We get this question a lot. Our Prelicensure track program is for students who do not already have an RN license, want to earn a BS in Nursing, and prepare for the NCLEX licensing exam. The Online RN to BS track is for associates degree prepared nurses who already have their RN license or are ready to take the NCLEX licensing exam, and wish to continue their education to earn a BS in Nursing.
The RN is the license issued by the State of Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, and the BS is the degree issued by the University of Utah. Both tracks earn the same degree at the end of the program.
Currently, students have a fall, spring, or summer semester start option with a three or four consecutive semester program.
No. Prerequisite courses do not expire for the RN-BS program.
Yes. You must have all basic general education classes complete before starting RN-BS coursework. We recommend that students graduate from their associate degree nursing programs with a full associate degree (AS), as the associate of applied science (AAS) in Nursing alone may not cover all general education.
For more information, please watch THIS PRESENTATION.
Yes. There are upper division general education requirements that are required of all bachelor degree graduates. However, all of those requirements are covered by the required RN-BS classes, so you do NOT need to find classes outside of the RN-BS program to complete them.
For more information, please watch THIS PRESENTATION.
University of Utah Transfer Student Programs can answer any questions related to transferring courses and general education requirements.
Questions regarding the nursing program and prerequisites should be directed to the College of Nursing.
Courses are asynchronous, which means you may log in at any time of the day or night to complete your coursework. However you will have discussions, quizzes, exams, assignments, etc which will have deadlines you need to meet. All courses are semester-based and follow the dates outline in the University of Utah academic calendar.
Most students in the RN-BS program are working full-time while juggling numerous other responsibilities. The online course format allows students to access courses at their convenience and still stay current with assignments. As with all college courses, you can estimate putting in three hours per credit hour each week.
If you choose to attend school full-time, we recommend only working up to 20 hours per week.
You will be expected to log in to the online learning system Canvas Instructure often, at least two to three times a week. The majority of RN-BS students own their computers. They find this extremely helpful, as they are not restricted to the hours of operation at the library and other things. Knowledge of basic computer skills and Internet navigation are a must. Time management skills and self-discipline will play critical roles in your success.
We have two application deadlines:
- Fall semester deadline is February 1
- Spring and Summer semesters deadline is September 1
Applicants must also apply and be admitted to the University of Utah (a separate application) before the Main Campus's application deadlines.
No. However, you will need to be admitted for the semester in which you plan to start. You will also need to ensure you apply by the deadlines posted by the University of Utah.
You can be enrolled in or registered for up to three prerequisite courses when you apply. All prerequisite and general education courses must be completed before you begin the program. Contact the College of Nursing at 801-587-3194 to discuss your situation with an advisor.
We encourage students to attend a one-day on-campus orientation at the beginning of the program and a poster presentation during their final semester. However, there are online options for both of these events, so it is not required.
Yes. Students complete 45 clinical hours partnering with nurse leaders and a 68-hour clinical practicum leading to a durable quality improvement project, both of which may be completed at your place of employment.
Please note: Out of state students will be required to travel to Utah to complete the 45 clinical hours. However, they will be allowed to complete the 68 hours clinical practicum where they work in their home state.
You will earn a Baccalaureate of Science (BS) with a Nursing major, which may be abbreviated as a BSN. The difference between a BS Nursing major and a BS in Nursing (BSN) is a technical difference between the issuing institutions and ultimately does not matter to future employers or graduate programs.
At the University of Utah there is a central graduating office that issues all undergraduate degrees, and so students are given a BS or BA degree for their major. In the case of the College of Nursing, undergraduate students receive a BS with a Nursing major. Other institutions are set up so that each individual college or school has a staff that grants degrees for their students—those are generally known as a BS in Nursing or a BSN.
Once again, both degrees can be shortened to a BSN and are ultimately equal in the eyes of employers and graduate programs.
Yes. However, we are unable to place students in out-of-state clinical sites at this time. All out-of-state students should plan to travel to Utah in order to complete their clinical leadership hours.
The RN-BS program is currently under a special reduced tuition for online programs. The current rate is $260 per credit hour. The RN-BS program is 30 credit hours, so the current total is $7800 for tuition.
Like regular tuition, this rate is subject to rise anytime tuition is raised, and by the same percentage point. For example, if regular tuition is raised by 5%, then the one-rate will rise by 5% as well. At this time, there are plans for a 2% raise, so if that is the case, then the cost will go up to $266.50 per credit hour. This has not been approved yet, so we are unable to make this official.
Unlike regular tuition, there are no semester-to-semester rates for the online tuition, so you can calculate your tuition bill easily by adding together the total credit hours on your program of study and multiplying it by $260. For example, if you are scheduled for 9 credit hours during the fall semester, then your tuition bill will be $2,240.
There are no semester-to-semester fees (such as athletics fees or fees to use the student gym). However, there are a few other costs to consider when budgeting for the RN-BS program, most of them at the beginning of the program:
- Application to main campus—estimated $55 for domestic undergraduate
- New student orientation (put on by main campus)—estimated $30 (Please note: there is not a fee for the RN-BS orientation, but both are required)
- Drug screen/background check (as part of the RN-BS onboarding process)–estimated $170
- Books–estimated $500 for new books (there are other options, such as used books or library books)
Intent to enroll deposit:
- Ensure that you budget for a $300 deposit before you start your first semester. Usually, you will not have any financial aid at this point of the process, so you will need to be prepared to pay this cost out-of-pocket. This is a deposit required by main campus—it’s how they get the most accurate head count possible for newly admitted freshman and transfer students. It is a non-refundable deposit, but it is applied to your first semester’s tuition bill. The only way you lose it is if you end up not starting the program.
Students in the RN-BS program under the reduced tuition for online will not get half off their tuition, as the reduced tuition is already nearly 50% of regular tuition and a further discount is not possible.