Pennsylvania State University, The

The Pennsylvania State University is a public, four-year university headquartered in University Park, Pennsylvania, with nursing offered through the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Penn State provides undergraduate and graduate nursing pathways, including BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and certificate options, with learning delivered in campus, online, and hybrid formats depending on the program.

Students build core competencies in health assessment, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, communication, leadership, patient safety, and population health. Prelicensure students complete supervised clinical experiences in regional health care settings and are prepared for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Penn State’s nursing program is notable for its statewide reach through multiple campuses, which gives students several entry points and clinical connections across Pennsylvania. Compared with many nearby programs, it offers the scale of a large research university along with broad academic and clinical resources. Its nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.