Utah Tech University Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State University) runs nursing programs out of St. George—from CNA and an AASN bridge through pre-licensure BSN, online RN-BSN, and an online MSN. This guide pulls 2025–26 tuition from Utah Tech’s admissions cost table, HESI A2 rules from the nursing application page, and first-time NCLEX-RN percentages published by Utah’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). Confirm every deadline and requirement on official Utah Tech pages.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Utah Tech markets itself as Utah’s open-enrollment polytechnic university, pairing health-science labs in Greater Zion with clinical experiences tied to growing Intermountain West hospitals such as St. George Regional. For pre-licensure applicants, remember the program uses competitive holistic review (not a single lottery number)—strong prerequisite GPAs, HESI A2 ≥70 on every section, and verified healthcare volunteer hours still matter even when minimum eligibility is met.
Overview & Why Students Choose Utah Tech
Nursing at Utah Tech University sits in the Health Sciences college on the St. George campus—the same institution many applicants still remember as Dixie State University before the 2022 rebranding. The department’s public mission emphasizes affordable, hands-on preparation spanning nursing assistant certificates through graduate nursing education, with clinical experiences routed through regional hospitals and community agencies across southwestern Utah.
Pre-licensure pathways are selective despite the university’s broader open-access mission: the online nursing application states that meeting posted minimums does not guarantee a seat, and the admissions committee weighs academics, attributes, and readiness alongside verified volunteer and work history.
Utah’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) publishes institution-level NCLEX-RN statistics for BSN and associate programs. Utah Tech also posts semester cohort tables on its Student Achievement Data page. The two sources measure different time windows, so percentages will not always match line-for-line—compare them as complementary disclosures, then confirm the newest reporting period with DOPL and Utah Tech.
Reasons students choose Utah Tech nursing
Full ladder from CNA to MSN
Utah Tech publicly lists CNA, AASN bridge, pre-licensure BSN, online RN-BSN, and an online MSN in Nursing Education and Leadership—useful if you want to progress credentials without changing institutions.
St. George clinical ecosystem
Southwestern Utah’s rapid growth supports diverse acute, community, and rural health experiences; Utah Tech highlights placements such as ICU work at St. George Regional in student spotlights.
Transparent achievement dashboards
The Student Achievement Data page publishes completion, NCLEX, and employment metrics by cohort for AASN, BSN, and post-licensure programs—helpful for applicants who read primary sources.
ACEN-accredited pre-licensure & graduate nursing
Utah Tech states that AASN and BSN hold Continuing Accreditation decisions (2024) while the MSN received Initial Accreditation (2024); always re-verify with ACEN before enrolling.
Polytechnic, technology-forward positioning
The university emphasizes simulation, interdisciplinary health sciences, and study-abroad health experiences (for example India 2025) for students seeking global context.
Nursing Programs Offered
The following list mirrors Utah Tech’s public nursing landing page and catalog entries (health.utahtech.edu/nursing). We group them as pre-licensure (first RN license), post-licensure (RN already licensed), and graduate.
Pre-licensure & entry pathways
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Utah Tech trains nurse assistants each semester for long-term care, home health, hospitals, or further nursing study; optional stack into other nursing programs.
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN)
LPN-to-RN and Paramedic-to-RN bridges award an Associate of Applied Science and qualify graduates for NCLEX-RN; Utah Tech notes 40 students per fall and spring admission.
Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Traditional four-year BSN with heavy clinical emphasis; catalog requires 120 credits including prerequisites such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathophysiology, and CNA documentation prior to starting nursing courses.
Post-licensure online completion
RN-to-BSN (Online)
Fully online BSN completion for working RNs; Utah Tech Student Achievement Data shows consistent completion metrics for full- and part-time cohorts.
Graduate
MSN — Nursing Education & Leadership
36-credit asynchronous online MSN aimed at nurses pursuing educator or leadership roles; Utah Tech notes the program is newer with smaller incoming cohort counts on its achievement dashboard.
AASN, BSN, RN-BSN, and MSN use different application portals and prerequisites. Confirm you are reading the handbook or catalog section that matches your target credential—not the generic university application alone.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) RN NCLEX pass rates publication (PDF updated November 2025 and linked from the DOPL nursing resources page), Utah Tech University (BSN) reported a 97.96% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (48 of 49 candidates) in the rightmost data column, and Utah Tech University (Associate) reported 88.89% (72 of 81) in the rightmost column for the associate program.
For cohort-level context, Utah Tech’s Student Achievement Data lists pre-licensure BSN NCLEX percentages by graduating class (for example 97% for the Fall 2024 BSN cohort and Spring 2025 listed as awaiting full class results). Those semester snapshots will not exactly match DOPL’s rolling annual table—use both disclosures together, then verify the newest numbers with DOPL and the nursing department.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| BSN first-time NCLEX-RN (DOPL table, latest column) | 97.96% (48/49 first-time candidates) |
| AASN first-time NCLEX-RN (DOPL table, latest column) | 88.89% (72/81 first-time candidates) |
| BSN cohort snapshot (school-reported) | Example: 97% NCLEX pass for Fall 2024 pre-licensure BSN cohort per Student Achievement Data (confirm newer cohorts on the same page). |
| Source | Utah DOPL RN pass rates PDF (Nov 2025) via DOPL Nursing Resources; Utah Tech Student Achievement Data. Confirm current data with DOPL and Utah Tech. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and reporting cycle. Always confirm the latest pass rates and test-taker counts with Utah DOPL and Utah Tech Nursing before making application decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Clinical nursing degrees require background checks, immunizations, and agreements with U.S. healthcare facilities—requirements that can affect F-1 students and foreign-educated nurses differently. Use the checklist below, then confirm each item with Utah Tech’s admissions, international student services, and the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing — Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: Ask Utah Tech International Admissions which exams (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, etc.) and minimum scores satisfy university admission and clinical agency requirements.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Determine whether Utah Tech requires a specific evaluator (WES, CGFNS, etc.) for prerequisites completed abroad.
- Utah nursing licensure: DOPL’s exam-information materials reference CGFNS documentation for foreign graduates seeking authorization to test—follow the pathway that matches your education history.
- Immigration & visa status: Confirm whether your visa category permits required clinical practicum hours and travel to assigned agencies in Washington County and beyond.
This section is guidance only—not legal advice. Policies change; verify with Utah Tech and Utah DOPL before filing applications.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Utah Tech’s pre-licensure BSN uses a standalone nursing application (not the Common App). You must be admitted to the university, hold a Digital ID, complete 60 semester credits to apply (prerequisites may be in progress), earn at least a C in every prerequisite while maintaining a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, submit a $50 nursing application fee, and sit for the HESI A2 through Utah Tech’s testing center (or approved distance process). Because the program states that meeting minimum requirements still yields denials when seats are full, treat every component—especially volunteer verification and healthcare work history—as part of a competitive file.
Pre-licensure BSN application timeline (published cycle examples)
| Entry Term | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 BSN | Jan 5 – Apr 17, 2026 (closes 11:59 p.m.) | Notifications slated May 19, 2026; signed acceptance due May 26; health/CNA proofs due July 15 for conditional admits. |
| Spring 2027 BSN | Jun 1 – Sep 21, 2026 (closes 11:59 p.m.) | Per Utah Tech’s published future cycle dates; confirm updates on the application page. |
AASN bridge applicants follow separate deadlines and capacity rules (40 seats per fall/spring); review the AASN section of health.utahtech.edu/nursing and departmental handbooks for TEAS/HESI rules specific to that track.
Admissions snapshot (pre-licensure BSN highlights)
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed; Utah Tech states qualified applicants may be denied when cohorts fill. |
| Prerequisite GPA | Minimum 3.0 on all nursing prerequisites (4.0 scale); grades below C are unacceptable. |
| Entrance exam | HESI A2 only; scores valid within one year of deadline; every section must score ≥70 or the application is disqualified; retakes must repeat the entire exam. |
| CNA requirement | Proof of current or prior CNA certification due after acceptance (July for fall, October for spring cycles per published checklist). |
| Volunteer & work verification | Utah Tech requires documented volunteer hours (official form) and verifies healthcare employment listed on the application. |
Applicant tips
Finish general education early so you are not juggling upper-division GE courses with nursing prerequisites. Schedule HESI attempts with enough lead time for remediation—Utah Tech recommends 30–45 days between retakes when possible. Alignment with Utah Tech’s suggested electives can add application points; ask your advisor how communication or public-health minors fit your timeline.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Utah Tech’s Tuition & Costs page outlines 2025–26 academic-year estimates for full-time undergraduates. Amounts below come directly from that table; nursing students should also budget for uniforms, clinical fees, testing, and travel separate from the headline tuition figure.
| Metric | Value (2025–26, per semester, full-time) |
|---|---|
| Utah resident tuition | $2,784.12 |
| Student fees | $456.75 (same for resident and non-resident rows on the published table) |
| Non-resident tuition | $8,900.04 |
| WUE / Good Neighbor / Red Rocks tuition | $4,176.24 (scholarship programs with their own eligibility rules) |
| Sample total COA line (tuition + fees + shared housing + food) | Utah Tech lists $7,133.87 resident vs. $13,249.79 non-resident per semester before books/transportation—see the official grid. |
| Online programs | Utah Tech states online tuition varies by program—use the catalog’s online tuition section for RN-BSN/MSN-specific rates. |
| Source | Utah Tech Tuition & Costs; Catalog — Tuition & Fees. Confirm current amounts each year. |
Nursing-specific scholarships (departmental and Health Sciences) are summarized on Utah Tech’s nursing scholarships page; also search the Utah Tech Scholarships Universe for stackable awards.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
The table combines Utah’s official licensure exam statistics with Utah Tech’s self-reported cohort dashboards. Employment figures on the student achievement page often carry footnotes (for example BSN “employment upon graduation” footnotes tied to survey timing); read the charts carefully before comparing Utah Tech to other schools.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN — BSN (DOPL) | 97.96% first-time (48/49) in latest column of the November 2025 Utah DOPL RN pass rates PDF. |
| NCLEX-RN — AASN (DOPL) | 88.89% first-time (72/81) in latest column of the same PDF. |
| NCLEX-RN — BSN (Utah Tech cohort example) | Student Achievement Data lists 97% for the Fall 2024 BSN graduating cohort; Spring 2025 shows pending completion in the published table. |
| Employment upon graduation (BSN example) | Utah Tech lists 75% for the Fall 2024 BSN cohort with a superscript noting methodology—confirm definitions on the achievement page. |
| RN-BSN completion (2024) | Per Utah Tech’s Student Achievement Data table, the school reports 100% full-time and 93% part-time program completion in the 2024 column (confirm methodology and cohort definitions on health.utahtech.edu); graduate surveys note “of graduates who responded” for employment metrics. |
| Source | DOPL RN pass rates PDF; Utah Tech Student Achievement Data. |
Is Utah Tech the Right Fit for You?
Choose Utah Tech if you want a public, multi-level nursing ladder in sunny St. George with access to Intermountain West clinical volume. Look elsewhere if you need guaranteed nursing admission, a TEAS-based application, or a residential research-university environment.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want CNA → AASN/BSN → RN-BSN/MSN progression inside one Utah public institution.
- Can meet a 3.0 prerequisite GPA and ace every HESI A2 subsection at or above 70.
- Prefer southwestern Utah’s lifestyle and can commit to rigorous clinical rotations.
- Value ACEN-accredited pre-licensure programs with published cohort dashboards.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Expect automatic admission after finishing prerequisites—Utah Tech nursing remains selective.
- Cannot document CNA certification or complete Utah Tech’s health compliance timeline.
- Need a program that accepts TEAS instead of HESI A2 for BSN admission.
- Require an alternate state’s clinical placement guarantees without relocating to Utah.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
St. George anchors Washington County’s health system growth: St. George Regional Hospital (part of the Intermountain Health network) provides high-acuity services for southern Utah and nearby tourism corridors. Community clinics, long-term care, home health, and behavioral health agencies round out rotations, while Las Vegas and Salt Lake City tertiary centers sit within a few hours’ drive for specialty electives. Exact affiliation agreements rotate—confirm active hospitals with Utah Tech clinical coordinators after admission.
| Facility / system | Relevance |
|---|---|
| St. George Regional Hospital | Major acute-care hub for southwestern Utah; frequently referenced in Utah Tech nursing student profiles and clinical stories. |
| Community & rural partners | Clinics and skilled nursing facilities support primary-care and chronic-disease experiences across Washington County. |
| Tourism & seasonal worker populations | Outdoor recreation and gateway communities create fluctuating public-health demand—useful exposure for community-health nursing courses. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing administration lists offices in Taylor Hall with advising hubs in Human Performance Center suites; students should expect a commuter-friendly, desert-campus vibe with intense cohort bonding in skills labs and simulation. Utah Tech promotes student organizations such as UTSNA and Sigma participation, interprofessional work inside the broader Health Sciences college, and optional international healthcare study trips. Campus life balances outdoor recreation (Zion, Snow Canyon) with the workload of stacked nursing courses—plan time management accordingly.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- St. George, UT
- University address
- 225 S University Ave., St. George, UT 84770, US
- Main telephone
- (435) 652-7500
- Nursing department
- Phone (435) 879-4810 · nursing@utahtech.edu · Taylor 304 (per Utah Tech nursing site)
- Website
- utahtech.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Bookmark the official Utah Tech nursing page and download the student handbook or FAQ for your pathway (BSN vs. AASN vs. RN-BSN).
- Compare your transcripts to the pre-licensure BSN prerequisite table in the Utah Tech catalog (including CNA documentation rules).
- Schedule the HESI A2 through the Utah Tech Professional Testing Center with enough time to retest if any section falls below 70.
- Create a timeline for volunteer hours and secure supervisors willing to complete Utah Tech’s verification PDF by deadline.
- Estimate 2025–26 costs using the published tuition/fees row that matches your residency or WUE status, then run the Net Price Calculator.
- Email a nursing advisor (freshman/sophomore vs. junior/senior teams are listed on the department page) with questions about repeating prerequisites or electives that add application points.
- Add the official application open/close dates (for example Fall 2026: January 5–April 17, 2026) to your calendar with alerts one week early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Utah Tech University the same institution as Dixie State University for nursing?
Yes—the campus in St. George rebranded from Dixie State University to Utah Tech University. Nursing content now lives on utahtech.edu and health.utahtech.edu. Always use the current site when applying.
What NCLEX-RN rate should I trust for Utah Tech’s BSN program?
Utah’s DOPL RN pass rates PDF (November 2025) lists 97.96% first-time (48/49) for Utah Tech (BSN) in the latest column. Utah Tech’s Student Achievement Data adds cohort snapshots (for example 97% for Fall 2024 BSN). Use both, then confirm the newest reporting period with DOPL and the nursing department.
Does Utah Tech require TEAS for nursing?
No—pre-licensure BSN applicants must take the HESI A2 exclusively. Every scored section must be ≥70, scores must be within one year of the deadline, and you must retest on the entire battery if you remediate.
What GPA does Utah Tech nursing need?
Pre-licensure BSN prerequisites require grades of C or better and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA on a 4.0 scale, with no C- grades accepted.
When is the next Utah Tech BSN application deadline?
For Fall 2026, Utah Tech posted January 5–April 17, 2026. For Spring 2027, the window begins June 1, 2026 and ends September 21, 2026. Re-check the nursing application page for future-year updates.
Is Utah Tech’s nursing program accredited?
Utah Tech states that the AASN and BSN programs hold ACEN Continuing Accreditation (2024 decision) and the MSN received Initial Accreditation (2024 decision). Verify with ACEN before enrolling.
How much is Utah Tech tuition for 2025–26?
Utah Tech lists $2,784.12 undergraduate resident tuition per semester plus $456.75 student fees, with non-resident tuition at $8,900.04 plus the same fee—before housing, meals, or books.
Do I need CNA certification before applying to Utah Tech BSN?
You must have CNA certification (or complete Utah Tech’s CNA coursework pathway per catalog) and submit proof after acceptance by the deadlines outlined on the application timeline (July for fall starts, October for spring for health requirements).
How many students enter Utah Tech’s AASN bridge each semester?
Utah Tech states the AASN program admits 40 students in both fall and spring cohorts for the LPN/paramedic bridge pathways.
Where can I find Utah Board of Nursing licensure information?
Visit dopl.utah.gov/nursing for licensing rules and exam resources, including links to official NCLEX pass-rate tables.
References
- Utah Tech University — Department of Nursinghealth.utahtech.edu/nursing
- Utah Tech — Pre-licensure BSN eligibilityPre-licensure BSN eligibility
- Utah Tech — Pre-licensure BSN application & HESIBSN application
- Utah Tech — Student Achievement DataStudent achievement dashboards
- Utah Tech — Tuition & Costs (2025–26 snapshot)admissions.utahtech.edu/tuition-costs
- Utah Tech Catalog — Pre-licensure BSNcatalog.utahtech.edu/nursing-four-year-bs
- Utah DOPL — Nursing resources & RN pass rates PDFdopl.utah.gov/nursing/resources · RN pass rates PDF (Nov 2025)
- Utah Tech — Contact page (main campus)utahtech.edu/contact
- Utah Tech Catalog — Tuition & Feescatalog.utahtech.edu/tuitionfees
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, with emphasis on matching program lists to Utah Tech’s nursing homepage, aligning NCLEX figures to the Utah DOPL November 2025 RN pass rates PDF, and verifying 2025–26 tuition numbers against Utah Tech’s published cost table.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Utah Tech and Utah nursing regulatory authorities.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy