Nurses make up the largest single group of health care professionals. There are four times as many nurses as physicians in the United States.

Registered nurses (RNs) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients come to terms with illness. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. The RN is a license earned after passing the NCLEX examination.  This examination is only open to students who have graduated from an accredited nursing program at either the Associates, Bachelors (BSN), or Masters (MSN) level.  Any student interested in a nursing career is strongly encouraged to earn the BSN or MSN degree in order to be competitive and prepared for the demands of the workforce.

Health Professions advisors at CSU work with students interested in pursuing nursing to explore their options.

Students who have already enrolled at CSU and are interested in earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree to enter the field of nursing have four options:

• Transfer to a BSN-granting institution.
• Complete nursing pre-requisites at CSU and then apply to nursing programs at BSN-granting institutions.
• Earn a non-nursing bachelor’s degree while completing nursing pre-requisites and then pursue an accelerated BSN program after graduation. The B.S. programs in Health and Exercise Science, Human Development and Family Studies, and Nutrition Science offer a Pre-Nursing Concentration (beginning Fall 2026) that includes these pre-requisites as part of the curriculum. 
• Declare a major in Health and Exercise Science, Human Development and Family Studies, and Nutrition Science and select the Pre-Nursing Concentration (beginning Fall 2026), and then apply for the 3+2 Direct Entry Nursing Program at Fort Collins, offered by CSU Pueblo’s School of Nursing. Accepted students will switch to the nursing concentration and complete their B.S. from CSU and a M.S. in Nursing from CSU Pueblo in five years, all in Fort Collins. 

Most traditional BSN programs require two years of coursework in sciences, math, composition, writing, and social sciences before students are admitted to their clinical program. Few nursing schools in Colorado admit large numbers of transfer students into their clinical programs (the last two years of the BSN), and prospective students should consider their options carefully and consult with an advisor before deciding to prepare for nursing school at a college or university that does not itself offer a nursing program.  Accelerated programs are, as the name suggests, intensive and quick-paced programs ranging from 12 – 20 months in which students will earn a second Bachelors Degree – this one in Nursing.

Please check out this resource from the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) comparing the many nursing degree options.

Accredited Programs:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Schools of Nursing)

Colorado Programs: All schools have traditional, accelerated, and graduate programs unless otherwise noted.
Adams State University (no accelerated or graduate programs)
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Mesa University (no accelerated program)
Colorado State University – Pueblo
Colorado Tech University
Denver College of Nursing
Front Range Community College (no accelerated program)
Metropolitan State University
Platt College
Regis University
University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
University of Colorado – Denver
University of Northern Colorado

HESI or check individual schools/programs for information on tests or exams.

NursingCAS or check individual schools/programs for information on application services.

American Nursing Association
National League of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing