Principles of Statistics
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 →PennsylvaniaNursing
Penn State's RN to BSN: 120 credits, and where the 45 general education credits can come from
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Penn State World Campus's RN to BSN is 120 credits, 45 of them general education. Those 45 can come from your ADN transcript, transfer from another accredited institution, or Penn State courses, while 36 of the last 60 credits must be Penn State's. Ask Penn State in writing before taking any outside course.
The numbers on Penn State's page
Penn State World Campus describes its RN to BSN as a 120-credit degree with 45 general education credits. It notes that 20 to 22 of those 45 are also part of the major requirements, so a nursing or science course can fill a general education slot at the same time. The major lists 42 prescribed core credits and additional core credits.
Registered nurses may be eligible for up to 33 credits through portfolio review. That is Penn State's own process, separate from transfer credit, and it is worth asking about first because it can reduce what you need elsewhere.
| Part | Credits |
|---|---|
| Whole degree | 120 |
| General education | 45 (20-22 overlap with the major) |
| Prescribed nursing core | 42 |
| Portfolio review for RNs | Up to 33 |
| Residency | 36 of the last 60 at Penn State |
Source 1: your ADN or diploma transcript
Most RNs arrive with some general education already done: English composition, psychology, anatomy and physiology, sometimes sociology or statistics. Penn State says credit may transfer from another accredited institution. Send every transcript you have and ask for an evaluation that lists which of the 45 general education credits are already met.
If your nursing diploma came from a hospital school rather than a college, ask how those credits are handled; some diploma programmes partnered with a college that holds the transcript.
Source 2: outside courses before you start
The general education categories still open after the evaluation are where outside courses may fit. Penn State's RN to BSN page does not say how it treats ACE or NCCRS recommendations, so ask the admissions or transfer office before you enrol in anything. Name the course, the recommendation and how it would arrive via a college transcript.
Because of the residency rule, outside credit fits best at the start. Once you are in the last 60 credits, 36 of them must be Penn State's.
- Statistics: Principles of Statistics.
- Writing: English Composition 2.
- Social science: Introduction to Sociology.
- Humanities: Principles of Philosophy or Humanities: Critical Thinking and Analysis.
Source 3: Penn State courses
Anything not covered by your transcript, portfolio review or approved outside credit is taken at Penn State. For 2026-27, 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. A 3-credit general education course is therefore about $1,932 to $2,076 in tuition.
That number is why the evaluation matters. If Penn State confirms in writing that it will review an outside course for an open category, the saving can be large. If it says no, you have spent nothing.
Questions to send Penn State
Keep the email short and ask for a written answer.
- Which of my 45 general education credits are still open after my transcripts?
- Am I eligible for portfolio review, and how many credits might it cover?
- Will you review an ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended course for a named category?
- Must it arrive on a transcript from an accredited college?
- Do any of these courses need a grade of C or better?
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
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.
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.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Do anatomy and physiology credits count toward Penn State general education?
Penn State says 20 to 22 of the 45 general education credits overlap with the major, which includes science courses. Ask Penn State how your A&P transfers, because its NURS 250 course lists BIOL 161 and BIOL 163.
What is portfolio review in the Penn State RN to BSN?
It is Penn State's own process for registered nurses, worth up to 33 credits according to the World Campus page. Ask the programme what the portfolio needs and how many credits you might earn.
Can I finish general education after starting the nursing courses?
Yes, but the residency rule matters: 36 of the last 60 credits must be Penn State's. Outside credit usually fits best before you reach that point, so plan it early.
Does Penn State take StraighterLine or Sophia credit?
Its RN to BSN page does not say. It takes transfer credit from accredited institutions. Ask Penn State in writing about the exact course and provider before you pay for it.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
English Composition 2
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Principles of Philosophy
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 →Start when you have it in writing
Ask your BSN school in writing which categories are open, then take only those courses.
Sources
- Penn State World Campus: RN to BSN Nursing Bachelor of Science Degree (official)120 credits; 45 general education (20-22 inside the major); 42 prescribed core credits; transfer from another accredited institution; 36 of the last 60 credits from Penn State; up to 33 credits by portfolio review; 2026-27 tuition $644 per credit (59 or fewer credits completed) or $692 (60 or more). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.