Geneseo launches new opportunities for nursing students
Photo Courtesy of Matt Wittmeyer- SUNY Geneseo
In September 2026, SUNY Geneseo and the University of Rochester (URochester) School of Nursing and Health Sciences announced a partnership aimed at streamlining the process of admission from SUNY Geneseo to one of two nursing programs offered at URochester School of Nursing. SUNY Geneseo’s official announcement of this partnership explains that this will allow “eligible and qualified Geneseo students to gain early admission to the School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN) degree program or the Master’s Direct Entry (MDE) into Nursing Practice degree program.” This partnership will allow students to have a financially stable option to pursue their Registered Nursing License following a Liberal Arts Bachelor’s degree program at SUNY Geneseo.
In order to be eligible for this program, Geneseo’s website lists six required prerequisite courses that must be completed at SUNY Geneseo, and also states that students applying for the program must have a 3.0 GPA at the time of application and maintain it until they graduate from Geneseo. These requirements do not, however, necessitate the completion of a nursing degree, as per the URochester School of Nursing website.
The URochester School of Nursing website also explains more about the program as a whole. ABSN program is a 12-month program that runs for three consecutive semesters in order to train students to pass the licensing exam and work as a Registered Nurse. The MDE program’s goal is to prepare students for their licensing exam while also providing a Master’s education for those in the program.
Livingston County News reported on this new partnership and further explains the benefits of students applying for and entering the URochester School of Nursing through SUNY Geneseo. According to the article, the program aims to streamline the process of applying for SUNY at Geneseo students as well as providing “A fast-tracked application process, with early action on admissions, a waived application fee, [and] a guaranteed 30% tuition scholarship for students admitted to the MDE program.”
Additionally, the URochester School of Nursing explains on its website that “If students commit to working at one of three URochester Medicine hospitals for three years after passing their licensure exam, they can receive full tuition coverage through the UR Nursing Scholars program.” This will help students feel more confident in their decision to attend the URochester School of Nursing, as well as provide a level of financial stability that college students do not always have.
As reported by The Daily News, this program is a good opportunity as “‘Our students no longer have to choose between a liberal arts education and a career in nursing—this partnership gives them both,’" says Costas Solomou, SUNY Geneseo’s vice president for enrollment management.” The Daily News also explains that the goal of this program is to help address the nursing shortage in the United States, while not forcing students to choose between passions.
Geneseo students are required to remain enrolled in classes through graduation after being admitted to the program, while maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA. Additionally, students must apply for early action to the URochester School of Nursing to be a part of this program. Students will be able to begin classes in the URochester School of Nursing through this program in Fall 2027, with applications opening this November.