CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway

Program Information

The University of Colorado College of Nursing (CU Nursing) is proud to announce the creation of a new partnership for Colorado residents enrolled with the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and interested in pursuing a career in nursing. The CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway was created to promote the diversity of health care professionals and to better serve the health care needs of the State of Colorado. This pathway will assemble up to 20 first-time enrolled in college (FTIC/new freshmen) students  each year from broadly diverse backgrounds.

The CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway is designed for students currently enrolled at CU Denver who have an interest in progressing into the CU Nursing Traditional (TRAD) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pathway located on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. This bridge pathway is designed to be a 3+2 pathway consisting of 3 years of prerequisite coursework at the CU Denver (Phase I) + 2 years of nursing coursework at CU Nursing (Phase II) Anschutz Medical Campus resulting in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The Bachelor of Science pathway at CU Nursing is the highest ranked nursing program in the state of Colorado and has some of the highest NCLEX (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) pass rates.

With this partnership, select students at CU Denver will have the opportunity to receive early admission to the CU Nursing TRAD BSN pathway. In the years leading up to enrollment in the TRAD program, accepted students will receive personalized advising as well as exposure to nursing concepts/experiences provided by both CU Denver and CU Nursing. Additionally, students accepted into the CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge will have an opportunity to earn a health-related certificate to enhance success in the nursing program. Each certificate earned will be visible on the CU Denver transcript. Certificate options are highlighted below: 

The application to the CU Bridge Pathway traditionally opens in September and closes in early March. Decisions for acceptance typically happen in Mid-April. 

The University of Colorado CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway utilizes a holistic admission process which values  the applicant’s experience, attributes and metrics without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in accordance with federal law. Please visit the Eligibility page for specifics.

Fall 2025 with Summer 2027 Transition to CU Nursing (Freshmen Students)

The requirements identified below are for CU Denver students who plan to start the bridge pathway program in Fall 2025 and then transition into the CU Nursing Traditional BS program in Summer 2027.  

Students accepted to the CU Nursing Bridge program will be required to meet the minimum requirements below in order to enroll in the Traditional BS program. All admission offers are contingent upon meeting this criteria including all pre-enrollment requirements which are outlined in the letter of admission.  Applicants must meet the following Criteria to apply to the CU Denver/CU College of Nursing Bridge Pathway:

• Resident of the State of Colorado.  

• Current First Time in College (New Freshman) CU Denver Pre­-Nursing student who has taken all Pre-Nursing prerequisites at CU Denver. ***It is acceptable for applicants to have AP/IB, and or, completed college credits, if taken prior to admission into CU Denver as a freshman student.

• 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher in the required 60 semester credits of nursing prerequisite courses. All prerequisites are required to be completed within 10 years of the application deadline); a grade of "C" or better is required for each prerequisite.  

Application Requirements  

In order for an application to be reviewed for admission  the following requirements must be met by the application deadline:  

• 3.0 cumulative prerequisite GPA in all required prerequisites required for application. A grade of "C" or better is required for each prerequisite. 

• Document enrollment in, or documented completion of, the following courses at CU Denver in the spring term of application:  

• ENGL 2030 

• BIOL 2020 

• BIOL 2021 

• CHEM 2031 and CHEM 2038 or Chem 2061 and 2068 

• MATH 1110 or MATH 2830 

• Ability to have all outstanding prerequisites completed by the start of the term with no more than 18 prerequisite credits outstanding in the semester prior to transitioning into the TRAD BS program.  

BRIDGE CORE APPLICATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS (COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE FALL 2024 SEMESTER)

• ENGL 1020- Core Comp. I-3 OR ENGL 2030-Core Comp. II-3 

• BIOLl 2010- Organisms to Ecosystems-3 

• BIOL 2011-Organisms to Ecosystems Lab-1  

• CHEM 2031- Gen CHEM I-3 or CHEM 1000  

• CHEM 2038 - General Chemistry Lab 

• MATH 1110 or MATH 2830  

Application Deadlines and Process  

How to Apply 

By clicking on the following link:Traditional Nursing Bachelor's Program you will be directed to the CU Nursing website. Read the information on this page, and then click “Apply Now” which will take you directly to the NursingCAS application. On the NursingCAS page you will be asked to create an account if you have not already done so. After creating an account, click the Fall 2025 term, and locate the UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO COLLEGE OF NURSING. Select the CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway application. If you are unsure about how to proceed, and or, what program to select please send an email to CUPRNUBRIDGE@ucdenver.edu or to Ms. Trishia Vasquez, Director, Health Professions Programs, at: trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu. 

• Within the application it will ask your CU Nursing start term which is the term you anticipate you will have all requirements complete and ready to start the CU Nursing program. Your option is Summer 2027.

• Complete the application and pay the required application fee. Note that there are two fees associated with the application (NursingCAS and CU Nursing). Both must be paid for an application to be considered complete. The primary application fee is charged by and paid to NursingCAS it is $60 for the first undergraduate-level program; have a credit card for payment. A $50.00 Supplemental Application fee paid to the University of Colorado College of Nursing is also required; instructions for payment are included in the NursingCAS application. Applicants can request for application fee waivers through NCAS.  If approved, CU Nursing will also waive their application fee.   

• Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended directly to NursingCAS. Official transcripts from all institutions must be sent regardless of the number of credits enrolled or grades earned. Submitting transcripts is a two-step process:
  • Order your official transcripts in NursingCAS and submit directly to NursingCAS.
  • Enter all courses from each transcript into NursingCAS; this includes the school name, course name, course code, grade, credit number, and term completed. Applicants have the option to pay for this service offered by NursingCAS, and is available on the transcript entry page in the application. Failing to accurately report can result in an application being withdrawn from admissions consideration.

• Three professional or academic references required (at least one academic reference is recommended). The NursingCAS application will ask for the contact information of three references. References will be contacted to complete an online likert-scale reference form. Letters of recommendation or reference are not accepted. 

• 500 Word Essay (AKA Personal statement) – Prepare a personal statement responding to the following: “Given your personal background, describe your interest in nursing and what makes you special or unique”. Statements must be one page in length (12pt, New Time Roman font, double spaced with one-inch margins). 

• Resume. Resume tips for CU Denver students are available through LynxConnect, specificlaly through the Career Center.  

• Submit official TOEFL scores reports (international applicants only). 

Application Deadlines and Process  

Review and Selection  

CU Nursing participates in a holistic review process that considers all facets of a student’s application. In order for an application to be reviewed all application materials including transcripts, recommendations, resume, etc. must be received by the application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.  

Select applicants will be chosen for an in-person interview and will be required to participate in a separate spontaneous writing sample activity. 

Admission Notifications 

All admission notifications are delivered by email to the address listed in NursingCAS. Admission decisions are generally admitted, waitlist, or denied.  All admits are provided ten days to respond to the offer of admission. Failure to respond to the offer will result in administrative withdrawal. ***An enrollment deposit is not required. 

Students placed on the waitlist are notified by email if space becomes available. The waitlist ranks are not provided. 

Pre-enrollment Requirements 

All students at CU Nursing are admitted conditionally pending successful completion/passing of the pre-enrollment requirements including, but not limited to, background checks, drug screens (including marijuana), immunizations, etc. Information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine requirement is available online. Prospective students who have criminal convictions (or pending criminal activity) are encouraged to contact an admissions representative prior to applying. If criminal history or a pending criminal charge prohibits the possibility of clinical placements, admission will be rescinded/denied. 

Admitted students should not start any of the pre-enrollment requirements until properly informed and instructed to do so. Many of the pre-enrollment requirements are timed and starting items prematurely can result in a financial loss to the student. 

Admitted students are considered CU Nursing students and are held to all policies and procedures that govern the University and College. 

• Program Email:CUPRNUBRIDGE@ucdenver.edu
• Visit the following site to learn more about the CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge Pathway Program: 
  https://clas.ucdenver.edu/health-professions-programs/cu-nursing-bridge-...
• Visit the following site to learn more about  the CU College of Nursing Traditional Nurising Bachelor's Program: https://nursing.cuanschutz.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/bachelor...
• Trishia Vasquez, CU Denver Health Professions Programs Director and pre-admission program coordinator: Trishia.vasquez@ucdenver.edu
• Anapin Thielen, Senior Enrollment Advisor, CU College of Nursing: Anapin.thielen@cuanschutz.edu

CU Denver/CU Nursing Bridge FAQ  

Q: How many students are accepted?  

A: 20 students are accepted each admission term.  

Q: How many courses can I take in the semester before I transition into CU Nursing?  

A: You may take a maximum of 16 semester credits (11 quarter credits), the semester before you start the program. Of these 16 semester credits (11 quarter credits), only one (1) course can be from Anatomy, Chemistry, Physiology, or Microbiology. 

Q: If I am admitted, but then my prerequisite GPA drops, what happens?  

A: If your outstanding course(s) drops your prerequisite GPA to below a 3.0, your offer of admission will be withdrawn. 

Q: If I want to accelerate the plan of study at CU Denver can I take some courses at another institution?  

A: No, all prerequisites must be completed at CU Denver.