University of Northern Colorado

Program Length & Format

• Program length: 20 months (five consecutive semesters)
• Nursing credit hours: 71 required nursing course credits
• Start term: cohorts begin each Summer term
• Delivery locations: courses primarily on UNC Greeley campus, some at Loveland Center at Centerra, plus online components
• Course format: foundation courses use hybrid delivery; clinical experiences in surrounding area; no part-time track

Admission Requirements

• Must meet UNC undergraduate admission requirements for the applied academic year
• Minimum cumulative college GPA: 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, calculated using most recent 45 semester hours and all completed nursing prerequisite courses
• Minimum grade in each prerequisite course: C or higher; C- not acceptable
• Only the most current grade from the first two attempts is used for admission screening for repeated prerequisites
• Up to four prerequisite courses may be in progress at time of application

Prerequisites

• Required courses (must be completed prior to program start): BIO 110 Principles of Biology (4); BIO 245 Intro to Human Anatomy & Physiology (4); BIO 246 Advanced Human Anatomy & Physiology (3); BIO 251 Allied Health Microbiology (4); CHEM 281 Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4) with lab; ENG 123 College Research Paper (3); FND 250 Principles of Nutrition (3) (FND 357 accepted if taken before 2012-2013); NURS 326 Pathophysiology (3); PSY 230 Human Growth & Development (3); STAT 150 Introduction to Statistical Analysis (3)
• BIO and CHEM courses must include a lab component to be considered equivalent
• All prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of application; courses older than 10 years must be retaken
• BIO 110, BIO 245, BIO 246, BIO 251, CHEM 281/281L, and NURS 326 will not be accepted if delivered in self-paced, self-directed, or independent study formats

Deadlines

• Nursing application materials posted: November each year
• School of Nursing application acceptance begins: January
• School of Nursing application due: mid-January
• UNC undergraduate application: accepted year-round; select Summer as Entry Term for this program

Application

• Two applications required: UNC undergraduate application and School of Nursing application
• UNC application instructions: select "Nursing B.S.N. (Seeking Second Bachelors)" and Summer entry; use fee waiver code UNCnursing to waive UNC application fee
• Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Transfer students must apply as transfer student "Seeking Nursing"

Selection Process

• Typical applicant pool for Second Degree BSN: 30–50 qualified applicants per cycle
• Typical cohort size for Second Degree BSN: 36 students
• Admission limited by available cohort slots; applicants must meet admission requirements for consideration

Cost & Financial Aid

• Program tuition rate (2025–26 academic year): $476 per credit hour
• Extended Campus tuition policy: flat per-credit rate for all students; no added student or technology fees; some courses may carry specific course fees
• Federal financial aid: FAFSA required for federal aid consideration
• Financial aid enrollment thresholds: minimum 6 credits per term for federal aid eligibility; full-time defined as 12 credits per term
• Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): automatically charged for degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled in 9 or more credits; opt-out available each Fall

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical and laboratory hours: total of 1,005 hours between clinical and laboratory coursework for the curriculum
• Clinical sites: hospitals, nursing homes, industry, schools, and community agencies, primarily in northeastern Colorado with some Denver/Metro placements
• Clinical coursework runs concurrently with nursing theory and is guided by nursing faculty

Credit Transfer

• Official transcripts required from all institutions attended for transfer evaluation
• Transfer credit evaluation available via UNC Office of the Registrar; Transferology service available to view published course equivalencies prior to application
• Articulation information available for Colorado public two-year institutions

International Students

• International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency or enroll in ESL programs as required
• International applicants must submit financial documentation showing ability to pay tuition and living expenses for time in the United States
• Some external scholarships or sponsors may restrict how many online credits count toward the degree; applicants with sponsors should verify restrictions

Contacts

• UNC School of Nursing main office: Gunter Hall 3080, Campus Box 125, Greeley, CO 80639
• School of Nursing phone: 970-351-2293
• School of Nursing fax: 970-351-1707
• NHS Advising Center phone for advising appointments: 970-351-3082
• UNC main contact: 970-351-1890
• UNC Extended Campus Loveland address: 2915 Rocky Mountain Ave, Suite 100, Loveland, CO 80538

The University of Northern Colorado Master of Science in Nursing, program is designed to prepare Nurse Educators and Advanced Practitioners.

The program offers an emphasis in Family Nurse Practitioner to prepare nurses who can engage in advanced clinical practice.  

The Master of Science program is intended to facilitate for the schedules of adult professionals with classes offered just one day a week with some courses offered online. The FNP emphasis is not offered as a full time program at the current time.

The nursing master’s program has a limited amount of Scholarships and graduate assistantships available to full time and part time students in the different emphasis.

Admission Requirements

1. A Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from an AACN or NLN accredited college or University
2. Official transcript from all accredited college or university programs attended at the undergraduate and graduate program
3. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 or more
4. Current, valid and unencumbered License to practice as a Registered Nurse in Colorado or proof of eligibility
5. Written statement describing professional goals
6. Current Resume
7. Proof of clinical experience with a minimum of one year preferred
8. Two letters of recommendations

The School of Nursing reviews applications once every academic year. The Application Deadline for enrollment in the fall semester is the preceding 1st of February.