Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Every RN to BSN Pennsylvania programme is a full bachelor's degree. Penn State World Campus lists 120 credits, 45 of them general education, with up to 33 credits by portfolio review for registered nurses and 36 of the last 60 credits from Penn State. General education is where outside credit is most often reviewed, so ask your school in writing first.
Under the Penn State World Campus RN to BSN degree requirements, the degree is 120 credits, including 45 general education credits and 42 prescribed core nursing credits; credits may transfer from another accredited institution, 36 of the last 60 credits must be earned at Penn State, and registered nurses may earn up to 33 credits through portfolio review.
The rule asks for 120 credits total; 45 general education; 36 of the last 60 at Penn State. The legal source is Penn State World Campus RN to BSN degree requirements.
| Item | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| RN licence in Pennsylvania | Approved diploma, associate or bachelor's programme plus NCLEX-RN; no BSN required | [2] |
| Penn State RN to BSN total | 120 credits | [1] |
| General education | 45 credits, 20-22 of them inside the major requirements | [1] |
| Nursing core | 42 prescribed core credits plus additional core credits | [1] |
| Transfer and residency | Transfer from another accredited institution; 36 of the last 60 credits from Penn State | [1] |
| Portfolio credit for RNs | Up to 33 credits through portfolio review | [1] |
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (RN licence); each RN to BSN school (degree and transfer rules) decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
Each nursing programme sets its own prerequisite list, its own time limits for science courses and its own rule on which credits it takes. Read the programme's published list first and ask its admissions office in writing before you enrol in any course.
UPI Study does not yet offer Microbiology with lab, Nutrition or Lifespan Development. Our courses carry no clinical hours, and they do not clear a deficiency for a board of nursing.
Each course below is ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended for college credit. Whether it counts here is the decision of the college and of Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (RN licence); each RN to BSN school (degree and transfer rules).
Statistics is a common BSN general education and research prerequisite.
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A second writing course often fills a communication category.
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A social science category course.
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A humanities category course.
Self-paced online Principles of Philosophy course (Philosophy 200). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Another humanities option.
Self-paced online Humanities Critical Thinking & Analysis course (HUM 201). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Social science; many ADN graduates already have it, so check first.
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Thomas Edison State University (TESU), University of the People and Newlane University are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Penn State is not a partner; it reviews credit itself.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
| Option | Price | For this rule | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Study PRO | $99 a month, every course | $99 for each month you are subscribed; take as many courses as you finish in that time | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Penn State World Campus tuition, 2026-27 | $644 per credit (59 or fewer credits completed); $692 per credit (60 or more) | 15 general education credits: about $9,660-$10,380 | 15 Nov 2026 |
| StraighterLine | $99 a month plus $79 per course | Five courses in 3-5 months: about $692-$890 | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month | Five courses in 3-5 months: about $297-$495 | 15 Nov 2026 |
Prices checked 15 Nov 2026. A cheaper course saves money only if your BSN school counts it; ask that first.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
Before you enrol, ask your BSN school in writing which general education categories are open and whether it will review an ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended course sent via a college transcript for each one.
No. The Pennsylvania Department of State lists the RN licence requirements as an approved diploma, associate or bachelor's nursing programme and a pass on the NCLEX-RN. Renewal is every two years with 30 hours of continuing education. Nothing on that page asks for a bachelor's degree.
The push toward a BSN in Pennsylvania comes from employers and from nurses who want management, education or graduate study later. That is why so many working RNs look at degree completion programmes, and why general education is often the part they can plan for themselves.
Penn State World Campus lists its RN to BSN as a 120-credit degree. Of those, 45 are general education, and the page notes that 20 to 22 of the 45 sit inside the major requirements. The major lists 42 prescribed core course credits plus additional core credits. Registered nurses may earn up to 33 credits through portfolio review.
Two rules shape any plan. Credit may transfer in from another accredited institution, and 36 of the last 60 credits must come from Penn State. So outside general education credit fits best at the start, before the nursing core. Some courses also need a grade of C or better.
Penn State's page says transfer credit comes from accredited institutions and does not mention ACE or NCCRS recommendations. That means the only safe step is a written question: send the course name, its recommendation and how it would arrive via a college transcript, and ask the school whether it would review it for a specific category.
Other Pennsylvania RN to BSN programmes set their own transfer limits. Some publish a maximum number of transfer credits, some a list of categories that outside credit may fill. Statistics, writing, sociology and humanities are the usual open categories for an ADN graduate. Start with the school's evaluation of your current transcripts so you buy only the courses you actually need.
A bachelor's degree is usually 120 credits. Penn State World Campus lists 120 credits for its RN to BSN, with 45 in general education and up to 33 credits through portfolio review for registered nurses. Other schools set their own totals and transfer limits.
Not for the licence. The Pennsylvania Department of State lists an approved diploma, associate or bachelor's programme plus the NCLEX-RN. Some employers prefer or ask for a BSN, so check with yours.
Often yes, if the school will review the credit. Penn State takes transfer credit from accredited institutions and its page does not address ACE or NCCRS. Ask your school in writing about each course before you take it.
For 2026-27, Penn State World Campus lists $644 per credit for students with 59 or fewer credits completed and $692 per credit for those with 60 or more, when taking 11 or fewer credits a semester. Check the page for current rates.
Penn State says 36 of the last 60 credits must be earned from Penn State, and every student completes at least 36 Penn State credits. Plan outside general education credit early, before the nursing core.
No. Penn State reviews credit itself. Our partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit are Thomas Edison State University, University of the People and Newlane University. Ask any school in writing before you enrol.
Ask your BSN school in writing which categories are open, then take only those courses.