Nursing Admissions

As the demand for healthcare continues to increase, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are looking for highly skilled nurses who can meet the needs of this continually evolving profession. Without a doubt, the U.S. healthcare system is becoming increasingly more complex, and several nursing specialty organizations and government agencies are calling for a more educated nursing workforce. In fact, the New York Times reports that nurses with an advanced baccalaureate and graduate degrees are highly sought after by employers^1,2, who see this increased dose of foundational, real-world knowledge as essential to better patient outcomes.

Admission into Colorado Technical University’s RN-to-BSN or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs could help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide the best possible care for your patients. Plus, our RN-to-BSN program is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.

Our nursing programs offer the flexibility to earn your degree on your schedule in a compelling online learning environment. In addition to offering eight convenient start dates throughout the year, our accelerated degree programs allow you to earn an RN-to-BSN degree in as few as nine months, while a MSN can be completed in as few as 18 to 20 months. Here are a few other ways that CTU can help you streamline your nursing education and put you on a path to graduation.

• RN-to-BSN students can transfer up to 75% of their degree credits with relevant education, licensure, certification, and experience
• With Intellipath, our award-winning, adaptive learning platform, you can more easily skip course materials that you already know while identifying areas where you may need additional help.
• CTU Mobile, a cutting-edge mobile platform for your iOS or Android-enabled device, lets you participate in class discussions and view upcoming assignments from anywhere at any time.
• Ready to get started? CTU offers a 48-hour decision window after submitting application

Admissions Criteria

Prospective students need to meet the following criteria to be considered for admission to the RN-to-BSN completion program or MSN programs:

1. Have an unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license issued in the United States. Our nursing program can serve nurses across America, the military and around the world. However, state requirements do vary. At this time, Colorado Technical University cannot accept inquiries from the following states:
   • For the RN-BSN: Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia
   • For the MSN: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
2. Complete a scheduled interview with an admissions advisor. This helps us identify the right program and concentration of courses to help you reach your goal. Our admissions, financial aid, and prior learning assessment teams will also review your previous experience to see how it might apply as degree credit, and can help you explore financials aid and assessment options which may help you pay for your education. Call (1-855-230-0555) to schedule an admissions interview today.
3. Current nurses can also work with an advisor to plan an Experiential Learning Portfolio, which may also apply for credit toward your degree.
4. Fill out a Colorado Technical University application. Apply online and get an answer within 48 hours. The application is your opportunity to tell us why you’re interested in CTU’s nursing programs and to share proof of prior education, certifications and work experiences that pertain to your degree.

BSN Admission Requirements

Admission to this program requires an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States. Students must have graduated from an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Diploma Registered Nurse (RN) Program, or an educational transition program preparing students for eligibility to become licensed as a Registered Nurse.

Recently graduated students with a completed Associate Degree in Nursing or Diploma Registered Nurse (RN Program) but are pending successful completion of the NCLEX exam, may provisionally enroll into Colorado Technical University’s BSN program. A provisionally accepted student must provide evidence of the passed exam prior to the end of the first quarter of study. Students who do not complete or pass the NCLEX during the first quarter will be administratively withdrawn from the university.

MSN Admission Requirements

Students who apply to the MSN online degree are required to have a BSN degree from an accredited university, have an unencumbered license, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study.

Prior to starting the MSN program all applicants must submit an unofficial or official copy of college transcript from their BSN degree for review. Applicants to MSN degree program who meet all general admission requirements, but who have a CGPA for the BSN degree between 2.75 to 2.99 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study, may be granted provisional admission. Students must successfully complete their first two MSN courses with a minimum of 3.0 GPA to be granted full admission to the nursing program or be administratively withdrawn.

The steps outlined above are general guidelines for application to our Nursing programs. Requirements may vary for specific student applications, especially those requesting transfer of credit or other qualifying considerations.

Contact our admissions advisors to discuss potentially specific admission scenarios.

Here are specific areas that may also require additional information for admission to our Nursing Programs:

• Military Students
• International Students
• Previous Students (Re-entry)
• Transfer Students

¹ Nursing World, “The Nursing Workforce 2015: Growth, Salaries, Education, Demographics & Trends” retried from the internet: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workforce/Fast-Facts-2014-Nursing-Workforce.pdf
² The New York Times, “More Stringent Requirements Send More Nurses Back to School”, June 23, 2012, on the internet at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/education/changing-requirements-send-nurses-back-to-school.html?_r=0