
Scenic views and a never-ending list of outdoor activities make Colorado a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and tourists alike. Skiing, hiking, rafting, mountain climbing, biking, you name it. If it’s something you can do outdoors, you can do it in Colorado. Colorado is a vibrant state with 300 days of sunny skies a year and youthful, happy feel. It’s a fun place to visit, and fun place to live, especially for the young at heart.
Even though Colorado is unofficially considered the healthiest state in the nation, it must have some sick people because it has a thriving and growing healthcare industry that is in need of more qualified professionals. With a nursing shortage nearly twice the national average, Colorado does not have enough nurses to fill open positions. This shortage is a result of not having enough nursing educators and instructors.
- Search Online Colorado Nursing Schools
- See the Top Ranked Colorado Nursing Schools
- See All Colorado Nursing Schools
- Review Colorado Nursing Statistics
Over 50 of Colorado’s largest employers are hospitals and healthcare organizations. Health care makes up a large part of the state’s economy. This is good news for anyone who’s considering a nursing career in Colorado. Most job openings for nurses will be found in an around the state’s capital city of Denver but nurses are needed anywhere you can find a major city.
Education opportunities for students and aspiring nurses are also good. There are over 40 accredited nursing programs in Colorado. Most nursing programs offer associate and bachelor’s degrees, which is what you’ll need if you’re hoping to become a registered nurse. while graduate nursing programs are scarcer than undergraduate degree programs, they are offered at a number of colleges and universities throughout the state.
Salaries
$47k | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) |
$70k | Registered Nurse (RN)* |
$101k | Nurse Practitioner |
Schools
39 | Colleges and Universities |
38 | Offer Undergraduate Degrees |
9 | Offer Graduate Degrees |
Sources: Salary info from Bureau of Labor Statistics, School info from National Center for Education Statistics. *Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists. Excludes nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.
Below you can review a comprehensive list of schools and their offered accredited nursing programs in Colorado.
Top Ranked Colorado Nursing Schools:
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University of Northern Colorado
- In-State Tuition: $6,793
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 94.40%
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Students: 12,497
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Metropolitan State University of Denver
- In-State Tuition: $6,418
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 93.00%
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Students: 23,381
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University of Colorado – Denver
- In-State Tuition: $7,494
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 92.10%
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Students: 22,396
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Colorado Mesa University
- In-State Tuition: $7,206
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 89.60%
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Students: 9,482
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Colorado State University – Pueblo
- In-State Tuition: $7,327
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 87.70%
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Students: 6,806
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Regis University
- In-State Tuition: $32,424
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 78.70%
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Students: 10,683
-
Adams State University
- In-State Tuition: $6,448
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 50.00%
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Students: –
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Colorado Christian University
- In-State Tuition: $23,870
- Board Exam Pass Rate: 81.00%
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Students: –
Browse Colorado nursing schools and colleges by major metropolitan area:
Browse all Colorado nursing schools:
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Lamar Community College
Location:
Lamar, CO
Student Enrollment: 1,080
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, LPN-to-RN, LPN -
Colorado Northwestern Community College – Craig Campus
Location:
Craig, CO
Student Enrollment: 1,375
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate -
Colorado Christian University – Western Colorado Regional Center
Location:
Grand Junction, CO
Student Enrollment: 2,510
Type of School: Private
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes -
Concorde Career College, Aurora
Location:
Aurora, CO
Student Enrollment: 500
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: No
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, LPN-to-RN, LPN -
Otero Junior College
Location:
La Junta, CO
Student Enrollment: 1,400
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate -
Morgan Community College
Location:
Fort Morgan, CO
Student Enrollment:
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: No
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate -
Trinidad State Junior College
Location:
Trinidad, CO
Student Enrollment: 2,500
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: No
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate -
Mesa State College
Location:
Grand Junction, CO
Student Enrollment: 7,040
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes
Degree Programs: Associate, BS/BSN, LPN, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN -
Colorado State University, Pueblo
Location:
Pueblo, CO
Student Enrollment: 4,000
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, LPN-to-BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, Nurse Practitioner -
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Student Enrollment: 9,735
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, RN-to-MSN, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) -
Front Range Community College
Location:
Location
Student Enrollment:
Type of School:
College Accredited:
Offers Online Programs:
Degree Programs: -
Arapahoe Community College
Location:
Littleton, CO
Student Enrollment: 9,970
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, LPN-to-RN, LPN -
University of Northern Colorado
Location:
Greeley, CO
Student Enrollment: 12,710
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, Nurse Educator, Nurse Practitioner, PhD (Doctoral), DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) -
Pikes Peak Community College
Location:
Greeley, CO
Student Enrollment: 12,710
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: Yes
Degree Programs: BS/BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, Nurse Educator, Nurse Practitioner, PhD (Doctoral), DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) -
Pueblo Community College
Location:
Peublo, CO
Student Enrollment: 4,600
Type of School: Public
College Accredited: Yes
Offers Online Programs: No
Degree Programs: Associate, LPN