UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing Launches Part-Time Program in Harrisburg

September 16, 2026

HARRISBURG, Pa. – UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg is proud to announce the expansion of its program to include a 32-month part-time diploma program for registered nurses (RNs). Applications are open now through Oct. 1 for the new program, which will begin classes in January 2027.

The part-time, evening-only, weekday program provides the flexibility to balance nursing education with full-time employment, family caregiving, and other personal responsibilities.

Since the school opened in fall 2022, more than 230 students have graduated from the UPMC School of Nursing in Harrisburg. With this expansion, the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg now offers both a 32-month part-time program that will begin each January, alongside a 16-month, full-time accelerated program that will offer two cohorts each year in early May and late August. First-year students will take pre-nursing courses at Harrisburg University, learn from UPMC faculty, and complete over 900 hours of clinical rotations at UPMC Harrisburg and other regional UPMC facilities.

“I’m so excited to offer this new opportunity for those who want to become nurses in our region,” said Penny Lenig-Zerby, Ph.D., R.N., director of the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg. “A part-time program is something our UPMC staff and some of our interested applicants to the full-time program have been asking for since we opened our new school. It’s thrilling to see the growth and impact we are having on our community by paving the way for hundreds of new nurses to begin their careers on a timeline that fits their lives.”

Scholarship and grant opportunities may be available, as well as work-study programs for eligible students to work around their class schedule at UPMC while earning their degree. Once students graduate and pass the RN licensing examination, those who choose to continue their career with UPMC can utilize UPMC's generous tuition reimbursement program to further their education.

Registration for the new part-time program is open through Thursday, Oct. 1. Interested students can learn more at an info session and tour on Thursday, Sept. 17, 4:30 – 6 p.m., at the School of Nursing: UPMC Health Sciences Tower, 222 Chestnut St., Harrisburg, Pa.

Limited faculty positions are also still available. Visit careers.upmc.com to view part-time and full-time openings for nursing instructors.

For more information about the UPMC School of Nursing or to register for the info session, visit UPMC.com/SONHBG.