Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Prepare for Nursing Practice in as Little as 18 Months
| You’re ready to fast-track your future in nursing. Denver College of Nursing (DCN) offers an affordable and accelerated degree path for motivated aspiring nurses like you.
DCN’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program provides comprehensive training to help cultivate confident, competent, and compassionate nursing graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
With a strong reputation for training career-ready nurses in the region, the ADN program at DCN prepares you with a well-rounded skill set to launch a rewarding career. Program highlights include:
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Affordable, Accelerated ADN for Aspiring Nurses
At DCN, we’re dedicated to providing accessible pathways for future nurses to get the training they need to begin their careers. Our ADN program delivers on this mission through affordable tuition, accelerated time to completion, and alternative-credit pathways for completing general education courses. See how program length and costs differ between DCN and other ADN programs in the Denver area.
Program | Program Length | Program Tuition Not including fees and book costs | General Education Costs Per three-credit course | General Education Requirements | Potential Program Cost |
DCN’s ADN Program | 18 months | $40,472 | ~$320 average per prerequisite course* | 24 quarter credits | $42,072 |
Denver-Area Program A | 2 years | $35,535 | $1335 per course | 38 quarter credits | $52,445 |
Denver-Area Program B | 20 months | $37,830 | $1500 per course | 30 semester credits | $52,830 |
* DCN students may complete eligible general education courses online through our approved providers: Sophia Learning, StraighterLine, and Portage Learning.
ADN or BSN: Which Program Is Right For You?
DCN provides two different options to support aspiring nurses on the path to career readiness:
If you’re looking for quick entry into the field of nursing
The ADN program provides a comprehensive blend of classroom learning and clinical training, preparing graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN in as little as 18 months.
If you’ve already completed an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in a nonnursing discipline
And you want to gain foundational nursing knowledge while preparing for future roles in nurse leadership, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program can prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN in as little as 21 months.
Why Future Nurses Choose DCN?
Why DCN?
Transfer Credit Pathways
Through transfer-credit acceptance with Sophia Learning, Portage Learning, StraighterLine, and community colleges, DCN helps you build a personalized pathway to complete the prerequisite and general education courses needed to begin your ADN.
After you enroll, our team of advisors will conduct a holistic review of your academic background, prior work experience, and specific learning needs to determine the best fit for you.
Ready to discuss transfer credit pathways at DCN? Click below to connect with an advisor.
Earn Your ADN. Launch Your Nursing Career Faster.
The ADN program provides an accelerated route to develop the nursing knowledge and skills needed to pass the NCLEX-RN and begin your nursing career.
After entering the nursing workforce, DCN offers a seamless transition for ADN graduates to pursue an RN to BSN online — often with employer financial support — preparing you with next-level nursing and leadership skills to elevate your career potential. DCN graduates also receive a $2,000 scholarship.
Institutional Excellence
Our affordable, accelerated BSN program is backed by DCN’s long-held reputation for academic excellence. Denver College of Nursing is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and holds programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
DCN’s commitment to academic preparation and nursing career readiness is reflected in the success of our graduates as they go on to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and secure impactful roles in healthcare as registered nurses.
Leading by Example: DCN Student Success Stories
With over 7,000 alumni impacting patients in the local community, Denver College of Nursing is home to an ever-expanding network of nurses and healthcare leaders who are applying the skills they’ve learned to transform patient care for the better.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must transfer in or successfully complete 24 quarter credits of postsecondary coursework, with a GPA of 2.0 or better and with grades of C or above (C- or below are not acceptable) for the courses noted below:
| Course | Semester Hours | Quarter Hours |
Anatomy & Physiology I with lab | 4 | 6 |
Anatomy & Physiology II with lab | 4 | 6 |
Human Growth & Development | 3 | 4 |
Introduction to Algebra | 3 | 4 |
| English Composition | 3 | 4 |
| 17 | 24 |
Courses List
A minimum of 75% of the DCN program courses must be earned at Denver College of Nursing.
| Term | Course # | Course | Quarter Credits |
| Quarter 1 | BIO209 | Pathophysiology | 5 |
| NUR210 | Health Assessment | 5 | |
| BIO115 | Basic Nutrition | 3 | |
| NUR201 | Intro to Nursing for the ADN Nurse | 4 | |
| Quarter Totals | 17 | ||
| Quarter 2 | NUR220 | Foundations of Nursing Arts & Skills Lab with Clinical | 10 |
| NUR215 | Basic Pharmacology and Dosage Calculations | 3 | |
| Quarter Totals | 13 | ||
| Quarter 3 | NUR230 | Basic Medical Surgical Nursing with Skills Lab & Clinical | 13 |
| NUR218 | Applied Pharmacology | 3 | |
| Quarter Totals | 16 | ||
| Quarter 4 | NUR245 | Nursing Concepts in Mental Health with Clinicals | 6 |
| NUR240 | Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing with Clinicals | 9 | |
| Quarter Totals | 15 | ||
| Quarter 5 | NUR255 | Nursing Concepts of Children with Clinicals | 6 |
| NUR250 | Nursing Concepts Childbearing Family with Clinical | 6 | |
| NUR260 | Role Transition | 3 | |
| Quarter Totals | 15 | ||
| Quarter 6 | NUR285 | RN Leadership and Capstone | 10 |
| Quarter Totals | 10 | ||
| 86 | |||
| Total Quarter Credits | 86 | ||
| Nursing Credits | 78 | ||
| Gen-Ed Credits | 8 | ||
| Transfer General Education Credits | 24 | ||
| Total Credits Earned for Degree | 110 |
