Bachelor of Science
UCHealth/CU Nursing Employee Pathway (UCHealth)
As a UCHealth employee, you can take advantage of our unique educational pathway that substantially reduces the cost of tuition to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, thanks to the UCHealth Ascend Career Program.
Your journey begins at the Community College of Aurora, where you'll complete two years of prerequisites while maintaining eligibility requirements under the Ascend Career Program. Then, seamlessly transition to CU Nursing at the prestigious Anschutz Medical Campus for your final two years. This flexible pathway allows you to advance your career while continuing to work and earn within UCHealth facilities.
As you near your graduation date, you will be able to take advantage of guided career opportunities to directly apply your education towards working in nursing at UCHealth.
Ideal if you...
Are a UCHealth employee eligible for the Ascend Career Program
Work at UCHealth while completing prerequisites and the CU Nursing program.
(Participate in nursing clinicals on evenings and weekends)
Prefer a smaller class size, steady paced nursing education
Overview
Format
In person
Prerequisite courses will be completed at CCA and could be taken in-person or online. The CU Nursing courses will be in-person.
Avg. time to complete
4 years
Students will complete up to two years of prerequisite work at CCA followed by two years at CU Nursing.
Exam prep
NCLEX
When you finish the program, you can take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a licensed nurse.
Clinical placements set up for you
All clinical experiences will be conducted at UCHealth. Clinical rotations are designed to be held on weekends to allow for greater flexibility for the working adult learner.
Expert faculty dedicated to your success
Many of our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their excellence in nursing, education, and research. Our educators are passionate about helping students advance their knowledge and careers.
State-of-the-art simulation lab
You’ll try out your nursing skills in our high-tech simulation lab. You'll practice real-life scenarios in a safe and inclusive environment under the guidance of experienced faculty.
96.97%
Nursing licensure exam (NCLEX) pass rate*
#1
Nursing bachelor’s program in Colorado*
Career
You'll be confident providing great care to patients in many different healthcare settings after you finish the UCHealth/CU Nursing Employee Path and pass the nursing licensing exam. After graduation, you will be provided custom guidance to available nursing opportunities within the UCHealth system.
What you can do
- Treat patients
- Administer medications
- Perform assessments (taking vital signs, patient evaluation)
- Document patient information
Who you can care for
Becoming a nurse opens many career doors and allows you to treat a wide range of patients. You can also focus on one area of nursing (ER, labor and delivery, oncology), depending on where you want to work.
Where you can work
- Hospitals (UCHealth)
- Nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- Schools
- Public health agencies
- Outpatient clinics
Admissions
Deadline(s)
| Prerequisite Start at CCA | CU Nursing Start | Application Opens | Application Deadline |
| Fall 2025 | Summer 2027 | April 1, 2025 | June 1, 2025 |
| Fall 2026 | Summer 2028 | August 15, 2025 | November 15, 2025 |
Get started
1
Check the requirements
Understand the admissions requirements like how many letters of recommendation you need and what courses should be on your transcript.
2
Start your application
Work on your application and submit it through NursingCAS.
Curriculum
Two years of community college classes
Since this is a new pathway, we are still working on the curriculum plan. As a collaborative program, the curriculum will be designed to provide an opportunity to both work and go to school. Students should anticipate courses/clinicals, during the day, evening, nights, and weekends.
Two years of nursing training
When you start classes at CU Nursing, you'll switch your attention to more in-depth healthcare and nursing topics. You'll learn about pathophysiology, nursing research, and nursing care for children and families, and more.
Skills and knowledge you'll gain
Costs
Important note: Please refer to our partner community college tuition and fees — Community College of Aurora — to calculate costs for the first two years of your education. The following tuition and fees are only applicable for the last two years of this pathway when you complete CU Nursing coursework.
These costs do not include any available education assistance through the Ascend Career Program.
UCHealth will directly pay up to $10,000 per calendar year toward required tuition, books, and fees. The out-of-pocket cost to the employee depends on a variety of factors, such as Colorado Opportunity Fund eligibility, scholarship,s and residency.
| Residency status | Estimated CU Nursing tuition** |
| Colorado residents | $39, 402 |
| Colorado residents + College Opportunity Fund Stipend | $31,746 |
| Eligible western state residents** | $59,136 |
| Nonresidents | $68,575 |
| Additional expenses | Time frame | Estimated costs |
| Matriculation fee | One-time | $140 |
| Other fees | By term | Fall $392, Spring $232, Summer $180 |
| Books and supplies | Total for program | $2,000 |
| CU health insurance (may be waived with proof of comparable personal health insurance) | By term | Fall $1,575, Spring $1,575, Summer $1,050 |
Become the nurse looked to first 
Get your degree from the top nursing college in Colorado. Start your journey to become a CU nurse today.