Compare NCLEX pass rates, costs, and outcomes across Colorado's top-ranked BSN, ADN, and accelerated nursing programs.
Colorado is short roughly 9,970 registered nurses in 2026, a gap of about 20%, and its schools range from two-year associate programs in towns like Sterling and Lamar to BSN tracks at research universities in Denver.
The real decision is fit, not availability. Among the top nursing programs, average net prices after aid run from about $9,000 to $18,400, and graduation rates span from roughly 32% to 61%. Public community colleges sit at the low end of cost, while private options like Regis University sit at the high end.
Entry is rarely simple. Most programs require prerequisite courses, and several use entrance exams such as the TEAS or HESI. That is why many students start with a low-cost ADN and later pursue an RN to BSN program in Colorado.
This list ranks the top nursing programs in Colorado for 2026 using a composite of cost, outcomes, and program strength. Cards show estimated net price, institution-wide graduation rate, and delivery format. Program-level earnings are not yet available for most schools, so the earnings shown reflect institution-wide median earnings after attendance.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | Working RNs needing hybrid completion | |
Front Range Community College pairs an affordable associate degree pathway with a hybrid RN-to-BSN completion option, making it a strong fit for Colorado learners who want to start locally and finish a bachelor's online. The college reports an institution-wide graduation rate of about 35%, and the estimated net price is one of the lowest among ranked schools at around $13,000. Typical post-attendance earnings are near $45,900. CCNE accredited
ACEN accredited
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| #2 | Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood, CO | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | Budget conscious Denver metro ADN students | |
Red Rocks Community College offers an associate of applied science in nursing on its Arvada campus, with a focus on clinical reasoning, cultural competence, and evidence-based practice. The school reports an institution-wide graduation rate of about 32%, an estimated net price near $9,000, and typical post-attendance earnings around $46,300. The program starts in spring and requires TEAS or HESI scores, with applications due in September.
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| #3 | Northeastern Junior College | Sterling, CO | $14,000/yr (est. net price) | Rural learners wanting small ADN cohorts | |
Northeastern Junior College in Sterling offers a three-year associate degree nursing pathway with small class sizes and clinical placements in local hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The school reports an institution-wide graduation rate of about 56%, an estimated net price near $13,800, and typical post-attendance earnings around $39,900. The ACEN-accredited program has educated nurses since 1964 and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN. ACEN accredited
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| #4 | Regis University | Denver, CO | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | ||
Regis University's Loretto Heights School of Nursing offers a Denver-based private BSN with traditional, accelerated, and CHOICE hybrid pathways. The institution reports a graduation rate around 61%, an estimated net price near $18,400, and typical post-attendance earnings above $72,000. CCNE-accredited pathways include an accelerated option for students with a prior bachelor's degree and evening and weekend CHOICE scheduling. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #5 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | ||
The University of Colorado College of Nursing on the Anschutz Medical Campus combines a traditional 24-month BSN, a 12-month accelerated pathway, and a Colorado-only bridge program. The institution reports a graduation rate around 46%, an estimated net price near $11,900, and typical post-attendance earnings around $64,300. CU Nursing is embedded in the state's major academic medical campus and is recognized nationally. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #6 | Trinidad State College | Trinidad, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Trinidad State College serves southern Colorado with an ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing that offers traditional and evening/weekend schedules plus LPN-to-ADN and paramedic-to-ADN entry points. The school reports an institution-wide graduation rate of about 55%, an estimated net price near $10,800, and typical post-attendance earnings around $36,500. The program highlights a 96% NCLEX pass rate at the Trinidad campus in 2025. ACEN accredited
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| #7 | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | $18,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
The University of Northern Colorado in Greeley offers a CCNE-accredited BSN with hands-on simulation labs, including a birthing suite and bioterrorism drills, plus a second-degree track. The institution reports a graduation rate around 51%, an estimated net price near $17,800, and typical post-attendance earnings around $52,200. It is a strong northern Colorado option for students planning graduate study in the state. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #8 | Aims Community College | Greeley, CO | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Aims Community College in Greeley offers an ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing with a 95% licensure pass rate and a two-year structure that includes a clinical internship capstone. The school reports an institution-wide graduation rate of about 40%, an estimated net price near $11,500, and typical post-attendance earnings around $41,900. An LPN-to-RN track serves working licensed practical nurses. ACEN accredited
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| #9 | Colorado Christian University | Lakewood, CO | $25,000 – $30,000/yr (est.) | ||
Colorado Christian University in Lakewood offers a faith-based traditional BSN with a four-year blended format, including direct admission for freshmen and a 120-credit curriculum. The institution reports a graduation rate around 64%, an estimated net price near $29,500, and typical post-attendance earnings near $50,400. The upper-division nursing core spans four semesters with summers off.
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| #10 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | $10,000 – $24,000/yr (est.) | ||
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers a four-year, 127-credit BSN for Colorado residents, with competitive admission requiring prerequisite courses and ATI TEAS scores. The institution reports a graduation rate around 47%, an estimated net price near $15,800, and typical post-attendance earnings around $54,700. The campus-based program includes an accelerated option and prepares students for RN licensure.
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In-state tuition for Colorado nursing programs spans from $3,410 to $10,383 across these public institutions, while out-of-state rates reach up to $29,391. The net price after financial aid (an institution-wide average, not a guaranteed individual figure) narrows that gap, ranging from $6,007 to $13,801. Combining net price with median graduate debt highlights value: several community colleges, like Aims Community College, combine low net cost with minimal debt loads.
| Institution | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak State College | $4,510 | $17,110 | $6,007 | $9,000 |
| Colorado Mountain College | $5,112 | $12,840 | $7,813 | $9,000 |
| Red Rocks Community College | $4,859 | $17,459 | $9,044 | $9,500 |
| Lamar Community College | $4,550 | $7,260 | $9,161 | $8,750 |
| Morgan Community College | $4,252 | $16,852 | $9,266 | $8,501 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | $9,720 | $17,944 | $10,051 | $21,500 |
| Trinidad State College | $4,608 | $7,318 | $10,772 | $8,908 |
| Otero College | $4,560 | $7,270 | $11,103 | $10,250 |
| Aims Community College | $3,410 | $11,786 | $11,463 | $6,844 |
| Arapahoe Community College | $4,434 | $17,034 | $11,571 | $11,884 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $10,383 | $29,391 | $11,900 | $20,500 |
| Pueblo Community College | $5,049 | $17,649 | $12,045 | $10,000 |
| Adams State University | $9,824 | $21,944 | $12,980 | $19,500 |
| Front Range Community College | $4,663 | $17,263 | $13,031 | $12,251 |
| Northeastern Junior College | $5,730 | $8,267 | $13,801 | $9,376 |
Nursing school costs in Colorado vary widely. This at-a-glance summary pulls key figures from our ranked list of programs to help you compare affordability.
A nursing program with a 97% NCLEX first-time pass rate and one hovering at 78% may both meet accreditation minimums, but they signal very different levels of student readiness and faculty support.
First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates are the single most direct measure of how well a nursing school prepares its graduates for entry-to-practice. The exam tests clinical judgment across all major client-needs categories, and a low pass rate often points to gaps in curriculum alignment, simulation quality, or academic remediation. For prospective students, a school's first-time rate is a proxy for the likelihood you will transition from graduation to licensure without costly retakes or delays in beginning your nursing career.
State boards of nursing and accrediting agencies typically require programs to maintain first-time NCLEX pass rates above 80%, and many have accountability rules that trigger improvement plans when rates drop below that threshold. When you see a program with a persistent pattern of first-time rates in the 70s, ask hard questions: Does the school provide structured NCLEX preparation? Are recent curriculum changes improving results? A rate consistently below 80% suggests that a meaningful share of graduates are not yet practice-ready at the level the NCLEX demands, no matter the program's reputation in other areas.
The 2024 national average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for BSN programs was 91.92%, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Colorado's top performers often sit well above that mark. For example, the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz's 2024 NCLEX pass rate was 96.67% for its BSN graduates, far above the national norm. While not every Colorado BSN program publishes its rate as prominently, state-level data consistently shows that several schools exceed 90%, making it a competitive landscape. When comparing programs, look specifically for BSN pass rates rather than overall institutional rates that blend ADN and BSN outcomes, because the rigor and student profile can vary significantly.
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) publishes annual NCLEX-RN performance summaries for every approved prelicensure nursing program in the state. The reports break pass rates down by program type and degree level, letting you verify the most recent first-time percentages directly. Basing your decision on the latest DORA data ensures you are not relying on marketing materials that may highlight a single strong year while omitting a multi-year trend.
These figures show how Colorado nursing programs stack up in terms of debt and long-term earnings, based on the most recent College Scorecard data for nursing completers. Program-level earnings for the first few years after graduation are not yet available, but the 10-year median earnings and debt reveal clear ROI differences. Nationally, registered nurses earned a median wage of $93,600 in 2024; Colorado’s state-specific BLS data remains incomplete, so individual school outcomes become a critical guide.
| School | Median Earnings (10 yr) | Median Debt | ROI Ratio (Earnings/Debt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aims Community College | $41,887 | $6,844 | 6.12 |
| Colorado Mountain College | $44,127 | $9,000 | 4.90 |
| Red Rocks Community College | $46,288 | $9,500 | 4.87 |
| Morgan Community College | $39,429 | $8,501 | 4.64 |
| Pikes Peak State College | $40,796 | $9,000 | 4.53 |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | $42,456 | $9,500 | 4.47 |
| Lamar Community College | $38,719 | $8,750 | 4.43 |
| Northeastern Junior College | $39,893 | $9,376 | 4.25 |
| Trinidad State College | $36,475 | $8,908 | 4.09 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | $38,673 | $9,500 | 4.07 |
| Arapahoe Community College | $48,341 | $11,884 | 4.07 |
| Otero College | $39,018 | $10,250 | 3.81 |
Becoming a registered nurse in Colorado follows a clear sequence of steps. Here's the path from nursing school to your first Colorado RN license.
What nursing degree should I pursue in Colorado, and how long will it take? The answer depends on where you are in your education and career. Colorado nursing schools offer four main pathways, each with different timelines, prerequisites, and formats. Knowing the differences upfront can save you time and money.
The ADN is a two-year program typically offered at community and technical colleges. It is the fastest route to an RN license for students starting from scratch. Coursework covers fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, and clinical care, with hands-on practice in simulation labs and local healthcare facilities. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and can begin working as registered nurses right away. Many ADN programs in Colorado are campus-based, with daytime and sometimes evening schedules. While the ADN gets you into the workforce quickly, many hospitals now prefer or require a BSN, which means you may eventually need to complete an RN-to-BSN bridge.
A traditional BSN is a four-year degree that combines general education, nursing theory, and extensive clinical rotations. In Colorado, most BSN programs are delivered on campus, though a handful offer hybrid or online components for select courses. For example, the University of Northern Colorado runs a hybrid BSN track, while Colorado Christian University and CSU Pueblo also incorporate online coursework alongside in-person clinicals. Traditional BSNs are ideal for first-time college students who can commit to a full-time, multi-year program. The degree opens doors to a wider range of nursing roles, leadership opportunities, and graduate study, and it satisfies the BSN-in-10 requirement that many Colorado hospitals have adopted.
If you already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, an accelerated BSN lets you leverage your previous credits and earn a nursing degree in 12 to 20 months. These programs are intense, full-time, and typically require specific science prerequisites. Colorado has several ABSN options beyond the well-known CU Anschutz track. Regis University offers a 12-month, on-campus ABSN in Denver. CU Anschutz also runs a 12-month accelerated pathway through its UCAN program, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA. University of Colorado Colorado Springs provides a 16-month on-campus ABSN that accepts both bachelor’s holders and students with 57 college credits, with a TEAS exam requirement. Metropolitan State University of Denver’s accelerated option spans 17–18 months on campus and costs about $40,600. CSP Global (a Concordia University, St. Paul site) offers a 16-month hybrid ABSN in Denver for students with 54 credits or a prior degree. The University of Northern Colorado has a 20-month hybrid second-degree BSN requiring a previous bachelor’s and 71 credits. Grand Canyon University also delivers a 16-month hybrid ABSN in the Denver area, accepting non-nursing bachelor’s graduates or students with 60 transferable credits. Prerequisites, application windows, and accreditation status vary, so check each program carefully before applying.
Working ADN nurses can complete an RN-to-BSN in as little as one year, often entirely online. These programs build on your existing knowledge and focus on leadership, population health, and evidence-based practice. Colorado schools like Front Range Community College, Arapahoe Community College, Morgan Community College, and Pueblo Community College all offer accredited online RN-to-BSN options. Some, like Front Range, blend online coursework with minimal on-site practicum hours. RN-to-BSN programs are designed for flexibility, so you can continue working full-time while advancing your degree.
If you are a recent high school graduate or a first-time college student, a traditional BSN gives you a direct four-year pathway to licensure and long-term career mobility. Career changers with a bachelor’s in another field should target an ABSN to become an RN in about a year and a half. Already an RN with an ADN? An online RN-to-BSN fits your schedule and meets employer expectations without interrupting your income. And for those who need to enter the workforce as quickly as possible, an ADN remains the most affordable and expedient on-ramp to a nursing career in Colorado.
Choosing a nursing program involves many questions about cost, time, and outcomes. Here are direct answers based on Colorado's education landscape and workforce data.
The directory below groups Colorado nursing programs by region, from the Denver metro to the Western Slope and the Eastern Plains, so you can start with the part of the state you want to live and work in. Each entry notes the city, the degree level, and whether the program runs on campus, online, or in a hybrid format. Admissions requirements and deadlines shift from year to year, so confirm current details on each school's own program page before you apply.
