Colorado Nursing Schools And Programs

Colorado pairs a strong hospital network with the outdoor lifestyle a lot of nurses want for work-life balance. This guide covers the state's nursing schools, licensing steps, salary, and job outlook so you can choose a program that fits.

The Best Nursing Schools in Colorado

Compare programs on graduation rate, tuition, time commitment, and admission requirements. Only accredited schools are listed, since accreditation is required for licensure.

Fort Morgan-based Morgan Community College offers LPN-to-RN, RN-to-BSN, and associate degree in nursing (ADN) programs. The LPN-to-RN track provides entry-level training, with students completing the ADN program's second year through classroom instruction and supervised clinical experiences.

• Program(s): LPN-to-RN; RN-to-BSN; ADN
• Type: Public
• Accreditations: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $244-$363 per credit for in-state learners; $457-$657 per credit for out-of-state learners
• Admission Requirements: LPN-to-RN enrollees need an active unencumbered practical nurse license in Colorado or a compact state
• Minimum Time Commitment: N/A
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 96.9% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $57,990 for associate degree-holders, according to College Scorecard

Regis University, a Jesuit Catholic college in Denver, offers a 120-credit bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) taken onsite during the day. Transfer students can finish in two years. The BSN requires 750 hours of clinical experience in the junior and senior years and emphasizes service-learning. Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN.

• Program: BSN
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $20,233 per semester
• Admission Requirements: High school diploma; minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA; prerequisite coursework
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 96.2% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $63,140 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Aims Community College offers an AAS in nursing on the Greeley, Fort Lupton, or Loveland campus, with fulltime enrollment required. Students complete coursework and clinical rotations in specialized areas like maternal child and psychiatric-mental health, and prepare for the NCLEX-RN.

• Program: AAS in nursing
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $7,817-$12,532 total tuition for in-state learners; $36,870 total tuition for out-of-state learners
• Admission Requirements: High school transcripts; prerequisite coursework; HESI test scores
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95.5% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $57,990 for associate degree-holders, according to College Scorecard

Greeley-based University of Northern Colorado offers a nine-semester BSN with traditional and second-bachelor's tracks. Both require fulltime, onsite attendance. Students complete clinical experiences in hospitals and nursing homes. UNC is a strong fit for those who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree.

• Program: BSN
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $10,947 per semester for in-state learners; $21,246 per semester for out-of-state learners
• Admission Requirements: School transcripts; prerequisite nursing courses; minimum cumulative 3.3 GPA; HESI test scores
• Minimum Time Commitment: Nine semesters
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 92.2% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $57,990 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Colorado Mesa University offers a BSN with three tracks: traditional RN, RN-to-BSN, and LPN-to-BSN. Its online RN-to-BSN emphasizes evidence-based practice and can be finished in 18 months fulltime, or at your own pace.

• Program(s): BSN; online RN-to-BSN; LPN-to-BSN
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: RN-to-BSN: $322 per credit
• Admission Requirements: RN-to-BSN: associate degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited program; minimum 2.5 GPA; prerequisite courses
• Minimum Time Commitment: RN-to-BSN: 18 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes, for traditional BSN and LPN-to-BSN students
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 80.5% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $60,750 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Trinidad State Junior College delivers nursing programs on the Trinidad and Alamosa campuses through four pathways: ADN, BSN through dual enrollment, PN certificate-exit, and LPN-to-ADN. The 64.5-credit ADN covers nursing fundamentals, maternal-child nursing, and medical surgical concepts, with a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate.

• Program(s): ADN; BSN through dual enrollment; PN certificate-exit; LPN-to-ADN option
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $247 per credit for in-state learners; $255 per credit for out-of-state learners
• Admission Requirements: ADN: high school or GED diploma; Accuplacer scores; prerequisite coursework
• Minimum Time Commitment: ADN: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $54,850 for associate degree-holders, according to College Scorecard

The MSN at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs enrolls RNs with one to two years of experience. It includes an MSN core, advanced practice core, and specialty classes in the adult/gerontology or family major, with nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist options. All graduate courses are online.

• Program: MSN
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $770 per credit for in-state and out-of-state learners
• Admission Requirements: Accredited bachelor's degree in nursing; minimum 3.0 GPA; unrestricted RN license in the state where the nurse will complete the clinical
• Minimum Time Commitment: N/A
• On-Campus Requirements: No
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.9% firsttime pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $92,360 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Sterling-based Northeastern Junior College offers a two-year ADN. After the first year, students can take the practical nursing (PN) certificate-exit option and sit for the NCLEX-PN. Those who finish the full program qualify for the NCLEX-RN. LPNs can enter through advanced placement.

• Program(s): ADN; PN certificate-exit; LPN to associate advanced placement option
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $177-$255 per credit for in-state learners
• Admission Requirements: ADN: prerequisite courses and minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: ADN: four semesters
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 76.2% firsttime pass rate

The Community College of Aurora in Denver offers a patient care technician (PCT) program that prepares certified nursing assistants. Enrollees complete lectures and simulation lab exercises plus 30 hours of clinical experience, then qualify to sit for the Colorado nurse's aide certification exam. The program also offers phlebotomy coursework.

• Program(s): PCT: certified nursing assistant; phlebotomy
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Tuition: $1,206 for CNA certificate
• Admission Requirements: High school or GED diploma; SAT or ACT scores
• Minimum Time Commitment: Two semesters for the entire patient care technician program
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes

At Otero Junior College, the AAS in nursing offers two tracks. Fulltime students complete the full AAS in two years and prepare for state RN licensure. The PN certificate-exit option grants a PN certificate after two semesters, qualifying graduates to sit for the state practical nursing exam.

• Program(s): AAS in nursing; practical nursing certificate-exit option
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $247 per credit for in-state learners; $255 per credit for out-of-state learners
• Admission Requirements: AAS: high school or GED diploma; prerequisite coursework; minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: 2-4 semesters
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes

How to Choose a Nursing Program in Colorado

Weigh acceptance rate, NCLEX-RN pass rate, tuition, and clinical placement support. A higher pass rate signals how well a school prepares students for licensure. Balance education quality against cost, and look into financial aid. The Colorado Nurses Association offers nursing scholarships, and most schools maintain lists of external scholarships.

Many programs offer online coursework for scheduling flexibility, but state standards still require inperson clinicals. Placement support varies: firstyear students usually get help finding clinical sites, while advanced online programs may require you to find and get approval for your own placement. A fulltime ADN takes about two years and a BSN about four.

Why Become a Nurse in Colorado

Colorado holds multiple Magnet-designated hospitals, the American Nurses Credentialing Center's recognition of nursing excellence. The state's NCLEX-RN pass rate runs above the national average, a sign of program quality.

Colorado is not a right-to-work state but runs a hybrid system under the Labor Peace Act, which sets standards for fair workplace conduct and means most employees get compensation and benefits comparable to union members.

Colorado has not passed mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios. The Colorado Nurses Association has established Principles for Nurse Staffing that emphasize nurse input in staffing decisions, measurable staffing guidelines, needs-based staffing, and flexible teamwork initiatives.

Colorado participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which lets nurses hold one multistate license valid in their home state and other participating states. The compact license is the default in Colorado. Most surrounding states also participate, though California and Oregon do not.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Colorado

Colorado RNs earn an average of about $91,730 a year, against a national RN median of $93,600 [BLS OEWS 2024]. Note that BLS held Colorado estimates during a data-quality review tied to the state's unemployment-insurance system, so figures may lag other states. Colorado ranks 18th nationally on the cost-of-living index.

Job growth for RNs and nurse practitioners is projected at or above the national average. Top-paying metro areas include Aurora, Loveland, Denver, and Fort Collins, which also host several of the state's strongest hospitals.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Colorado

You earn an RN license through an ADN or BSN program and then pass the NCLEX-RN. Firsttime applicants license by examination; nurses moving from a non-compact state license by endorsement.

RN Requirements

After completing an accredited ADN or BSN, pass the NCLEX-RN. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies administers licenses through the Colorado State Board of Nursing, which oversees education, licensing, and enforcement, and approves candidates to take the NCLEX. Apply online and include:

• Fingerprint and background check
• Nonrefundable and nontransferable fee
• Information about your nursing education
• Other healthcare licenses you hold
• Primary state of residence
• General criminal history screening
• A completed Health Professions Profile
• Date of the initial licensing exam
• Official transcripts

RNs whose primary residence is Colorado renew by September 30 every two years. Continuing education is not required for renewal.

APRN Requirements

To become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), graduate from an accredited MSN or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program. The Department of Regulatory Agencies also licenses APRNs. You need an active, unencumbered Colorado or NLC-state RN license. A complete application includes:

• Payment of nonrefundable, nontransferable fees
• Information about other healthcare licenses you hold
• Verification of your national certification
• Selection of a population focus, if applicable, with the appropriate additional certification
• A declared primary state of residency
• Attestation of professional liability insurance
• Information about your RN license
• Criminal history screening and Health Professions Profile if you hold a multistate license

APRNs can also apply for prescriptive authority. APRN status renews every two years, alongside the RN license by September 30. The RN renewal needs no continuing education, though the national certifying organization may require it for the APRN credential.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become an RN in Colorado? Becoming an RN takes two to four years or more, depending on the program and whether you study full or part time. You also pass the NCLEX-RN and apply to the Department of Regulatory Agencies for your license.

Is there a nursing shortage? Yes. The Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence has reported that roughly a third of the state's nurses are over age 55, pointing to a wave of retirements that could deepen the shortage over the next decade.

Can I practice in Colorado with an out-of-state license? If your license comes from another NLC state, yes. To make Colorado your primary residence and transfer your license, apply for endorsement through the Department of Regulatory Agencies with a fingerprint and background check, license verification, fees, criminal history screening, and a Health Professions Profile.