Online RN to BSN Programs in Colorado

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Colorado

1. University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus

• Program: Online RN to BS
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 4 Semesters
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

The best two things about CU’s Online RN to BS? Reputation & connections. Thanks to its location on the Anschutz Medical Campus, the College of Nursing is affiliated with four nurse-led practices and a number of major Colorado hospitals, including the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado. NCLEX pass rates are strong and independent reviews are solid. The cohort-based Online RN to BSN can be completed in 4 semesters/16 months; all students complete 60 practicum hours. If you’re interested in further education, be sure to check out CU’s highly ranked graduate degrees.

2. University of Northern Colorado

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 5 Semesters/20 Months
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

Searching for a program with a personalized feel? Check out UNC’s cohort-based Online RN-BSN. It features limited class sizes, mentored practicum experiences, and real-time elements. Almost all of the program is online, with the exception of a one-day campus orientation in Loveland. UNC jumps into our #2 Best CO spot thanks to glowing independent reviews for the School of Nursing. Alumni love the student camraderie, top-notch professors, and the opportunities for clinical placement. Better yet, the School offers a Dual Enrollment option for students in an affiliated Colorado Community College.

3. Colorado State University Pueblo

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length:
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No

CSU Pueblo’s Online RN to BSN is a sturdy pick for Colorado residents. The ACEN-accredited School of Nursing has respectable (if not outstanding) licensure results. Tuition rates are reasonable. And online graduate programs are available. Almost all of the RN to BSN coursework is online, but there will be two clinicals—a Global Public Health Nursing Lab and Synthesis for RN’s Lab. Bear in mind that BSN courses may be taken concurrently while enrolled in a Colorado compact state or a Colorado Community College System ADN program.

4. University of Colorado-Colorado Springs

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3-4 Semesters (Full-Time); 5+ Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes—Check Acceptable States

UCCS has a little something for everyone. In addition to a standard 100% Online RN to BSN, the Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences also offers a Dual Enrollment option and a cohort-based Online RN-BSN for UCHealth Southern Region Employees. Students in the well-reviewed UCHealth track are eligible for a special tuition scholarship and personalized support from their UCHealth unit manager. We also like the fact that student-to-faculty ratios are low and calendars are flexible. Online RN to BSN students have the option to take a semester or two off.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Colorado

Colorado is a pretty affordable state for Online RN to BSN students. For our Cheapest CO rankings, we’ve only included degrees that are under $10,000 in total tuition. You might wish to compare these options with the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. Colorado Mountain College

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 34
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

Tuition for CMC’s 100% Online RN to BSN is offered in two tiers. In-state students pay a very reasonable rate (total tuition is ~$8,000), but CO residents who live within the CMC District area get a huge price reduction! We’re also pleased to report that CMC offers all kinds of tuition discounts to other groups, including Ute Indian Tribe members and qualifying veterans & military families.

2. Colorado Christian University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

CCU is a private religious university, so tuition rates & one-off fees for the 100% Online RN to BSN are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. These prices are locked into a guaranteed tuition rate. CCU also offers a sizeable tuition discount to military service members and dependents.

3. Colorado Mesa University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 31
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes—Check State Authorization
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

Students who pay CMU’s standard tuition rate will end up with an Online RN to BSN that costs just under $10,000, plus any additional one-off fees (e.g. matriculation fee). However, CMU has additional price breaks! The College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend for in-state residents will shave ~$1,200 off the total cost of the Online RN to BSN. Eligible employees can also apply for a partner health care facility discount.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Colorado

For our Fastest Colorado rankings, we only considered Online RN to BSN programs that took less than 3 semesters/1 year to complete. We found one offered by a CCNE-accredited, for-profit school and one from a highly regarded—but moderately expensive—non-profit Jesuit university (i.e. Regis). Feel free to compare them with options in our nationwide rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs.

1. Colorado Technical University

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 48 Quarter Credits
• Length: 9 Months/3 Terms
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes—Check Acceptable States

CTU estimates that students can finish its 100% Online RN-BSN in as little as 9 months/3 academic terms. Each term is divided into two sessions of 5.5 weeks. So you might end up taking 2 courses per session and 4 courses per term (12 courses/48 credits in total). The 9-month estimate is for RNs who are transferring the maximum number of credits. If you need to make up General Education prerequisites, your schedule will get longer.

2. Regis University

• Program: Online RN-BSN Completion
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 10 Months/5 Terms (Full-Time); 20 Months/20 Terms (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

If you’re able to commit to taking 2 classes per 8-week term, Regis’s Online RN-BSN Completion program can be completed in as few as 10 months/5 terms. But you can slow it down by taking 1 class per term instead. You also have the option to take the program 100% online or as part of a web-based classroom in a synchronous format. Practicums will be completed in your local community.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Colorado

RN to BSN Requirements in Colorado

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. Colorado Schools of Nursing will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—an RN license. If you’re still waiting to sit the NCLEX exam, you may have a little bit of wiggle room. For example, CMU will allow non-RNs to take up to 3 courses in the Online RN to BSN before they earn their license.

• The Colorado Board of Nursing can answer any questions you may have about state licensure.
• The Board also posts a list of state-approved programs and recent NCLEX pass rates. Pass rates don’t apply to post-licensure programs, but we like to use them as a quality marker. Any schools with terrible numbers should be avoided!

State Authorization: Do you live outside of Colorado? Before you fill out your application, check the fine print on state authorization (e.g. UCCS’s list of Acceptable States and CMU’s State Authorization section). We noticed that a number of CO schools can’t accept Online RN to BSN students from certain areas. When in doubt, ask the RN to BSN program coordinator for clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs Available in Colorado?

You bet. The vast majority of Online RN to BSN programs in our Colorado listings are 100% online, with no campus requirements. There are a couple of exceptions—UNC’s Online RN-BSN has a one-day, in-person orientation—so it never hurts to check if the website doesn’t say “100% online.”

Can I Choose a “No Clinicals” Online RN to BSN in Colorado?

Not really. CCNE-accredited and ACEN-accredited programs almost always include practicums. But these experiences will be unlike clinicals in your diploma or associate degree. BSN-level practicums are much more concerned with community health & leadership training in your local area. For example:

• CU’s Online RN to BSN includes practicum work in a variety of clinical settings and nursing environments under the supervision of a nursing professional.
• UNC’s Online RN-BSN features 180 total practicum hours, including an independent project to demonstrate your leadership and problem-solving skills.
• CTU’s Online RN-BSN includes clinical requirements in Population Based Nursing and Health and Wellness Assessment. For these projects, students work in conjunction with a community agency and a local (and non-related) family.

Do I Need Statistics To Apply for a Colorado Online RN to BSN?

Maybe. Statistics is a standard prerequisite at Colorado schools (e.g. UNC, Regis, UCCS, etc.). However, some CO schools will allow you to apply before you’ve completed it (e.g. CU Anschutz, CCU, etc.). Talk to the RN to BSN program coordinator to learn if you’ll be allowed to take statistics as a “co-requisite.”

Are There Any Online RN to BSN to MSN Programs in Colorado?

Yes. If you’re interested in graduate work—but you need a BSN for employment purposes—you might want to consider an Online RN to BSN to MSN pathway. Examples in Colorado include:

• Regis’s Online RN-MS Nursing Completion: In this accelerated program, you’ll be able to earn a BSN and MS in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems in 3 years. You’ll tackle 4 graduate level courses in the BSN portion of the curriculum.
• CCU’s Online RN-MSN: In this program, students in the Online RN to BSN may apply to the MSN program. Upon acceptance, up to three graduate-level courses (9 credit hours) can be applied to the master’s degree. In this scenario, you may also qualify for the CCU Alumni Scholarship.

Should I Choose a Non-Profit or For-Profit School in Colorado?

It’s up to you. In our CO listings and rankings, you’ll notice that Colorado Technical University and Aspen are for-profit universities. They are CCNE-accredited, but only CTU is regionally accredited. Aspen is nationally accredited.

These Colorado schools are in direct competition with a large number of non-profit, brick & mortar options, including public universities with strong nursing schools (e.g. CU) and highly affordable programs (e.g. CMC, CMU, etc.). So you can really have your pick!

• If you’re interested in impressing employers or eyeing an MSN or DNP in the future, opt for a regionally accredited, non-profit school with a challenging program and a good local reputation.
• If you’re considering a for-profit option because of price or time, be sure to talk to recent RN to BSN alumni about their experiences in the job market.