RN-to-BSN FAQS

The nursing baccalaureate degree completion program at Front Range Community College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), from program inception through June 30, 2026. The CCNE is a universally recognized credentialing body for nursing education.

You may apply to this program if:

• You are a nurse who has earned an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from a regionally accredited college, has a current RN license in Colorado or a compact state nursing license, and has a minimum 2.0 GPA in nursing courses.
  
  • CCCS policy (BP 9-71 Transfer Credit) Credit can only be transferred from regionally accredited educational institutions. We are unable to make exceptions to this rule.
  • The sending institution must have been regionally accredited for the entire time the student was earning the applicable credits.
• You are a student who has completed their first semester of a nationally accredited ADN program at a regionally accredited college, continues to be enrolled in that ADN program, and has a minimum 2.0 GPA in nursing courses.
  • ADN students may apply during 1st semester and will be provisionally admitted. For full acceptance, students must receive a minimum 2.0 GPA in NUR 1009 and NUR 1012.
  • LPN to ADN Bridge Program students may apply while taking NUR 1089 and will be provisionally admitted. For full acceptance, students must receive a minimum 2.0 GPA in NUR 1089 and NUR 2006.

Yes, you may apply but must obtain an RN license in Colorado or a compact state nursing license within 6 months of graduation from the ADN program.

The RN-to-BSN Completion Program offers three application periods each year. It is strongly advised that students do not wait until the last day of the application period to apply. If you're locked out of your account, email the Admissions office or call 970-226-2500.

Visit the RN-to-BSN Completion Program for steps to apply and application instructions. Email RNtoBSN@frontrange.edu with application questions or issues.  

The application process requires supplemental documentation such as unofficial college transcripts, verification of enrollment for ADN students, and licensure for RN’s.  

Applicants will receive an acceptance or denial email. The email is sent to the email address the applicant used when applying to the program.  

The acceptance email prompts students to complete the following:

1. RN-to-BSN Transcript Evaluation
   • This step only needs to be completed if you have unmet General Education requirements and completed them at another institution.
   • Courses will be evaluated on an individual basis (course-by-course) basis.
   • General Education requirements will not automatically be waived if bachelor (or higher) degrees have already been earned.
2. Meet with your Academic Advisor.
3. Meet with Financial Aid for financial planning.

The BSN is preferred or required by some employers in government, public health, and hospitals. The BSN will make students more employable in Colorado and elsewhere. The degree is necessary for advancing a career in leadership, management, and education, or for becoming an advanced practice nurse, such as a Nurse Practitioner, Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Nurse Anesthetist. Research evidence demonstrates significantly better care quality is associated with greater percentages of BSN-prepared nurses in the workforce.  

Completing your general education coursework prior to starting BSN nursing coursework is highly recommended. It will take four semesters to graduate, depending on the rate at which you choose to take courses.  

Program length for dually enrolled students varies based on the semester the student starts BSN nursing courses. BSN classes taken with the ADN program can take 5-7 semesters (including 2-3 summer semesters). That’s three years start to finish. Additional semesters are required if BSN prerequisites are not complete.  

No. Students must complete their ADN program and obtain an RN license in Colorado or a compact state nursing license before they can take NUR 4009, NUR 4010, and NUR 4011.

Visit the Nursing Bachelor of Science page for a list of required courses.

• When students enroll in NUR 3001, it is recommended that they be enrolled in their second BSN general education course. 
• NUR 3001 has a prerequisite/corequisite of ENG 1022 (grade of C or higher). NUR 3001 is a prerequisite for all nursing classes and is a prerequisite/co-requisite with NUR 3002. • NUR 3003 has a prerequisite/corequisite of MAT 1260.
• NUR 4009, NUR 4010, and NUR 4011 require a current RN license in Colorado or a compact state nursing license. 
• NUR 4011 must be taken last. Instructor permission required for registration.  

The program can be completed at your own pace. Most students take the part-time route of one course per 7 week session. Forty-five hours of classroom time are included in the readings, discussion board, course papers, quizzes, and group projects. Students are encouraged to plan for 6.5 hours per week to devote to class work. Taking two BSN nursing courses together is similar to taking two summer classes. We recommend meeting with our BSN Advisor to create an academic plan that best suits your goals and lifestyle.  

The RN-to-BSN Completion Program is an online program with practicum coursework. All BSN nursing courses are offered online and are delivered in the MyCourses learning management system. Students are required to complete 68 hours of practicum work as part of FRCC’s courses in leadership and community health nursing.  

Visit Online Learning and the Online Academic Success Center for more information about online courses and learning resources.

Fall and spring nursing courses are offered in 7-week sessions. Summer nursing courses are offered in 8-week sessions. NUR 4010 (offered summer only) is 10 weeks in length.

Program orientation will familiarize students with program requirements and resources. This one-hour presentation will be held virtually within one month of acceptance into the program. Invites will be sent to accepted applicants.

Class orientation will familiarize students with strategies to be successful in the online environment starting with NUR 3001. This one-hour presentation will be held the week prior to the course starting. An invite will be sent to those who register for NUR 3001.

Students must maintain a current RN license in Colorado or a compact state nursing license. Students should plan to complete 22.5 practicum hours during NUR 4009 (7-week class) and 45 practicum hours during NUR 4010 (10-week class). See question 19 for students moving out of state.

Students are responsible for documenting compliance items, which may include immunization and health status as well as facility-based education requirements for the practicum site.  

Students must be willing to travel back to Colorado if they move out of state to complete the practicum hours for NUR 4009 and NUR 4010. Students must maintain a current RN license in Colorado or a compact state nursing license.

If you move out of state at any time during the program, please contact the RN-to-BSN Completion Program Director.   

See current tuition information.

Financial Aid staff are required to monitor the number of credits a student attempts (and earns) each term for Satisfactory Academic Progress. This is monitored for all enrolled students, even when the student may not be using financial aid. The goal is to ensure that students are completing their program of study within 150% of the credits.

Past credits (or transfer credits) on file at FRCC will count toward overall credits attempted, even if these credits were from a previous school or a previous degree. Once a student hits the 150% threshold for attempted credits at FRCC, a student would become ineligible for future financial aid. Any student who is ineligible for financial aid has the opportunity to appeal their status with the Financial Aid Office.  

There are yearly limits for federal student loans (and Pell grants) that can impact how much, if any, a student can receive. Additionally, there are lifetime limits on grants and loans, which can also impact how much a student can use in their lifetime. Once a student has hit these limits, this type of funding is exhausted and is no longer accessible to a student.

If a student has past federal student loan debt (or has previously used a Pell grant), it’s important to see how much aid they have already used to strategically plan to use remaining funding to complete their program requirements.  

A student whose primary degree is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and has earned at least 60 credits at FRCC, would be considered for additional increase of federal student loan eligibility: an increase of roughly $1,000-$2,000 per academic year.

However, the amount of funding that a student is offered is based on yearly loan limits and the lifetime loan limits. FRCC does not set limits or criteria for loans. These are established by the federal government. For the most current and accurate information regarding financial aid, visit studentaid.gov.  

A list of required textbooks will be viewable once students register for coursework. Students may purchase a hard copy or digital copy of textbooks. Textbook prices vary depending on the type of book they purchase. See the bookstore for more information.

RN-to-BSN Program Director
Jessica Halas, MSN, RN, CENP 
970-204-8214 | Email

FRCC Financial Aid

• Westminster Campus
  303-404-5250 | Email
• Larimer Campus
  970-204-8376 | Email
• Boulder County Campus
  303-404-5250 | Email

Financial Aid Federal Student Loan Information
https://studentaid.gov