Nursing BSN (RN to BSN)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Online
- Online
7-20 Months
Fall Term (Aug.)
$350/Credit
An Online RN to BSN Completion Program with Dual Enrollment Option
Our online RN to BSN option of our Nursing BSN degree is designed for working Registered Nurses (RNs) and those completing their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
You will take courses online and complete your nursing practicums in your own area.
Registered Nurses: You can earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in less than two years (five terms).
Community College Nursing Students: You can complete our dual enrollment option for your BSN. You’ll take courses at UNC alongside your ADN coursework. You’ll earn your BSN as soon as two terms after finishing your ADN and your RN licensure.
What You Will Learn
Take your nursing knowledge to the next level. Course topics include:
- Public and community health nursing
- Patient education and health literacy
- Nursing quality and safety
- Evidence-based practice
- Care across the lifespan
- Current issues in health care
- Professional nursing leadership
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 180 practicum hours, which includes an independent project to build your leadership and problem-solving skills.
Your Future in Nursing
Becoming a BSN Nurse
A nursing bachelor’s degree adds significant value to your RN license. By earning your BSN at UNC you will:
- Qualify for higher-paying registered nurse jobs.
- Be able to move into specialized roles and supervisory positions. Examples include management, care coordination, case management, public health nursing and school nursing.
- Be ready to continue your nursing education. Many graduates continue their education by earning a master’s degree or higher.
You will add nursing skills that help you every day, and open the door to new career opportunities in nursing care.
Accomplished Alumni
Alumni
"Our professors were more than educators; they were our mentors, our support system, and always went the extra mile for us. They created an incredibly safe and nurturing environment for their students to grow in.”
Melissa Chevarria, MSN, RN
BSN ’18
Registered Nurse Emergency Department, UCHealth
Adjunct Instructor, UNC School of Nursing
Practical Nursing Faculty, Community College of Denver
Course of Study
Delivered Fully Online
Cohorts start each fall term. Some students may be able to join an existing cohort of students in spring or summer term based on space availability.
You will be able to work full time while completing the program. In addition to the online coursework, you will…
- Attend a mandatory online orientation at the beginning of the program.
- Complete 180 total practicum hours: You will complete the final 90 hours during your final semester, working under a clinical preceptor at a facility.
- Our Clinical Placement Coordinator will help you find clinical placements and qualified preceptors. The Placement Coordinator also provides support and advice if you will complete your clinical experiences outside of Colorado. However, you should be prepared to actively network and locate clinical site experiences.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Dual Enrollment Pathway: If you are a dual enrollment student, you will take online courses at UNC while you are also enrolled in an accredited ADN program at a community college. Most students take one online course at UNC in addition to their ADN courses, then continue with UNC after completion of their ADN program.
Courses and Requirements
UNC RN-BSN Online Coursework
For this online program, UNC will provide the following courses (30 total credits):
- NURS 303 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing
- NURS 305 Professional Nursing Concepts
- NURS 329 Health Assessment – RN/BSN
- NURS 380 Research and Evidenced Based Practice
- NURS 382 Patient-Centered Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
- NURS 383 Current Issues in Health Care RN/BSN
- NURS 405 Theory and Principles of Public Health Nursing: Population-Based Practice
- NURS 406 Population-Based Practice – RN/BSN
- NURS 470 Clinical Practice: Professionalism in Practice
- NURS 480 Professionalism in Practice: Leadership and Management
Prerequisite Courses
The following courses should be completed before program entry (Colorado community college equivalents are listed). If any courses are outstanding at the time of admission, the Program Coordinator will work with you to develop a plan for completion.
- BIO 245 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology – or BIO 2101 at CCCS
- BIO 246 Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology – or BIO 2102 at CCCS
- BIO 251 Allied Health Microbiology – or BIO 2104 at CCCS
- ENG 123 Writing and Research Methods – or ENG 1022 at CCCS
- FND 250 Principles of Nutrition – HWE 1050 at CCCS, or NLN Challenge Exam
- PSY 230 Lifespan Development – PSY 2440 at CCCS, or CLEP Exam
- STAT 150 Introduction to Statistical Analysis – or MAT 1260 at CCCS
Remaining Credits for Graduation
The rest of your 120 total credits for this bachelor’s degree will come from credits you take at UNC or elsewhere.
- These credits will include completing the Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) coursework, which satisfies general education areas required for all undergraduate degree programs at all public higher education institutions in the state of Colorado. You will also be awarded nursing credits through the Colorado Nursing Articulation Agreement. See the Courses & Degree Requirement Details button for more information.
- Many of these credits may come from the courses you transfer. See the Transfer Credit section below for details. Note: A minimum of 30 credits must be completed at UNC to graduate with a BSN degree. If you transfer in any RN-BSN online coursework, you will need to complete additional courses at UNC to reach 30 credits.
- If you need additional coursework to reach 120 credits, see the Taking LAC or Elective Courses Online topic below.
Taking LAC or Elective Courses Online
Some options if you need this additional coursework:
- A wide range of other online courses are available at UNC. See the UNC Course Search – use the “Go to schedule of classes” button (online LAC course availability varies by term).
- 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!
Jori Moore
Enrollment Counselor
Erin Cummins
Program Coordinator
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.
Dual Enrollment Applicants
Please note that you will continue to file for your federal financial aid through your ADN program institution until you complete that program. You will begin to coordinate federal aid with UNC starting in the first semester after completing your ADN program.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
You must meet the current UNC undergraduate admission requirements .
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- GPA is calculated on the most recent 45 non-remedial credits from UNC or other institutions and must be 2.5 GPA or above. Contact the School of Nursing for specifics on the GPA calculation.
- Only applicants who have earned a grade of C or better (C- is not acceptable) in each of the prerequisite courses or course equivalents will be considered for admission. If an applicant is admitted to the RN-BSN program, then earns less than a grade of C in any of the prerequisite courses or course equivalents, their admission to the Nursing program will be rescinded.
- All students entering the RN-BSN program must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the adult and child/infant (health professional) as evidenced by current CPR card. This certification must be maintained while in the program. CPR courses are available outside the School of Nursing.
- RN licensure or Dual Enrollment status is required for admission into the program.
Dual Enrollment Applicants
- You may apply to this program while concurrently enrolled at an affiliated Colorado Community College. The nursing articulation for dually enrolled students will be applied at the completion of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed.
Some state boards of nursing require approval before students can do clinical placements there. It’s important to confirm your state’s rules and whether UNC can place you in a clinical site. If a board of nursing denies a placement in your state, it can delay or prevent you from finishing your degree. For more details on state approvals, visit the State Authorization page and contact the UNC School of Nursing.
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
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
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
- 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.
Recommended Application Deadline
This online program accepts applications throughout the year. Most students will start the program during the Fall term (Aug.). Additional students may join an existing cohort of students in spring or summer term based on available space.
We recommend that you apply at least 30 days before your preferred term starts. However, we may be able to admit you to the upcoming term after that time if there is enough time to process your application. Please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
In the Nursing CAS application system, click on the “Add Program” tab, search for “University of Northern Colorado” and choose one of the following programs via the “+” icon:
- RN-BSN
- Dual Enrollment (RN-BSN)
Start term: Cohorts start each fall term. Some students may be able to join an existing cohort of students in spring or summer term based on space availability.
Apply to This Program
Start Your NursingCAS Application