Denver College of Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) · Denver, CO · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
ActiveHybridlast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses Denver College of Nursing says you need before you start, as published on its own pages. Credits, labs, and minimum grades are shown where the school states them.
- 01MicrobiologyMicrobiology with labEquivalent to 6 quarter credits. Must be within 7 years of DCN start date.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Microbiology with lab | 4 | 6”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 02Combined Anatomy & Physiology (one course)Anatomy & Physiology with labsEquivalent to 12 quarter credits. Must be within 7 years of DCN start date.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Anatomy & Physiology with labs | 8 | 12”
credits8labrequiredmin gradeC - 03StatisticsStatisticsEquivalent to 4 quarter credits.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Statistics | 3 | 4”
credits3min gradeC - 04Lifespan / Human Growth & DevelopmentHuman Growth & DevelopmentEquivalent to 4 quarter credits.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Human Growth & Development | 3 | 4”
credits3min gradeC - 05NutritionNutritionEquivalent to 4 quarter credits. Applicants without a bachelor's degree must additionally complete two other sciences (7 credits, one with lab), Algebra, Psychology, English Composition, English, and 16 credits of general education.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Nutrition | 3 | 4”
credits3min gradeC
Minimum prerequisite grade
C (C- not accepted)
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Applicants who already possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, must show satisfactory completion of 21 semester credits from an accredited institution with a GPA of 2.0 or better and with grades of C or above (C- or below are not acceptable) for the courses noted below.”
Prerequisites in progress
Allowed at application; all must be complete before program start
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Prerequisite course work does not have to be completed at the time of application, however please be realistic about being able to complete all outstanding prerequisites before the start date of the program.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Science course recency
Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology within 7 years of the DCN start date
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“NOTE :Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology must have been taken within seven (7) years of start date at Denver College of Nursing.”
Prerequisite attempt limits Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
GPA and grades
Minimum cumulative GPA for admission
2.0 on a 4.0 scale
Admission is competitive and not based solely on GPA.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.”
Science GPA
Considered in selection; no minimum published
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Important note: This program has an admissions process where students are selected based on a number of factors including personal statement, previous health care and or volunteer experience and cumulative / science GPA (acceptance is not based solely on GPA).”
Transfer credits and GPA
Transfer credits do not count toward the DCN GPA
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Transfer credits are recorded as hours earned toward the program without counting toward a student’s GPA.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Is there an entrance exam?
Entrance exam
Wonderlic SLE, score of 22 on a single attempt; if not met, HESI A2 with 75% on English Composite and Math subscales
Up to two HESI A2 attempts within 12 months; a third may be granted with evidence of a refresher/remediation course.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Applicants to the pre-licensure baccalaureate and associate nursing programs will be required to take the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). The SLE minimum entrance requirements for the pre-licensure baccalaureate and associate degree programs are a score of 22 on the first, and single attempt at the SLE exam.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Where can courses be taken?
Community college credit
Accepted
Listed prerequisites must be from an accredited U.S. institution.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Through transfer-credit acceptance with Sophia Learning, Portage Learning, StraighterLine, and community colleges, DCN helps you build a personalized pathway to complete the prerequisite and general education courses needed to begin your BSN.”
Credit by exam
CLEP accepted with score of 50+; AP score 3+ accepted only when shown on a college transcript as transfer credit
No maximum credit limit published.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Students who have received the required credit-granting scores (50 or higher) on College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams can earn college credit.”
Online lab policy Not published. Confirm with the school.
Pass/fail courses Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Application deadlines and start dates
Upcoming cycles Denver College of Nursing publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
Fall 2026 quarter startDeadline not publishedCatalog academic schedule lists quarter start dates for MSN, BSN and ADN; no application deadlines are published. Enrollments may be accepted until the orientation date. The catalog does not confirm a BSN cohort starts every quarter at each campus, though the program page says four start dates per year.
Winter 2027 quarter startDeadline not publishedQuarter start from the 2027 academic schedule; no application deadline published. All prerequisites must be complete before the start date.
Spring 2027 quarter startDeadline not publishedQuarter start from the 2027 academic schedule; no application deadline published.
Summer 2027 quarter startDeadline not publishedQuarter start from the 2027 academic schedule; no application deadline published.
Fall 2027 quarter startDeadline not publishedQuarter start from the 2027 academic schedule; no application deadline published.
Application route
Direct DCN application; NursingCAS not mentioned
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“A completed application for admission ; non-refundable application fee may apply”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Cost
Tuition and fees as the school publishes them. Living costs vary; the source link has the full table.
Program tuition
$59,930 program tuition
Page estimates $65,903 total including 56 credits of prerequisites at ~$320 per general education course through approved providers.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“DCN’s BSN Program | 21 Months | $59,930 | ~$320 average per course* | $65,903”
Application fee Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Interview
Required for conditionally accepted applicants
Interviews may be in person or by phone; applicants must schedule with their advisor within 10 days of being contacted.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“All applicants of the ADN and BSN on-campus programs who are conditionally accepted are required to set up an admissions interview.”
Personal statement
One-page typed personal statement (double-spaced, 12 pt) on professional goals, healthcare work and volunteer experience
Reviewed for content and for writing style, syntax and grammar.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Applicants will submit a one-page typewritten personal statement (double-spaced, 12 point font) that addresses your professional goals, healthcare related work background and volunteer experience with their application.”
Healthcare/volunteer experience
Considered in selection; not required
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Important note: This program has an admissions process where students are selected based on a number of factors including personal statement, previous health care and or volunteer experience and cumulative / science GPA (acceptance is not based solely on GPA).”
Residency requirement
At least 75% of program courses must be taken at DCN
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“A minimum of 75% of the DCN program courses must be earned at Denver College of Nursing.”
Minimum age
18 at program start
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Be 18 years of age or older at the time they start their program of study”
- Drug screen and criminal background check before program start.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Eligibility for all BSN programs is pending the successful completion of a drug screen and a criminal background check due before the start of the program. These are not required with the initial application.”
- Immunization records and Fit For Practice form.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Eligibility for all BSN programs is pending the successful submission of all required immunizations records and completed “Fit For Practice” form.”
- Ability to become CPR certified (Healthcare Provider CPR due 5 weeks before clinical quarter).
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Applicants must have the ability to become certified in CPR. This is not required with the initial application.”
Prior degree Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“Open to applicants with a prior associate or bachelor's degree; applicants without a bachelor's must complete 56 semester credits of prerequisites/gen ed” vs “A bachelor's degree is not required. Bachelor's holders need 21 semester credits of prerequisites; applicants without a bachelor's need 56 semester credits.”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Recommendations Not published. Confirm with the school.
CNA Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Good to know
What the school says about the program that is not a requirement: how it selects, how many it admits, what to expect.
Format
Hybrid classroom instruction with on-campus labs and clinicals
FAQ describes on-campus attendance 3–4 classes per week plus clinicals 2 days per week.
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“With small class sizes and a thoughtfully designed curriculum, the BSN at DCN provides a balance of hybrid classroom instruction, focused group learning, and hands-on lab activities.”
Selection method
Ranked point system by admissions committee
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Successful applicants will be accepted through a ranked point system by the admissions committee and will be notified of acceptance when all admissions requirements are met.”
Pathophysiology excluded
Pathophysiology cannot count as a science prerequisite
source · denvercollegeofnursing.edu
“Pathophysiology cannot be used as a science prerequisite as it is part of the program.”
Start terms Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“Four starts per year (quarterly: winter, spring, summer, fall)” vs “Four start dates per year”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for Denver College of Nursing, with when we last checked it. Tier 1 is the program's own pages; tier 2 the nursing school's general pages; tier 3 university-wide pages.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)tier 1 · program page · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Nursing School Admissions | DCNtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Application Process | DCNtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Catalog and Student Handbookstier 3 · catalog · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Denver College of Nursing FAQs | DCNtier 2 · faq · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Privacy Policytier 3 · policy · checked Oct 15, 2026
- 2026 Catalog | Denver College of Nursingtier 1 · catalog · checked Oct 15, 2026
- https://www.denvercollegeofnursing.edu/content/dam/denver/pdfs/DCN_Student%20Handbook%202025-2026-DENVER.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 15, 2026PDF text truncated (55 pages)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Full Degree | Denver College of Nursingtier 1 · catalog · checked Oct 15, 2026
- General Admission Requirements | Denver College of Nursingtier 1 · catalog · checked Oct 15, 2026
- https://catalog.denvercollegeofnursing.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/pdf_generator/2026-catalog_-_September_21_2026-1790017281--1790017283.pdf?v=1790017283tier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 15, 2026PDF text truncated (115 pages)
Open questions we're still checking
- The program page's General Requirements say BSN Completion Option applicants must show 56 semester / 80 quarter credits with a 2.0 GPA, while the bachelor's-holder section requires only 21 semester credits; how these interact for second-degree applicants is unclear.
- No application deadlines are published; the catalog lists quarterly start dates, and enrollments may be accepted until orientation.
- The catalog's 'Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Full Degree' option is marked 'Not currently offered'; this is a different option from the BSN Completion Option extracted here, which the program page presents as active.
- Application fee amount is not published ('may apply').
- Whether online science labs (e.g., Portage, StraighterLine) satisfy the 'with lab' requirements is not explicitly stated.
- No application deadlines are published; enrollments may be accepted until the orientation date.
- It is unclear whether every catalog quarter start (January, April, July, October) is a BSN cohort start at both the Denver and Houston campuses.
- The catalog's 'Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Full Degree' option is marked 'This program is not being currently offered at the College.' That is a separate option from the Completion Option described here.
- It is unclear whether bachelor's-degree holders must also show the 56 semester credits listed in the General Requirements.
- The amount of the application fee is not published.
- Format: the program page says 'hybrid classroom instruction', but other pages list the BSN as an on-campus program.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on start_terms: Four starts per year (quarterly: winter, spring, summer, fall) | Four start dates per year.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on degree_requirement: Open to applicants with a prior associate or bachelor's degree; applicants without a bachelor's must complete 56 semester credits of prerequisites/gen ed | A bachelor's degree is not required. Bachelor's holders need 21 semester credits of prerequisites; applicants without a bachelor's need 56 semester credits..
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ABSNcheck summarizes requirements that schools publish on their own websites, with a link to each source and the date we last verified it. Schools change requirements, sometimes contradict themselves, and make individual decisions. Results show whether you meet published minimums; they are not an admission decision or a guarantee, and are not official advice from any school. Always confirm requirements with each program before you apply or enroll in a course.
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