Nursing BSN (Second Degree)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Hybrid
- Greeley Campus
- Loveland Center
- Online
20 Months
Summer Term (May)
$476/Credit
Second Degree Nursing Program (BSN)
Do you already have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, but want to become a Registered Nurse? Our Bachelor of Science In Nursing (BSN) Second Degree track is designed for you. It’s a fast-paced program that lets you earn your BSN. If you don’t already have your bachelor’s degree, consider our traditional BSN track or our RN to BSN program.
A Fast Track to a Nursing Career
Finish in 20 Months: You can complete all the required nursing courses in 20 months (five terms).
Hybrid Delivery: Because some of your coursework is done online, you will have reduced class time.
- Most of the hybrid courses are held on our main campus in Greeley. Some are at our Loveland Center.
- You will also complete clinical experiences in the surrounding area.
100% Nursing Focus: Because you have already completed your bachelor’s degree, you will be able to focus solely on nursing coursework and knowledge in this program.
UNC Nursing Connections
Connect with Nursing Experts: You’ll be learning from leaders in the field. Our faculty includes MSNs, APRNs, DNPs and Ph.D. nurses. They have clinical experience as advanced practice RNs, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse leaders and doctors of nursing practice.
Connect With Other Nurses: You will take the program with a tight-knit cohort of colleagues. Together, you build valuable professional networks and lifetime friendships.
Connect Learning to Practice: You will complete clinical nursing experiences in a variety of healthcare settings.
A Rewarding Career in Nursing
Become a Registered Nurse
RN Licensure: After you complete this program, you will be eligible to take the NCLEX RN licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse. UNC BSN graduates have first-time pass rates between 95-100% each year.
RN BSN: By entering the field with a BSN degree and clinical experience from recognized leaders in nursing, you will be prepared for the rewards and challenges of your new career. BSN nurses are eligible for specialized nursing roles including management, care coordination, case management, public health nursing and school nursing. You’ll also be ready to succeed if you pursue a graduate nursing program.
Nursing Pay
The median annual salary for a Registered Nurse in the U.S. in 2024 was $93,600. This is well above the median of $49,500 for all workers. Plus with your nursing bachelor’s degree, you will be a BSN RN. This can lead to additional opportunities and pay scale benefits compared to those without a bachelor’s degree.
Source: U.S. BLS RN Data
Course of Study
Hybrid Delivery in Northern Colorado
You can begin this program in summer term (May). Coursework will last through December of the following year, for a total of 5 terms (20 months).
Foundational Courses
- Foundation courses feature a hybrid (partially in-person and online) delivery. Hybrid delivery reduces the amount of time you spend in the classroom.
- Most courses are delivered in Greeley on the UNC campus. Some courses will be at our Loveland Center at Centerra.
Clinical Courses
- You will complete clinical nursing experiences, primarily in northeastern Colorado communities. These experiences are guided by our nursing faculty.
- Your experiences may include hospitals, nursing homes, industry sites, schools and community agencies.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
The Nursing BSN program has 105 Required Major credits.
- This Program: This second-degree program provides the coursework for 71 of those credits.
- Prerequisite Coursework: Just like students applying to a traditional BSN program, you will need to complete the other 34 credits as prerequisite coursework before you enter the program. See the School of Nursing’s Pre-Clinical Nursing Students page for a list of these courses.
Note: Because you have already completed a bachelor’s degree, the 120 total credits and the LAC requirements listed in the catalog do not apply.
View Courses & Degree Requirement Details
Taking Prerequisite Courses Online
Some options if you need this additional coursework:
- The UNC Course Search – use the “Go to schedule of classes” button.
- You can also search for online (and in-person) courses at any community college, particularly one near you (tuition is often lower for local residents).
Transfer Credit
You are considered a transfer student if you have completed any college-level coursework after you completed high school.
Please visit the Transfer of Credits pages from the UNC Office of the Registrar for information about:
- How many credits can transfer
- Requirements of credits transferred, such as your earned grade and institutional accreditation
- The transfer evaluation process
- Transferology – check your previous coursework in our published course equivalencies. You can do this before you apply to UNC.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking undergraduate students who are enrolled in 9 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Bachelor’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 12 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
You must meet the current UNC undergraduate admission requirements .
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- A minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (calculated using the most recent 45 non-remedial/non-technical college level credits and grades in prerequisite courses). NOTE: Grades from technical courses such as CNA, EMT, etc., and remedial courses will not be included.
- (Optional) Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential/experience: We strongly recommend that you have taken the CNA course and have CNA experience at the time you apply. However, this is no longer an official requirement of the application process.
- You must complete all prerequisite courses (see the Courses and Requirements section above) prior to beginning the program.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Licensure Eligibility by State
UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.
It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.
If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have an existing U.S. visa status, you would be seeking F-1 or J-1 visa status to be able to come to the U.S. to complete this program. You will need to submit financial documentation to prove that you can pay for tuition and living expenses while you will be in the U.S.
If you have a sponsor for your U.S. education, please check with them about any restrictions for your program choice, location, or ability to take online or hybrid courses.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Financial documentation
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
Licensure Eligibility by State
This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Application Deadlines
Visit the School of Nursing’s prospective BSN students page for details about application availability and deadlines.
Application Process Details
It is strongly recommended that all applicants to the UNC BSN programs meet with a pre-nursing advisor to go over the application checklist. To meet with an advisor, you must be first admitted to UNC and have a bear number.
Applying to UNC
When you Apply to UNC you should choose:
- Undergraduate application
- Program: Nursing B.S.N. (Seeking Second Bachelors)
- Start term: summer term (May)
- Use the following code to waive the UNC application fee: UNCnursing
Applying to this Program
Visit the School of Nursing’s prospective BSN students page for details about the application process.