OR BIOL 141 & 142, 4 credits)”
credits4min gradeC - 03Lifespan / Human Growth & DevelopmentLifespan Development or Developmental Psychology · HD FS 129 OR PSYCH 212
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology (PSU HD FS 129 OR PSYCH 212, 3 credits)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 04General ChemistryIntroductory Chemistry with lab · CHEM 101 OR CHEM 110 & 111 OR CHEM 130Printed as 3-4 credits.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Introductory Chemistry with lab (PSU CHEM 101 OR CHEM 110 & 111 OR CHEM 130, 3-4 credits)”
labrequiredmin gradeC - 05NutritionIntroductory Nutrition · NUTR 251
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Introductory Nutrition (PSU NUTR 251, 3 credits)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 06StatisticsElementary Statistics or Introduction to Biostatistics · STAT 200 OR 250Printed as 3–4 credits.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Elementary Statistics or Introduction to Biostatistics (PSU STAT 200 OR 250, 3–4 credits)”
labnomin gradeC - 07MicrobiologyMicrobiology with lab · MICRB 106 & 107Printed as 3–4 credits.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Microbiology with lab (PSU MICRB 106 & 107, 3–4 credits)”
labrequiredmin gradeC
Minimum prerequisite grade
C (C- not accepted)
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
Prerequisites in progress
Allowed if all prerequisites are completed by the end of the spring semester before the fall start
Applicants taking spring classes email their spring schedule to the campus contact.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Attempt limits
Two attempts per prerequisite requirement
Stated under Retention Requirements in the Bulletin. A clarification says 'Each prerequisite requirement permits two attempts' (for example, STAT 200 and STAT 250 count as the same requirement).
source · bulletins.psu.edu
“Two attempts of any prerequisite course”
Course age limit Not published. Confirm with the school.
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.
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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 another accredited institution
Community colleges are not addressed specifically.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
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 Harrisburg publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
Fall cohort (annual cycle) · HarrisburgDue November 30 each yearnext Nov 30, 2026 · opens August 1Harrisburg page gives a November 30 close. The College of Nursing page says it 'encourage[s] application materials to be received by December 1' and that the application 'may close on December 1 or remain open at a location through spring and early summer as space permits'. The program begins each fall in late August. The university-wide transfer deadlines (Fall July 31) are general and not specific to this program.
source · harrisburg.psu.edu
“The Nursing Second Degree application cycle is August 1-November 30 every year. Applicants may only submit during the open application cycle.”
Fall 2027 start · HarrisburgDue November 30 each yearnext Nov 30, 2026 · opens August 1The Harrisburg page lists the deadline as November 30 with no year (presumably 2026). The College of Nursing page encourages materials by December 1, and it notes that, 'Due to rolling admissions', some applicants are notified in spring or early summer. Prerequisites must be complete by the end of the spring semester before the fall start. The program start is described only as 'beginning each fall (late August)'.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“The application cycle for fall 2027 opens August 1, 2026. Join us at a virtual Information Session!”
NursingCAS Not published. Confirm with the school.
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.
Tuition (2026-27, annual, full-time)
$15,388 PA resident / $26,904 non-PA resident, plus a $630 student fee
These are general Harrisburg undergraduate rates, not specific to the nursing program. Per-credit upper-division rates also apply.
source · harrisburg.psu.edu
“Tuition | $15,388 | $26,904 |”
Application fee
Undergraduate Admissions processing fee (amount not stated)
Applies to applicants who never attended Penn State and to international applicants.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Complete the Undergraduate Admissions online application and pay the processing fee.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Prior degree
Bachelor's degree in another field
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Completion of a baccalaureate degree”
Recommended courses
Psychology, Sociology, Algebra
The Bulletin lists PSYCH 100 and SOC 1/5 among major requirements that must be completed before admission for the Second Degree Option.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
International applicants
Applying by early September is encouraged
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
Prior nursing dismissal
Consult campus contact
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Applicants previously dismissed from a nursing program at Penn State or another institution should consult with the designated campus contact .”
International transcripts
Applying by early September is encouraged
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
- State and federal background checks
source · nursing.psu.edu
“All nursing students must complete state and federal background checks.”
- Required vaccinations including COVID-19 and influenza
source · nursing.psu.edu
“To participate in clinical experiences, students must be up to date on required vaccinations, including COVID-19 and influenza.”
- AHA Healthcare Provider CPR certification
source · nursing.psu.edu
“American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification”
- Professional liability insurance
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Professional liability insurance”
- Drug screening
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Drug screening”
- Criminal background and child abuse clearances
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Criminal background and child abuse clearances”
- Transcripts from all institutions attended are required
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Applications are not considered complete until Penn State has received transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.”
- Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application. Never-attended applicants also submit the Undergraduate Admissions application; former Penn State students submit an Undergraduate Re-enrollment Form.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Submit the Second Degree Nursing Program Application .”
Interview Not published. Confirm with the school.
Essays Not published. Confirm with the school.
Recommendations 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
Full-time, cohort-based, campus program
Students are strongly encouraged to avoid outside employment.
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
Start term
Fall only (late August)
Graduation is in December of the second fall semester.
source · harrisburg.psu.edu
“Consists of 4 full-time, consecutive semesters, beginning each fall (late August).”
Deferral
Offers cannot be deferred
source · nursing.psu.edu
“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.”
Outside employment
Strongly discouraged
source · nursing.psu.edu
“Students are strongly encouraged to avoid outside employment to fully commit to the 16-month curriculum.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for Penn State Harrisburg, 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.
- Nursing - Second Degree Program (B.S.N.) | Penn State Harrisburgtier 1 · program page · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Transfer Students | Penn State Harrisburgtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Tuition and Costs | Penn State Harrisburgtier 1 · tuition · checked Oct 14, 2026
- C-5. College Operations during Periods of Inclement or Dangerous Weather Conditions or Other Weather-Related Emergencies | Penn State Harrisburgtier 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
- Nursing, B.S.N. | Penn Statetier 1 · catalog · checked Oct 14, 2026
- Second Degree Program – Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursingtier 1 · catalog · checked Oct 14, 2026
Open questions we're still checking
- The Harrisburg page gives a November 30 deadline (no year); the college page encourages materials by December 1 and allows rolling review as space permits. Which date governs Harrisburg?
- The Bulletin lists PSYCH 100, SOC 1/5 and the full common major requirements as completed before admission. The college page says Psychology and Sociology are not required for an offer. Which list applies?
- The application platform URL and whether NursingCAS is used are not stated.
- The Undergraduate Admissions processing fee amount is not stated.
- No exact program start date is printed; only 'late August' is given.
- The Harrisburg page gives a November 30 cycle end, while the college page encourages materials by December 1 and allows rolling review through spring/summer as space permits. Which applies at Harrisburg?
- The application fee amount is not stated.
- The Bulletin lists PSYCH 100 and SOC 1/5 among common major requirements, but the program page says Psychology and Sociology are not required for an offer.
- It is unclear whether the two-attempt progression limit on prerequisites is applied in admission review.
- The general transfer deadlines page (Fall July 31) does not appear to govern this program.
- No course age limit, entrance exam, online lab policy, pass/fail, or AP/CLEP policy is published.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on campuses: Offered at Altoona, Harrisburg and Erie; this listing covers Harrisburg. No change of campus is allowed. | Harrisburg (also offered separately at Altoona and Erie); no campus changes.
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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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