GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA — Gwynedd Mercy University announced it will launch a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree beginning in fall 2026 to provide students with a faster path to nursing credentials amid a projected workforce shortage.
The accelerated program shortens the traditional four-year BSN timeline to three years, which the university said could reduce student costs by an estimated $29,000.
Students may also qualify for nursing partnership programs that offer loan repayment and career opportunities, with potential savings ranging from $25,000 to $40,000, according to the university.
The program launch comes as Pennsylvania faces a significant shortage of nurses.
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania estimates the state will need 20,345 additional registered nurses by 2026 as demand increases and the population ages.
“This new track offers students a faster, more affordable way to earn a BSN degree while still enjoying a traditional undergraduate college experience,” said Jane Tang, PhD, RN, NE-BC, dean of the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Tang said the program is intended to help address the growing demand for nurses in Pennsylvania and nationwide.
The program builds on the university’s recent expansion of healthcare education facilities, including the Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center, the largest academic building on the Gwynedd Valley campus.
University officials said Gwynedd Mercy has graduated more than 1,200 nursing students since fall 2020.
The university also offers programs designed to prepare nurse educators, including a Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Educator track, a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education, and an EdD in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education with a focus on nurse education.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has reported nearly 2,000 full-time faculty vacancies across 922 nursing schools nationwide.
More information about the university’s nursing programs is available at https://www.gmercyu.edu/academics/schools/school-of-nursing-and-health-professions.
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