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U-EXCEL: Excellence in Nursing

Get a Head Start on Your Nursing Education

The U-EXCEL: Excellence in Nursing is a dynamic new pathway that replaces NEAP, launching a refreshed direct entry pathway designed for high school seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. This streamlined track connects students to a direct route to earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Utah.

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U-EXCEL Overview

Graduates of the program will achieve the following:

  • Demonstrate academic readiness for upper-division nursing coursework by maintaining high academic standards and progressing toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within an accelerated timeline.
  • Engage meaningfully with university-wide resources such as the Bennion Center, Honors College, and Undergraduate Research programs (UROP, SPUR) to enrich their academic and co-curricular experience.
  • Develop a personalized academic plan with support from Early Admission Advisors that integrates nursing prerequisites with additional opportunities such as minors, double majors, honors, research, or study abroad.
  • Articulate a clear and confident academic and professional identity as a future nurse, supported by early exposure to nursing values, pathways, service learning, and the NURS 2400: Explore Nursing Course.
  • Bypass competitive admissions stress and focus on academic and personal growth through a secure, direct entry pathway into the nursing program.

Program Length

5 semesters are recommended to complete nursing prerequisites before the program

Mode

Nursing prerequisites are offered in hybrid, asynchronous, and synchronous formats

Direct Admission Advantage

Guarantees a streamlined BSN path for eligible high school seniors

Personalized Academic Enrichment

Personalized advising and access to research, honors, service, and global opportunities

Application Deadline

Fall Semester
Opens: November 1
Closes: February 1, 5:00PM MST

Contact Us

Allison Spolsdoff, DNP, MS, RN
U-EXCEL Specialty Track Director
allison.spolsdoff@nurs.utah.edu 

Office of Student Services
advising@nurs.utah.edu.
(801) 587-3194