HWS News
28 September 2026 New Pathways to Nursing at University of Rochester
A new partnership with the University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences gives HWS students a streamlined route to RN licensure and accelerated bachelor’s or master’s-level nursing preparation.
Hobart and William Smith students interested in careers in nursing now have a more direct path from their liberal arts and sciences education to professional nursing preparation through a new partnership with the University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences.
The affiliation provides qualified HWS students with early admission consideration to either the School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN) program or its Master’s Direct Entry (MDE) into Nursing Practice program. The agreement also offers a streamlined application process, a waived application fee and, for students admitted to the MDE program, a guaranteed 30% tuition scholarship.
“This partnership creates an exciting new opportunity for HWS students to build on the breadth of their liberal arts and sciences education and move directly into professional preparation for a career in nursing,” says Provost and Dean of Faculty Sarah Kirk. “Our students develop the scientific knowledge, critical thinking, communication skills and capacity to understand complex human challenges that are essential in health care. The University of Rochester School of Nursing offers them an exceptional next step, with a streamlined pathway to a profession where those strengths can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
Both nursing programs are designed for students who first earn a bachelor’s degree outside of nursing, allowing HWS students to complete their undergraduate education before transitioning into professional nursing study.
Two Paths to Nursing
For students seeking an accelerated route to becoming a registered nurse, the Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing program enables college graduates to earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing. The intensive program is completed over three consecutive semesters and prepares graduates to take the licensing examination and practice as registered nurses.
The Master’s Direct Entry into Nursing Practice program provides another route for graduates with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees, combining preparation for RN licensure with master’s-level nursing education.
HWS students admitted to the MDE program through the affiliation receive a guaranteed 30% tuition scholarship.
“We are excited to enter into this partnership with Hobart and William Smith,” says University of Rochester School of Nursing Dean Lisa Kitko, Ph.D., RN, FAHA, FAAN. “As a result of this affiliation, our two academic institutions are joining forces to expand the nursing workforce and help address the nursing shortage.”
As part of URochester Medicine, the School of Nursing is embedded within an academic health system where education, research and clinical practice intersect. Its programs emphasize hands-on learning, faculty mentorship, clinical experience and interdisciplinary training.
A Streamlined Route from HWS to Rochester
The new affiliation is designed to make the transition from HWS to nursing school simpler for qualified students. HWS students applying through the pathway receive a fast-tracked application process with Early Action on admission and a waived application fee. Students applying to the MDE program also receive the guaranteed 30% tuition scholarship.
To qualify, students must maintain a cumulative HWS GPA of 3.0 or higher, complete required prerequisite coursework and remain continuously enrolled at HWS after acceptance into the University of Rochester School of Nursing until completing their bachelor’s degree.
Students must apply Early Action to the ABSN or MDE program for the fall semester immediately following their expected HWS graduation.
The first HWS students admitted through the partnership will enter the nursing programs in fall 2027. For that entering class, the Early Action application opens October 1, 2026, and closes Jan. 15, 2027.
The University of Rochester partnership joins a growing range of HWS pathways designed to help students connect the breadth of a liberal arts and sciences education with advanced professional and graduate study. Recent partnerships have expanded opportunities in business, engineering, international relations and public service, offering students more ways to build on their HWS education as they prepare for their next academic and professional steps.
