Nursing Schools in Colorado: Campus & Online
Take advantage of the state’s high demand for nurses by enrolling at one of Colorado’s best nursing schools. This guide explores the top online and campus programs and can help you find the one that’s right for you.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a degree from one of the many nursing schools in Colorado, now is the time. The nation’s nurse shortage makes for attractive offers to nursing professionals that include significant salaries and healthy signing bonuses. This demand for nurses is not expected to let up soon, either, and states like Colorado expect even higher demand with 17.8 percent job growth and over 4,100 average annual openings through 2032.
This guide will introduce you to the best accredited nursing programs in Colorado, including convenient online options. You’ll also find advice on selecting the right degree type based on your current nursing education and training, details about what you could earn as a nurse in Colorado, and other helpful information resources. Read on to discover how to start your potential future career in nursing in the Centennial State.
Best Online Nursing Programs in Colorado
Most nursing programs in Colorado now have at least some distance education components like online lectures, readings, and assignments. Online communication with your instructors and classmates as well as to access your class schedules, academic and financial records, etc. is also commonplace. There are lots of nursing degree and certificate programs with didactic coursework and some labs completed entirely online.
Most online nursing students, especially those in pre-licensure programs will, of course, still participate in in-person clinical hour experiences. To help you find a quality program you can feel confident in, see who made our list of the best online nursing schools in the state for the ’24-’25 school year.
Regis University
Denver, Colorado
Private
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Public
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
Public
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
Public
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, Colorado
Public
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, Colorado
Private
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Public
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Types of Nursing Programs Available in Colorado
Nursing schools in Colorado offer an array of degree and certificate options to meet the needs of students at different points in their nursing education and careers. Below is our breakdown of the most common types of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs along with a sampling of their availability at nursing schools in Colorado.
Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs in Colorado
ADN Programs
An associate degree in nursing (ADN) offers a quick pathway to NCLEX-RN eligibility. It also provides a solid academic foundation for earning your nursing bachelors. ADN (also commonly titled ASN or AASN) programs are typically two years in length and most often found in Colorado on community college campuses.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with this Program
Traditional BSN Programs
A traditional Bachelor of Science (BSN) program gives students with little or no college or nursing experience eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Traditional BSN programs in Colorado are almost exclusively found on four-year college and university campuses. RNs with a BSN degree are often favored in the job market over those with only a nursing associate degree or nursing diploma.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with this Program
Accelerated BSN Programs
Accelerated (Second Degree) BSN programs provide students with a bachelor’s degree in non-nursing majors the ability to apply the general education and other lower-division credits from that degree to their BSN requirements. This is a major savings of time and cost. As with all nursing bachelor’s programs, accelerated BSN programs qualify graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with this Program
Nursing Bridge Programs in Colorado for Current Nurses
LPN to RN and LPN to BSN Programs
LPNs looking to move up the career ladder can do so by completing LPN to RN or LPN to BSN programs. Both program types qualify graduates to take the NCLEX-RN exam. LPN to RN programs are most commonly offered by community colleges and can usually be completed in as few as three semesters. LPN to BSN programs require three years or more of study and are typically offered by nursing schools on four-year college and university campuses.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with this Program
RN to BSN Programs
Likely the most common of all nursing programs in Colorado, the RN to BSN program provides current registered nurses with ADNs (or, in some cases, nursing diplomas) the most time-efficient and cost-effective path to obtaining their nursing bachelors. They’re also available in a 100% online format from several nursing schools in Colorado. Completion times for RN to BSN programs are typically one year for full-time students and two years for part-time students.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with this Program
RN to MSN Programs
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the most popular degree for those intending to start or advance their nursing careers as advanced practice nurses or in administration or other nursing leadership roles. Current registered nurses without a BSN will find the most direct route to gaining their MSN degree through an RN to MSN program. RN to MSN programs may or may not award BSN degrees as part of their programs.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with this Program
Advanced Nursing Programs in Colorado
MSN Programs
There are two basic types of MSN programs. The standard MSN is for students with a BSN, while the direct-entry MSN is for students with non-nursing bachelor’s seeking to obtain RN licensure while earning their nursing masters. Standard MSNs are quite popular and available from virtually all nursing schools in Colorado with graduate-level programs. They’re also typically offered in several specializations. As for direct-entry MSN programs, Colorado residents will, at least for now, need to look out-of-state.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with This Program
DNP and PhD Doctoral Programs
Doctoral degrees in nursing are designed for highly-skilled and experienced nurses intent on filling top-tier leadership roles. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs prepare graduates for senior leadership positions in healthcare administration and advanced nursing practice. PhD in Nursing programs, on the other hand, are geared toward preparing students for careers in post-secondary academics and advanced research.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with This Program
Post-Graduate Certificates
Nursing post-graduate certificates provide students with master’s and doctoral degrees a way to advance their careers by gaining knowledge and skills in a specialized field of practice without completing an entire degree program. Common specialized fields include Nurse Administration, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Educator, FNP in any number of concentration areas, and Healthcare Informatics. Many nursing post-grad certificates can be completed 100% online.
Examples of Colorado Nursing Schools with This Program
Scholarships and Other Financial Aid for Nursing Students in Colorado
If you’re like most nursing students, you need help paying for your degree. Fortunately, there are many valuable resources you can tap into. These include scholarships and grants, fellowships and assistantships (for graduate students), the Veterans Administration (for vets and active-duty military), employer tuition assistance programs, and more. There’s also the most popular funding source of all, the student loan.
Student loans are available from many public and private sources, but the largest student loan source is the federal government. The federal government also offers several loan repayment opportunities for nurses as does the State of Colorado itself. To learn more about funding opportunities for nursing programs in Colorado, check out EduMed’s nursing scholarship guide, financial aid guide, and guide to graduating from nursing school debt-free.
How to Become an RN in Colorado
Working as a registered nurse in Colorado requires a current unencumbered RN license issued either by the Colorado Board of Nursing (CBN) or a state or U.S. territory member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). There are two methods for applying for a Colorado RN license: examination and endorsement. Endorsement is used by nurses with an RN license from a non-NLC state or U.S. territory. If you are seeking your first RN license, you will apply for your license by examination. Here’s a detailed look at the steps you’ll take to gain your Colorado RN license via examination.
Complete your state-approved ADN or BSN degree program
One of the major requirements for obtaining your Colorado RN license is taking and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Qualifying for the exam requires completion of a CBN-approved RN education program. You can find state-approved nursing associate and baccalaureate degree programs at CBN’s Education Resources.
Apply for your RN license with the Colorado Board of Nursing
Apply for your RN license online through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Online Services Portal. Before submitting your application, you must meet all of the application requirements outlined in this application checklist. Those requirements include submitting information about your nursing education program, uploading your official school transcripts, and completing a declaration of primary residence and fingerprint and background checks. You’ll also answer a series of general and criminal history questions and pay an application fee.
Register and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam
The NCLEX-RN examination is administered by Pearson VUE. Once they receive CBN clearance, you can register with Pearson VUE to take the exam. Two to three weeks later, you’ll receive your Authorization to Test from Pearson VUE and schedule your exam. You then can sit for the exam at one of Pearson VUE’s testing locations. Detailed exam preparation is available through NCLEX.
Receive your Colorado RN license
NCLEX-RN exam results are available and forwarded to the CBN within hours of exam completion. If you’ve passed, you can verify the issuance of your license through DORA’s Healthcare Professions Profile Program website. The posting process takes two to three weeks.
Keep your RN license current
All Colorado RN licenses expire every two years on September 30th. New license recipients who are issued their license within 120 days of an upcoming renewal date are issued their license with the following year’s renewal date. There are no continuing education requirements for RN license renewal in Colorado. You can renew your license via the DORA Online Services Portal.
Salary and Employment Outlook for RNs in Colorado
The data below offers valuable insights into your potential earnings and job outlook as a registered nurse in Colorado. Salaries vary significantly based on location, with Boulder and the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood areas offering some of the highest wages for nurses across all levels of experience. Statewide, the median salary for RNs is $86,900, with top earners making over $112,800 annually.
In addition to strong earnings potential, job growth is robust. Currently, there are 53,720 RN positions in Colorado, projected to increase to 63,290 by adding 9,570 new jobs—a 17.8% growth rate compared to the national average of 5.6%. This growth will generate about 4,100 annual openings, highlighting high demand in the field. With a rewarding career path and increasing opportunities, nursing in Colorado is an attractive option for those committed to healthcare and professional advancement.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $70,790 | $86,900 | $112,800 |
| Boulder, CO | $74,400 | $96,260 | $129,060 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $65,170 | $84,340 | $103,110 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $71,560 | $87,330 | $116,680 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $68,560 | $86,790 | $107,470 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $71,400 | $86,940 | $108,790 |
| Greeley, CO | $70,830 | $85,180 | $103,960 |
| Pueblo, CO | $70,980 | $88,270 | $103,450 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Colorado | 53,720 | 63,290 | 9,570 | 17.80% | 4,100 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
Colorado Nursing Resources
Colorado Association of School Nurses
Colorado Council of Black Nurses
Colorado Health Care Association
Colorado Public Health Association – Public Health Nursing Section
Colorado Student Nurses Association
Colorado Visiting Nurse Association
