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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denver College of Nursing accredited?

Yes, Denver College of Nursing has both programmatic and institutional accreditation as outlined below.

Programmatic Accreditation

The baccalaureate nursing program and the associate nursing program of Denver College of Nursing are accredited by the ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing; formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) 3343 Peachtree Rd. N.E., Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing at Denver College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.  (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Institutional Accreditation

Denver College of Nursing is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7440. 

We have graduates from our BSN and ADN programs working at most major health care facilities in Colorado and many other states. Click here for a partial list of employers.

Is DCN authorized to award degrees? 

Absolutely, all DCN programs are approved and regulated by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, and we are authorized to grant both Associate Degree in Nursing and Bachelor Degree in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing by this body. 

What type of college is Denver College of Nursing?

Denver College of Nursing is a private institution of higher education dedicated exclusively to educating students for the diverse opportunities offered by careers in nursing and other medical fields. For more information on the school's history, please click on the Catalogs, Addenda and Related Information link on our Consumer Information page.

What is a typical schedule like?

On-Campus Programs - On-campus classes may be scheduled between 7:00 a.m.  and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday,  and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and other times as necessary.  Nursing clinical course hours may vary, and may include nights, weekends, holidays, and over the two (2) week break.  Clinical shifts are generally between 8 and 12 hours per day.  Class schedules may change unexpectedly due to the requirements of clinical agencies.

Online Program (RN to BSN and MSN) – Online courses are scheduled two per term for 11-week terms.  For the purpose of participation and attendance, the academic week begins on Monday at 12:00am Mountain Time and ends Sunday at 11:59 pm Mountain Time. Attendance is monitored through class participation.  Program start dates are throughout the year.

Online students are expected to participate in each of their scheduled classes through the week.  A student participates in class by doing the following:

  • Submitting a post to the discussion board;
  • Posting a paper, project, or other academic assignment; and/or
  • Completing a quiz, exam, mid-term, or final;
  • Make initial post to the weekly discussion by 11:59 PM Wednesday;
  • Respond to the posts of two peers by 11:59 PM MT Friday; and
  • Post any remaining weekly assignments as per instructions in the syllabus.

How many students are in a class?

On-Campus Programs - At Denver College of Nursing, all on-campus programs include traditional didactic classes in the classroom, classes in the learning skills lab, and clinical classes at appropriate health care facilities. At DCN you'll find that our class sizes are smaller than most universities. Classes are scheduled per starting cohort of students and students track through the program together in all didactic, lab and clinical classes for the length of their program. This allows students to form friendships, study groups, and groups that may carpool together. 

Online Program (RN to BSN and MSN) - Online class sizes in the RN to BSN and MSN programs are limited to 25 students, and most classes will have 20 students or less.  Online programs do not include traditional lab or clinical experiences; however, experiential learning is included as an assignment in some courses.

Are Denver College of Nursing Programs approved?

Yes, all pre-licensure nursing programs at DCN are approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing.  Approval allows graduates to apply to take the licensing exam (NCLEX-RN®) required for professional practice.

Denver College of Nursing, and its programs, are also approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Commission on Higher Education. This approval grants the college the authority to award Associate and Bachelor degrees. 

Can a DCN graduate with a Colorado license work in another state?

Yes, each state has different requirements for the transferring or endorsement of licenses so you should contact the state’s Board of Nursing in the state you’re interested in to find out the specifics on the process in that state. We have graduates that are currently employed as Nurses in California, Texas, South Carolina, and New Mexico to name a few. As of January 2018, Colorado is a participating state in the enhanced Nurse Compact. When a new graduate residing in the state of Colorado obtains a nursing license, it is granted as a multi-state license allowing practice in all the participating states. Please visit https://www.nursecompact.com for more information.  For information on licensure and nursing regulatory bodies in general, please visit https://www.ncsbn.org.

Is DCN authorized to operate distance education programs (online programs) in my state?

DCN is authorized to enroll students from the specific states listed in the admissions application for distance education programs.  If an applicant’s state is not listed in the DCN admissions application, the college is not yet authorized to enroll students residing in that state.  

The list of states in which DCN is authorized to offer distance education programs is updated regularly.  If you do not see your state listed by DCN at this time and have questions, please contact the Online Admissions Department.

What are DCN's NCLEX pass rates?

The historical NCLEX pass rates for DCN's programs are available on the Colorado State Board of Nursing’s website.

The latest available pass rates off of the December 31, 2020  NCSBN report are:

  • Year of 2020 - 329 BSN graduates, 94.53% 
  • Year of 2020 - 16 ADN graduates, 93.75%

What are the pre-requisite requirements for DCN programs?

All pre-requisite requirements are listed per program under our Prerequisites links on each programs page.

Do the pre-requisite classes need to be complete before I turn in an application?

If students are in their final semester of prerequisite courses at another school and will have their pre-requisites completed by the time they start the program, then they are able to turn in an application for the next available cohort. 

Is there an alternate list for classes at DCN?

You can typically start within three to six months of your application, as DCN provides many start dates throughout the year; however in the cases that a cohort does fill up, an alternate list will be created. Contact the Admissions Department (or Online Admissions Advisor for online programs) to find out the status of the start date in which you’re interested. 

Can I work while in school?

On-Campus Programs - We don’t recommend it. All of our nursing programs are considered full time day programs and students have found it’s very difficult to work full time while going to school. If students do work, it’s usually in a healthcare setting on a part-time basis. Students would need a very flexible employer because class and clinical schedules change every quarter.

Online Program (RN to BSN and MSN) – Yes, you may work while enrolled in an online program at DCN.  Denver College of Nursing offers a well-paced, fully online RN to BSN and MSN degrees that are designed to meet the needs of the working RN.

Where do students go for their clinical?  How does this work in online programs?

On-Campus Programs - DCN works with clinical sponsors all over the Denver area. Click to see a sample list of where some of our students have enjoyed their clinical. Students are assigned to their clinical site by DCN. 

Online Program (RN to BSN and MSN) - Online programs do not include traditional clinical experiences; however, experiential learning is included as an assignment in some courses.  Experiential learning enables students to apply their learning in direct and indirect care activities that impact health outcomes for a variety of clients across the lifespan and across the continuum of care.  Experiential learning is satisfied in a variety of settings where healthcare is provided or influenced for individuals, groups, communities, and populations.  For the RN to BSN or MSN student, this may include experiential learning in his/her place of work or other healthcare facility where the student has arranged opportunities to apply concepts from his/her RN to BSN or MSN courses, reflect on this learning, and demonstrate competency.  Experiential learning provides the opportunity for students to integrate new practice-related knowledge and skills.  Competencies may also be demonstrated through virtual practice experiences.

Does Denver College of Nursing have Federal Financial Aid?

Yes, Denver College of Nursing is an eligible school under the Title IV Federal Financial Aid programs. Tuition financing plans are tailored to the needs of each individual student. Financial aid is available to those students who qualify. The Financial Aid Department assists students in the understanding of the application process and the eligibility requirements for various federal, state and/or private sources of student financial aid.

Click here for more info 

Where is the DCN campus located?

The campus of Denver College of Nursing is conveniently located on the corner of Market and Nineteenth Streets in the exciting “Lodo” area of downtown Denver, Colorado. Students have access to dining and shopping during lunch hour at Denver’s 16th Street Mall just 3 blocks away. Parking is available on the street and in surrounding lots.

Houston Campus

Our second campus is now open in Houston, Texas!

When and how do I apply to the programs?

Please see the Application Process page.

Annual Security Report

Click here to go to the Consumer Information section where you can review the Campus Crime Report. 

DCN Completion / Placement Rate

Click here to review the Completion and Placement Rate information.

I’m a DCN graduate, how do I order my DCN transcript?

All students can request their Official Transcripts by downloading and submitting the Transcript Request Form located on the Registrar page