UNC's traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing combines pre-clinical study with a separately admitted clinical phase. Open-admission applicants apply to UNC and the nursing program; selection considers academic performance, HESI, Casper, reference surveys, and UNC-earned credits. The degree prepares graduates to pursue RN licensure.
- Program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Credential
- BSN
- Location
- Greeley, Colorado, United States
- Casper
- Required · CSP-10100
- Interview
- No interview
- Seats
- 72 traditional BSN admits per application cycle
- Length
- Nine semesters
Casper Requirement for University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate
University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- U.S. Undergraduate Health Sciences · CSP-10100
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- Register with your UNC Bear email and the name used on your application; enter your UNC Bear Number in NursingCAS.
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.
University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- UNC undergraduate application and NursingCAS BSN application
- Application fee
- $60 NursingCAS fee; UNC undergraduate application fee waived with code UNCnursing
Admission to UNC and admission to the clinical nursing major require separate applications. A UNC Bear Number is needed for NursingCAS.
University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate Admissions Statistics
Period: UNC program webpage; undated program averages
- Seats / class size: 72 traditional BSN admits per application cycle
- Average acceptance rate: 50%, stated by UNC as a program average
Enrollment is limited by available resources.
Eligibility Requirements for University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate
- Degree / credits
Open-admission applicants do not need a minimum number of earned UNC credits; UNC credits contribute to selection scoring. The 18-credit threshold belongs to the separate, currently closed Bears Admission pathway.
- Language proficiency
Applicants whose primary language is not English, who are international students, or who did not earn a U.S. high-school or college degree must demonstrate English proficiency for the clinical nursing program.
Admission pathways
- Traditional BSN open admission: For students starting college after high school or transferring; separate admission to the clinical major is required.
- Bears Admission: An early pathway for eligible current UNC students; its next application is for a 2028 start.
- Second-Degree BSN: A separate pathway for applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree.
- RN to BSN and Dual Enrollment: Separate pathways for licensed RNs and eligible associate-degree nursing students.
Strategic applicants verify eligibility by reviewing UNC's admissions portal before submitting, ensuring transcripts reflect current standings.
Other requirements
- Official transcripts and course entry: Submit official transcripts from every institution, including UNC, to NursingCAS and enter completed and in-progress courses.
- Two standardized recommendation surveys: Provide reference names and email addresses in NursingCAS; one academic and one professional, subject to UNC's stated substitutions.
- Requirements after admission: Clinical admission is contingent on a satisfactory background check, clear drug screen, and passing grades in remaining prerequisites; admitted students must attend a mandatory program meeting.
- Clinical-phase clearances: Students need health clearances and immunizations, health-professional CPR certification, and required OSHA/HIPAA compliance testing.
Selection Factors University of Northern Colorado Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| BIO 110 Biology: Atoms to Cells | required C- or higher |
| BIO 245 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | required C- or higher; laboratory required |
| BIO 246 Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology | required C- or higher; laboratory required |
| BIO 251 Allied Health Microbiology | required C- or higher; laboratory required |
| CHEM 281 and CHEM 281L Fundamentals of Biochemistry and Laboratory | required C- or higher |
| ENG 123 College Research Paper | required C- or higher |
| FND 250 Principles of Nutrition | required C- or higher |
| NURS 326 Pathophysiology | required C- or higher |
| PSY 230 Human Growth and Development | required C- or higher |
| STAT 150 Introduction to Statistical Analysis | required C- or higher |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Admission GPA uses the most recent 45 college credit hours and grades in completed nursing prerequisites; AP, technical, technical-school nursing, and remedial grades are excluded.
- Minimum
- 3.0/4.0
A C- or higher is required in each prerequisite; meeting the GPA minimum does not guarantee clinical admission.
Admissions tests
- HESI Admission Assessment (required): Scores average reading comprehension, vocabulary and general knowledge, basic math, and anatomy and physiology; no total or section minimum is specified.
- TOEFL iBT or IELTS (required for some applicants): For applicants subject to UNC's English-proficiency requirement: TOEFL iBT 80 overall and 26 speaking, or IELTS 6.5 overall and 7 speaking.
Experience and volunteer hours
Not required.
No work, volunteer, or research-hour minimum is listed. Applicants without work or volunteer experience may provide two academic references for the required surveys.
Supplementary application
Enter two standardized recommendation surveys in NursingCAS: one academic and one professional. UNC permits two professional references when no recent course was taken, or two academic references when the applicant has no work or volunteer experience. A writing sample is not listed in the published application instructions.
How applicants are ranked
UNC's published open-admission scoring ranks applicants by admission GPA (50%), HESI (20%), Casper (10%), standardized recommendation surveys (10%), and UNC-earned credits (10%). Weights for the next fall-start application have not been published.
Interview Format at University of Northern Colorado
Format: No interview
UNC's published open-admission selection criteria rank applicants by an admission score; no interview is listed.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate
- Program length
- Nine semesters
- Structure
Four pre-clinical semesters of prerequisites and general education precede formal admission to five clinical semesters of nursing coursework.
- Campuses
- Greeley
The undergraduate program in nursing at UNC is a nine semester program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. It includes clinical rotations limited by resources.
Campus and facilities
Located in Greeley, Colorado, UNC's School of Nursing features dedicated simulation labs and affiliations for clinical placements across the region. Facilities support hands-on training, aligning with the BSN's practical focus. Prospective students visit during open houses to assess labs and housing options. The Greeley campus fosters a supportive environment, with many commuters valuing regional clinical opportunities. UNC attracts transfers from community colleges like WT, integrating them seamlessly into the BSN track.
Tuition and Funding at University of Northern Colorado
- 2026-27 resident undergraduate, 15 credits per semester: $4,869.75 after the College Opportunity Fund stipend
- 2026-27 nonresident undergraduate, 15 credits per semester: $13,047
These published rates cover Summer 2027; Fall 2027 tuition is not yet posted. Nursing coursework may carry differential tuition and course fees.
University of Northern Colorado's Mission and Values
The undergraduate program in nursing at UNC is a nine semester program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe instructors as approachable, contributing to positive learning experiences. Students report positive experiences with approachable instructors and collaborative peers. Many commuters value regional clinical opportunities. Matriculated students highlight the program's appeal for job placement, comparing favorably to nearby options like App or ECU due to strong local networks. Recent graduates note manageable early career adjustments post-BSN.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate Application
- Review the required nursing prerequisites and the 3.0 GPA minimum.
- Apply separately to UNC and, when the next application opens, to NursingCAS.
- Arrange official transcripts from every institution, including UNC, for NursingCAS.
- Prepare for the HESI, Casper, and two standardized recommendation surveys.
- Check UNC's admissions page for the next application and Casper dates before booking.
More About University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate
- Clinical focus
Clinical coursework follows formal admission to the nursing major
- Transfer applicants
UNC reviews transfer equivalencies for nursing prerequisites
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Northern Colorado Nursing- Undergraduate
Does UNC require Casper for undergraduate nursing admissions?
Yes. UNC includes Casper in its published BSN open-admission selection criteria; future fall-start test dates have not been posted.
What is the minimum GPA for UNC BSN open admission?
The minimum is 3.0/4.0. UNC calculates admission GPA using recent college coursework and completed nursing prerequisites.
Which Casper dates are available for UNC's next fall-start BSN application?
UNC has not published Casper dates for the next fall-start application.
Is research experience required for UNC's BSN?
No research-hour requirement is listed. Two standardized recommendation surveys are required in UNC's published application instructions.
How long is UNC's undergraduate nursing curriculum?
The traditional plan spans nine semesters: four pre-clinical and five clinical.
Can licensed RNs pursue a UNC BSN?
Yes. UNC offers separate RN-to-BSN and Dual Enrollment pathways; traditional BSN open admission is a different pathway.
How competitive is UNC traditional BSN admission?
UNC reports 72 traditional-program admits per application cycle and an average 50% acceptance rate; neither figure is a guarantee for a particular cycle.
Are interviews required for UNC traditional BSN admission?
No interview is listed in UNC's published open-admission scoring criteria.
Sources
- unco.edu: nursing
- unco.edu: admissions
- news.cuanschutz.edu: eight ways to stand out when applying to nursing school
- unco.edu: nursing bachelor science bsn
- unco.smartcatalogiq.com: nursing bsn
- unco.edu: bachelor science nursing
- unco.edu: admissionselectioncriteriasufa26
- unco.smartcatalogiq.com: nursing bsn
- unco.smartcatalogiq.com: nursing bsn rnbsn registered nurse seeking bachelor of science in nursing
- blackstonetutors.com: nursing university interviews the complete guide
Last updated: September 26, 2026