Want to graduate in three years?
Penn State Altoona is piloting a three-year general Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Students attend for eight consecutive semesters, including two summer semesters, to graduate a year early.
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026: Enter Penn State General education courses | Fall 2027 Nursing and general education courses | Fall 2028 Nursing and general education courses |
| Spring 2027 General education courses | Spring 2028 Nursing and general education courses | Spring 2029** Graduation Nursing and general education courses |
| Summer 2027* Begin nursing courses; continue general education courses | Summer 2028* Nursing and general education courses |
*Students who plan to travel extensively or will be out of the country during the summer semesters (early May through mid-August) should pursue the traditional four-year General B.S.N. option.
**Students who remain in the traditional four-year General B.S.N. option (fall/spring semesters only) would graduate in the spring of 2030.
You may be interested in this program if:
- You would like to graduate a year early.
- You can thrive in different classroom learning environments (in person, online, accelerated).
- You can function in small and large group settings (classroom and clinical).
- You can adapt to working with a diverse student body (traditional and adult learners).
- You possess good time management skills.
- You prioritize learning over other activities.
Next Steps
- Submit a completed application for admission to the nursing major for the fall 2026 semester at Penn State Altoona.
- Accept your offer and attend New Student Orientation in the summer of 2026.
- Declare your intent to participate in the three-year pilot program (detailed information will be provided to students once the fall semester begins).
Questions?
Please contact Cathy Kozak, Academic Adviser, at [email protected] or 814-949-5142.
Acceptance into the Three-year General B.S.N. pilot is highly competitive, and space is limited.
Students must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 161 and 162 lecture and lab) successfully completed with a letter grade of C or higher by the end of the fall semester, AND
- Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 163 and 164 lecture and lab) in progress for the spring semester. NOTE: The Anatomy and Physiology I and II four-course lecture and lab sequence must be successfully completed with a letter grade of C or higher by the end of the spring semester to progress to 200-level nursing courses.
- Competitive GPA at the end of the fall semester:
- Nursing pre-major (NRCOM PMAJ)/change of major: minimum Penn State cumulative GPA of 3.5.
- Nursing majors (NURS BSN): minimum Penn State cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Applicants will be ranked from highest to lowest descending GPA, and students who meet the minimum requirements listed above will be considered the most competitive to receive an offer to the three-year general B.S.N. pilot offering.
The entrance review for the three-year general B.S.N. pilot will be held in January, and students will be notified of their acceptance to the program in February.
The three-year general B.S.N. pilot is being offered only at Penn State Altoona.