Bachelor's Programs

Multiple Pathways to Your Degree

A guide to the CU College of Nursing Bachelor's Programs

  • If you have your associate degree in nursing, the RN to BS in Nursing program is right for you.
  • If you have a bachelor's degree in a different field and are wanting to complete your BS in nursing in 12 months.
  • If you don't have a bachelor's degree, or do have a bachelor's degree in a different field, and are interested in our 24 month program​.
  • If you are currently enrolled in an associate degree in nursing program and are interested in pursuing the BS degree the RN to BS Early Decision Pathway may be right for you.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing offers pioneering, nationally ranked nursing programs that empower prospective students to achieve their career goals.

As a prospective student, you will be joining a professional, friendly and future-oriented community. Our distinguished faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and innovative programs will provide you with the tools to drive your career in the right direction.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing offers four baccalaureate paths: a Bachelor of Science program with Traditional Pathway; an accelerated "UCAN" Pathway; an online RN to BS in Nursing program for current ADN Nursing students or registered nurses; and an Integrated Nursing Pathway program through the community colleges of Aurora, Denver, and Red Rocks. If you have a passion for nursing, we invite you to join us.

Baccalaureate Program Curricular Guiding Statement

The College of Nursing faculty believes that nursing is a professional discipline with academic and practice dimensions, and that the program prepares generalists for practice at the baccalaureate level. The College of Nursing faculty also believes that the program prepares professional nurse leaders to be good stewards of the profession, managing patient care in a variety of healthcare contexts through the advocacy of compassionate, evidence-based, relationship-centered, interprofessional team-based care to enhance and sustain health and healing. These core faculty beliefs are the context in which the curricular foundations of the AACN Baccalaureate Essentials and QSEN framework are realized in the College of Nursing BS program. (Endorsed by BS Faculty September 2015)

Top Nursing Program

Bachelor’s Program

Our bachelor’s program netted a spot in the top rankings for nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report (#31). This was the first time U.S. News ranked undergraduate nursing programs and involved 694 nursing programs across the nation.
Bachelor's Degree (BSN)

Traditional Pathway - Nursing Bachelor's

  • Outcome: Bachelor's
  • Learning Format: Classroom Only
  • Required for Entry: Associate's Degree or Non-Nursing Bachelor's or Some College

Integrated Nursing Pathway (INP - BSN)

Integrated Nursing Pathway

  • Outcome: Bachelor's
  • Learning Format: Classroom Only
  • Required for Entry: Associate's Degree or Some College

UCAN Accelerated (BSN)

Accelerated Nursing Bachelor's - UCAN

  • Outcome: Bachelor's
  • Learning Format: Classroom Only
  • Required for Entry: Non-Nursing Bachelor's

Online RN to BS in Nursing Program (BSN)

Online RN to BS in Nursing

  • Outcome: Bachelor's
  • Learning Format: Online Only
  • Required for Entry: Associates Degree in Nursing with Active U.S. RN License

Dual ADN BS

RN to BS Early Decision Option for ADN students

  • Outcome: Bachelor's
  • Learning Format: Online Only
  • Required for Entry: Current enrollment in an associate’s degree of nursing program