Gwynedd Mercy University Announces New Three-Year BSN Degree

Program addresses national nursing shortage by providing fast track to credentials

GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) is launching a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree beginning Fall 2026, creating a faster path for highly skilled, compassionate nurses to enter a workforce facing significant shortages.

The accelerated option will save future GMercyU nurses an estimated $29,000 by shortening the traditional BSN timeline to three years. Students may also benefit from GMercyU’s nursing partnerships, offering career opportunities and loan repayment with potential savings between $25,000 and $40,000. With the average salary for nurses in the Philadelphia area at $97,510, graduates can enter the workforce sooner while saving on the cost of their degree.

The nursing shortage remains a critical challenge. According to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), the state is projected to experience the worst nursing shortage in the nation by 2026. HAP estimates that 20,345 additional registered nurses will be needed to meet growing demand as Pennsylvania’s 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. "It also helps us address the growing nursing shortage in Pennsylvania and across the nation, one of the most pressing challenges in today’s healthcare landscape.”

The program builds on GMercyU’s continued investment in healthcare education, including the opening of the Frances M. Maguire '55 Healthcare Innovation Center (HIC). As the largest academic building on campus, the HIC prepares students to address the healthcare needs of today and tomorrow, with the goal of improving access and equity for all.

A leader in healthcare education, GMercyU has graduated more than 1,200 nursing students since fall 2020. In response to workforce gaps, the university also launched several programs designed to prepare the next generation of nurse educators. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports nearly 2,000 full-time faculty vacancies among 922 nursing schools nationwide.

GMercyU’s new Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator Track, Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education, and EdD in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education – Nurse Education are currently accepting applicants for Fall 2026. These programs help BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses step into teaching and leadership roles in academic, clinical, and professional settings, helping strengthen the future nursing workforce.

To learn more about GMercyU’s nursing programs, including options for traditional undergraduate students and those seeking a career change, visit: https://www.gmercyu.edu/academics/schools/school-of-nursing-and-health-professions

About Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Mercy University prepares students to become top professionals in the fields of nursing and other health professions, education, business, and the arts and sciences. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1948, Gwynedd Mercy University offers more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and associate degree programs. In 2025, GMercyU was named a Best Value College by Niche and an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Foundation for its equitable access to higher education and graduate earnings. The University’s campus is situated on 145 private acres on Sumneytown Pike between routes 309 and 202 in Gwynedd Valley, Montgomery County. The University also offers online/accelerated undergraduate and graduate degree programs for working professions and career-changers. Learn more at gmercyu.edu, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.