University of Utah College of Nursing: Nursing Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Anchored at the Annette Poulson Cumming College of Nursing next to U of U Health, the college offers U-EXCEL, prelicensure BS Nursing, online RN-BS, MSN specialties, a broad DNP portfolio, PhD, post-graduate APRN certificates, and gerontology options. This guide pulls Utah DOPL first-time NCLEX-RN figures for the BSN row, official 2025–26 prelicensure tuition estimates, and public admissions rules—confirm everything with the college.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
You get a flagship academic health center setting in Salt Lake City—prelicensure students train in person with hybrid options while sharing an ecosystem with U of U Health—plus unusual pathways like U-EXCEL for high-achieving high school seniors and one of the broader Utah DNP specialty menus. Use Utah DOPL NCLEX tables to benchmark the University of Utah (BSN) row, then line up prerequisites and GPA rules before you apply.
Overview & Why Students Choose the University of Utah College of Nursing
Salt Lake City anchors Utah’s busiest referral and tertiary-care corridor; the college sits on the University of Utah campus adjacent to the U of U Health system, where nursing students routinely intersect with Level I trauma centers, children’s hospitals, and specialty institutes that draw patients from across the Mountain West.
Publicly, the college stresses research-informed education, interprofessional training, and health-equity-focused practice—while listing a wide ladder from undergraduate RN preparation through APRN-focused DNPs and a PhD. Rankings cited on the college site (for example U.S. News categories for midwifery, online MSN, DNP, and BSN) can help you compare program reputations, but your decision should still rest on fit, cost, and admission realism.
According to the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (Utah DOPL) RN NCLEX pass rates PDF (linked from DOPL nursing resources; updated November 2025), the University of Utah (BSN) row shows a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 88.36% for Q4 2025 (167 passed of 189 first-time candidates) and 94.35% for the Overall 2024 column (117 of 124). The file contains additional quarterly and annual columns for trend review. Confirm the latest table and column headings with Utah DOPL and the college.
Reasons students choose University of Utah College of Nursing
Academic health system access
Prelicensure materials highlight diverse hospital and community clinicals tied to a major university health system—useful if you want high-acuity exposure alongside primary and population-health experiences.
U-EXCEL direct pathway
For qualified high school seniors (college lists a 3.5+ GPA benchmark), U-EXCEL offers structured early admission into the BS Nursing trajectory with honors, research, and service opportunities baked into advising.
Deep graduate/APRN portfolio
The public program list spans many DNP NP specialties, nurse-midwifery, dual tracks, post-master’s DNP leadership, online MSN concentrations, PhD options, and post-graduate APRN certificates—strong if you already know you want an advanced practice destination.
Simulation & interprofessional DNA
The college promotes the Intermountain Healthcare Simulation Learning Center and interprofessional coursework (for example IPE foundations in undergraduate plans), echoing the medical-center learning environment.
Transparent cohort cost estimates
Prelicensure pages publish total 2025–2026 tuition-and-mandatory-fee ranges by semester plan, residency, and entry term—helpful when you model cash flow before books, housing, and travel.
Nursing Programs Offered
The following matches the University of Utah College of Nursing Programs hub and linked specialty pages. The college awards a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing at the undergraduate level; we use BSN as the common shorthand for that credential.
Pre-licensure & RN completion (BS Nursing)
U-EXCEL: Excellence in Nursing
Designed for high school seniors with strong academics (college cites GPA 3.5 or higher), hybrid/online-friendly prerequisite delivery, and a guaranteed streamlined path into the BS Nursing major after university admission requirements are met.
Prelicensure Track
Fast-track pre-licensure program that can finish in 4, 5, or 6 semesters of upper-division nursing after prerequisites; mostly in-person with some online/hybrid components and IPE threaded through the sample plans.
Online RN to BS Track
Fully online RN-to-BS completion for licensed RNs seeking the bachelor’s degree; timelines flex around work schedules per college descriptions.
RN-BS Express Pathway
Accelerated completion option nested under the RN-BS materials for eligible RNs—confirm eligibility criteria with advising.
Graduate nursing (MSN, certificates, gerontology)
MSN — Nursing Education
Online MSN specialty preparing nurse educators; paired with the college’s graduate nursing education certificate option.
MSN — Nursing Informatics
Online MSN specialty focused on informatics leadership; aligns with the interdisciplinary informatics graduate certificate.
MS in Gerontology (+ minor & undergraduate certificate)
Gerontology master’s plus stackable minor and undergraduate certificate options for students targeting care of older adults.
Informatics Interdisciplinary Certificate
Graduate certificate supporting data and informatics leadership competencies across disciplines.
Graduate Nursing Education Certificate
Post-master’s certificate focused on nursing education roles; verify admission prerequisites on the certificate page.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The college’s public materials describe nine DNP specialty emphases alongside dual-track and post-master’s leadership options; examples from the program list include (per program links) acute care pediatric NP, adult-gerontology acute care NP, dual acute/primary pediatric NP, dual nurse-midwifery/women’s health NP, family NP, neonatal NP, nurse-midwifery, pediatric primary care NP, psychiatric mental health NP, women’s health NP, and post-MS to DNP: leadership in health systems. Nurse-midwifery undergoes ACME accreditation review separately from CCNE—follow both agencies plus the Utah DOPL for regulatory alignment.
PhD in Nursing
Doctoral research preparation with distance-hybrid and campus-based pathways; BS-PhD and MS-PhD tracks share core doctoral seminars with additional master’s-level cognates required when entering from a bachelor’s.
Post-graduate APRN certificate
The college hosts a post-graduate APRN certificate for master’s- or DNP-prepared nurses adding new population foci—verify course parity, clinical hours, and Utah advanced practice regulations before enrolling.
Admission rules, tracks, and delivery modes change. Always confirm your target pathway on the official Programs hub, the University of Utah catalog, and advising emails listed on each specialty page.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Utah publishes education-program-level first-time NCLEX-RN outcomes in a consolidated RN table maintained by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). The excerpt below summarizes the University of Utah (BSN) row from the November 2025 PDF linked on the DOPL nursing resources page; the downloadable table includes multiple historical columns for trending.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate — Q4 2025 (Utah-educated testers) | 88.36% (167 passed / 189 first-time candidates) — University of Utah (BSN) row |
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate — Overall 2024 | 94.35% (117 passed / 124 first-time candidates) — same DOPL row/column |
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate — Overall 2023 | 89.84% (115 passed / 128 first-time candidates) — same DOPL row/column |
| Source | Utah DOPL — RN NCLEX pass rates (PDF, Nov 2025) · DOPL Nursing Resources hub. Confirm current figures with Utah DOPL and the College of Nursing. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and reporting window. Always confirm the latest pass rates with Utah DOPL (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) and the University of Utah College of Nursing before using any percentage in academic or employer planning.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Utah’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) publishes internationally trained applicant guidance for nursing licensure; the University of Utah also maintains central international-student admissions policies. Use this list as a planning checklist—not legal advice.
- University admissions: English proficiency, financial certification, transfer credit evaluation, and degree-seeking status requirements from University Admissions and the college.
- Nursing program fit: Clinical-heavy programs may limit online or part-time status for certain visa types—ask the college how clinical contracts apply to F-1 students.
- Credential evaluation: Have transcripts evaluated when required; keep syllabi if courses must be equated to Utah prerequisites (especially sciences with time limits).
- Utah DOPL / Nursys: For graduates educated outside the U.S., follow Utah’s internationally trained applicant pathway and CGFNS/NCLEX eligibility steps as published by DOPL.
Requirements change. Confirm with the University of Utah International Student & Scholar Services, the College of Nursing admissions team, and Utah DOPL.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Utah’s flagship nursing major is capacity-limited: meeting posted minimums does not guarantee admission. Prelicensure applicants self-select into highly prepared cohorts (multi-year 3.0+ GPA expectations across college coursework, strict prerequisite sequencing, and holistic materials such as interviews or written prompts described on the college’s application materials).
Prelicensure & U-EXCEL application timeline
| Pathway | Entry Term | Application window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelicensure Track | Fall | Opens Nov 1 · Closes Feb 1 (5:00 p.m. MT) | Apply via the college’s Salesforce portal; confirm prerequisite completion rules for the cohort you target. |
| Prelicensure Track | Spring / Summer | Opens Jun 1 · Closes Sep 1 (5:00 p.m. MT) | Same portal; verify which start terms are offered for your year. |
| U-EXCEL | Fall | Opens Nov 1 · Closes Feb 15 (5:00 p.m. MST) | College states students must apply to main campus and the U-EXCEL nursing pathway. |
Prelicensure academic requirements (published)
The Prelicensure Eligibility page lists nine graded prerequisites (biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, statistics, nutrition, human development, medical microbiology, pathophysiology) that must be complete before entry, each at C or better, with a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA, 3.0 cumulative GPA across all institutions, and completion of general education prior to starting nursing courses. Anatomy & physiology expire after seven years. Starting Spring 2025 the college caps prerequisite repeats at two courses.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed on the pages reviewed; treat the program as selective. |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 prerequisite, cumulative, and mandatory-course GPAs (see eligibility page). |
| TEAS / HESI | Not listed on the prelicensure eligibility page; confirm whether any pathway requires a standardized test for your cohort. |
| Holistic steps | Application narratives and an electronic interview are referenced in college materials—download the latest application handbook PDF if offered. |
Honest tips
Map prerequisites early (including lab science timelines) so you do not violate repeat limits. If you are out of state, check WUE residency tiers used in the college’s tuition table. For graduate applicants, align your target DNP specialty’s clinical clearance rules with Utah APRN regulations before you commit.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
The Prelicensure Track page publishes total estimated tuition and mandatory student fees for the nursing curriculum only—rounded to the nearest $100—based on the 2025–2026 College of Nursing tuition data from the Bursar and the 2025 program of study. Amounts exclude optional program/course fees, books, supplies, travel, and housing. The university notes summer tuition uses resident rates even for non-residents.
| Prelicensure plan (Fall start examples) | Resident total | Non-resident total | WUE total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four semesters | $30,800 | $69,200 | $38,600 |
| Five semesters | $32,100 | $74,700 | $40,700 |
| Six semesters | $33,400 | $67,800 | $40,300 |
| Source | Prelicensure Track — Tuition and Funding · Bursar tuition schedules · Cost of attendance · College Tuition & Funding hub. | ||
Spring- and summer-start plans use different non-resident totals on the same page (for example, a four-semester spring start lists $69,200 non-resident while summer lists $57,200—mirror the table for your entry term). Graduate nursing tuition uses separate per-credit or program rates; use the Bursar’s graduate schedules and the college’s funding pages.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Market demand for RNs and APRNs along the Wasatch Front remains strong because of population growth, referral-complex patients, and continual expansion of ambulatory networks. Pair board-reported NCLEX data with your own networking inside U of U Health, Intermountain, and community partners when you evaluate job pipelines.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | 88.36% (Q4 2025) and 94.35% (Overall 2024) for the University of Utah (BSN) row — Utah DOPL RN pass rate PDF (Nov 2025). |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed on the pages compiled for this guide; consult the college’s career materials and the BLS RN occupational outlook for general labor context. |
| Source | Utah DOPL RN NCLEX table — confirm future cohorts with DOPL. |
Is University of Utah College of Nursing the Right Fit for You?
Choose the U if you want a research-intensive public university paired with an academic health system—and you can manage competitive prerequisites, Salt Lake living costs, and fast-paced clinical schedules.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Thrive in high-volume hospitals and want interprofessional exposure at a major tertiary center.
- Plan an advanced practice trajectory and value having many DNP specialty options in one college.
- Are Utah residents or WUE-eligible learners seeking transparent published tuition totals.
- Want optional honors, research, or global engagement through pathways like U-EXCEL.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully online pre-licensure RN program (Utah’s prelicensure track remains largely in person).
- Prefer very small private-college cohorts or guaranteed geographic placement far from Salt Lake.
- Cannot sustain the published 3.0+ multi-GPA requirements and strict prerequisite repeat policy.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
The Wasatch Front concentrates Utah’s quaternary services, air-medical transfers, and specialty fellowships. Nursing students typically rotate through layered systems that mix university-owned hospitals, not-for-profit integrated delivery networks, VA care, county/public health, and rural outreach experiences depending on program level.
| Organization | Why it matters for clinical learning |
|---|---|
| University of Utah Health / Hospitals and Clinics | Flagship academic health system with Huntsman Cancer Institute, neurosciences, transplant, and high-risk OB/Peds referrals—common site for complex acute care rotations. |
| Primary Children’s Hospital | Pediatric referral hub co-located with university adult hospitals—key for pediatric intensive and subspecialty exposure. |
| Intermountain Health | Large regional network spanning community hospitals, clinics, tele-critical care, and specialty centers across Utah—broad ambulatory and population-health experiences. |
| VA Salt Lake City Health Care System | Federal system emphasizing chronic disease, mental health, and veteran-centric primary care—common partner for public institutions. |
| Salt Lake County / community health centers | Safety-net and public-health rotations aligned with the college’s health-equity messaging. |
Exact site lists rotate; always request the current clinical matrix from the Office of Student Services.
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing classes center on the Annette Poulson Cumming College of Nursing Building at 10 South 2000 East, which houses the Intermountain Healthcare Simulation Learning Center, skills labs, advising suites, and faculty offices. Undergraduates plug into a full Pac-12 campus—NCAA sports, outdoor clubs, TRIO and veterans services, and massive seasonal recreation minutes from downtown.
The college highlights student community engagement initiatives (local/global) and publishes recurring “College Kudos” stories on faculty/student achievements. For downtime, TRAX light rail connects campus to downtown Salt Lake restaurants, Delta Center events, and quick mountain access—plan parking or transit early because clinical days start earlier than typical lectures.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Address
- 10 South 2000 East, Annette Poulson Cumming College of Nursing Building, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, US
- Main telephone
- (801) 581-3414 (college main line)
- Student services
- (801) 587-3194
- Emails
- admissions@nurs.utah.edu · advising@nurs.utah.edu · gradstudentinfo@nurs.utah.edu
- Website
- nursing.utah.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read the Programs hub and save the PDFs for your pathway (prelicensure, RN-BS, or graduate specialty).
- Print the prerequisite list and compare it to unofficial transcripts, noting the seven-year anatomy/physiology rule.
- Model costs using the prelicensure tuition table (or Bursar graduate rates) plus the university COA worksheet.
- Create a Utah DOPL bookmark for the RN NCLEX table so you can check future updates.
- Attend an information session or email advising with program-specific questions.
- For graduate tracks, email gradstudentinfo@nurs.utah.edu about clinical clearance, APRN compact practice, and any dual-degree considerations.
- Enter key deadlines (Nov 1 / Feb 1 / Jun 1 / Sep 1 / U-EXCEL Feb 15 pathway) into your calendar with MT timezone alerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Utah College of Nursing CCNE-accredited?
The college states that its baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), while the nurse-midwifery track follows Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) processes. Confirm active status on the college’s accreditation page and with each agency.
What is the University of Utah BSN NCLEX pass rate?
According to the Utah DOPL RN NCLEX pass rates PDF (November 2025), the University of Utah (BSN) row lists an 88.36% first-time pass rate for Q4 2025 (167 of 189 testers) and 94.35% for Overall 2024 (117 of 124). Download the latest table from the DOPL nursing resources page to verify newer quarters.
Does University of Utah prelicensure nursing require the TEAS?
The public prelicensure eligibility page details prerequisites and GPA rules but does not mention TEAS. Entrance testing policies can still change—confirm with admissions@nurs.utah.edu before you submit.
What GPA do I need for University of Utah nursing prerequisites?
Prelicensure applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA on mandatory prerequisites, all prerequisites in progress/completed at application, and a 3.0 cumulative GPA across all colleges, with grades of C or better in each required science and nursing course. Only two prerequisite repeats are allowed beginning Spring 2025.
When are University of Utah nursing application deadlines?
Prelicensure Fall cohort applications open November 1 and close February 1 at 5:00 p.m. MT; Spring/Summer open June 1 and close September 1 at 5:00 p.m. MT. U-EXCEL lists a February 15 close for Fall and reminds applicants to submit both main campus and nursing pathway applications.
How much does University of Utah prelicensure nursing cost?
The college publishes 2025–2026 rounded totals for tuition and mandatory fees only—example: about $30,800 resident / $69,200 non-resident for a four-semester fall start—excluding books, housing, or extra course fees. Use the Tuition and Funding section on the Prelicensure Track page for every plan.
What makes U-EXCEL different from standard prelicensure admission?
U-EXCEL is marketed to high school seniors with at least a 3.5 GPA, offers hybrid prerequisite delivery, and guarantees a streamlined progression into the BS Nursing major once university requirements are met—plus early ties to honors, research, and service programs.
Can I finish University of Utah nursing online?
The RN-BS tracks are online, but the prelicensure program remains largely in-person (with limited online/hybrid courses). Graduate programs list significant online components yet still require supervised clinical practicum hours in Utah or approved regions depending on specialty—confirm with your advisor.
Which DNP specialties does University of Utah advertise?
Public pages list adult-gerontology acute care, acute and primary pediatric combinations, family, neonatal, psychiatric mental health, women’s health, nurse-midwifery, dual midwifery/WHNP, and leadership-focused post-master’s options—all subject to separate admission and clinical clearance rules.
Who do I contact for advising versus admissions at University of Utah Nursing?
General undergraduate questions go to advising@nurs.utah.edu; admissions processing questions go to admissions@nurs.utah.edu; graduate student services use gradstudentinfo@nurs.utah.edu. Phone support for student services is (801) 587-3194.
References
- University of Utah College of Nursing — programs & contactnursing.utah.edu
- Prelicensure Track (tuition table, deadlines, structure)nursing.utah.edu/programs/bs/fall-spring
- Prelicensure eligibility & prerequisitesnursing.utah.edu/…/eligibility
- U-EXCEL pathway overviewnursing.utah.edu/programs/bs/uexcel
- Utah DOPL — RN NCLEX pass rates (PDF, Nov 2025)commerce.utah.gov/…/rn-pass-rates.pdf
- Utah DOPL — nursing resources hubdopl.utah.gov/nursing/resources
- University of Utah Bursar — tuition schedulesbursar.utah.edu/tuition-schedules
- 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 Utah DOPL NCLEX table alignment, parity with the college’s published program list, and accuracy of the 2025–2026 prelicensure tuition snapshot.
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 the institution and Utah DOPL (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing).
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy