NSO Recap

Congratulations on completing this first major step toward earning your Penn State degree!

We’re excited to have you join the Penn State community! Now that you're registered for fall classes, we want you to know what to expect as the semester approaches and where to get help when you need it.

This page is designed to support you as you transition into college life, offering helpful resources, important contacts, and answers to common questions. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re here to help every step of the way!

Whether you're looking for academic resources, financial aid help, or contact information, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Academic Resources

Prepare academically for the start of the semester.

Summer Bridge is a FREE  two-week program that helps new students enhance their skills in Math, English and college success.  Make your transition as easy as possible and sign up now!

You’re not alone — many students leave NSO feeling unsure and later realize their initial choice doesn’t reflect their true interests or goals. It’s completely okay to change direction now that you’ve had time to explore our campus, reflect, and better understand what excites you. 

Reach out to the Academic Advising Center — they’re here to support you and help you make the change and navigate next steps with confidence. 

Don’t worry — it’s a common for students to want to change something that was decided at NSO, it's part of the process. Whether you're rethinking your course load, switching sections, or exploring new interests, we encourage you to connect with an Academic Advisor, who can help guide you through the process and ensure you’re making informed decisions that support your success. 

The ALEKS Math Assessment ensures students' readiness for certain math, statistics, and chemistry courses at Penn State. Since these courses are demanding, it is important for you to start with a firm foundation in your understanding. Consider using the practice modules to enhance your math preparation before classes begin.

The Undergraduate Bulletin is Penn State’s comprehensive source for undergraduate academic information and program requirements. Use the Undergraduate Bulletin to review requirements and the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended degree, or explore majors and minors using the many ways to filter - this is a great tool if you're undecided!

When first-semester baccalaureate degree students are admitted to the University, most are enrolled in either a specific college that offers majors of interest or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies. Typically, students do not enter a specific major within the college until sometime between their third and fifth semesters. Use the Undergraduate Bulletin to review the Entrance to Major requirements and procedures.

Financial Resources

Worried about paying for college?

Financial aid typically covers only a portion of your educational costs and for the majority of students, these costs must be paid by the family using a combination of financing strategies.

  • Payment Plan
  • Employer Tuition Assistance Programs
  • Penn State's Office of Veterans Programs
  • Parent PLUS vs. Private Education Loans

See How Aid Works at Penn State

All students who are offered admission and submit a FAFSA to PSU are considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid (OSA).

To accept and receive your Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, first-time borrowers must complete both of the following on studentaid.gov:

  1. Complete Entrance Counseling
  2. Sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Accept, Decline or Decrease your loans in LionPATH. Keep in mind that we typically award federal loans for both Fall and Spring together, so you are accepting the total amount for the year.

Once you accept a Private Education Loan, the terms and amounts cannot be changed.

If you are a recipient of Federal Aid funds, your approval is required to cover charges to your student account (other than tuition and fees.)

Grant Permission for Non-Institutional Charges (if needed): 

  • If a student has federal aid remaining after covering tuition, fees, and on-campus housing, they might want to use that remaining aid to pay for other expenses (like books, health insurance, or off-campus housing). 
     
  • To do this, students need to grant permission for their federal aid to be applied to these "non-institutional charges". 
     
  • This permission is given by logging into LionPATH, navigating to My Finances > My Account > Permission to Use Federal Aid, and following the instructions. 
     
  • This authorization is crucial to avoid a balance on the student account for these miscellaneous charges.

See more info about paying your bill.
 

 

Sign up for eRefund to receive a refund due to you as a direct deposit.  Log into "My Finances" in LionPATH.

Complete this To-Do List before classes start.

Giving a parent or guardian Authorized Payer Access allows them permission to view your account statement, make payments, and receive notifications when the bill is ready to view and when it is due.

Learn how to set up Delegated Access and Authorized Payer in LionPATH.

 

Do you have incoming academic credits from Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Enrollment? If you don't see them in your Transfer Credit Report in LionPATH, reach out to Admissions.

Be sure to send an official transcript from the college/university sponsoring the credit, or College Board for AP courses.

All new students must submit proof of immunizations to Health Services before the start of the fall semester.

A copy of your final official high school transcript that shows the date when the diploma was awarded. To be considered official, the transcript must be sent directly to Penn State from the high school.

Student Account Statements are generated on a monthly basis. No paper statements are mailed. An e-mail notification is sent to the student's official Penn State e-mail account and to the email address of any authorized payers set up on the student account when the Student Account Statement is available to view and/or pay in LionPATH.

See more about the Student Account Statement.

Penn State Scranton encourages students to enroll in PSUAlert, an easy and accessible system that lets you know via cell phone when the campus is closed due to weather conditions or if the campus has an emergency situation. 

  • Saturday, August 16 – The Commons Apartments Move-In
  • Monday, August 18 - Fall Athletics Pre-Season Kicks Off
  • Friday, August 22 – Scranton Welcome!
  • Monday, August 25 – 1st Day of Classes – WELCOME BACK BBQ

Every private vehicle brought on the campus by a student or by parents or others, for the students' use or convenience must be registered with University Police and display a parking permit. The student is responsible for registering for the parking permit and for knowing and following the parking policies on campus. Watch for email at the start of the semester!