Compare costs, program length, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for every Aurora LPN program in one place.
LPNs in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro earned a median $58,260 in 2023, reflecting ongoing demand for skilled nursing staff in the region’s hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and extended-care facilities.
Aurora sits at the eastern edge of that healthcare job market, putting nursing students (and the Colorado nursing schools that train them) close to clinical placements and employers from central Denver to the I-225 corridor.
Accredited LPN programs here vary sharply in tuition, NCLEX-PN pass rates, and completion times, factors that shape both licensure odds and starting salaries.
Prospective students weigh program cost against NCLEX pass rates and employer hiring patterns, since graduates of high-performing programs often secure positions before licensure.
Colorado projects LPN openings to grow faster than the state average through the next decade, making program choice a career-determining step.
The following ranked list includes LPN programs within a 75-mile radius of Aurora, Colorado, based on a combination of affordability, student outcomes, and program quality. All featured schools are accredited and prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | Aspiring nurses on a budget | |
Front Range Community College offers a Practical Nursing Certificate that can be completed in as little as two semesters. The ACEN-accredited program features a high NCLEX-PN pass rate and 100% on-time completion. As a public community college located in Westminster, it provides an affordable path to LPN licensure with clinical partnerships across the Denver metro area.
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| #2 | Arapahoe Community College | Littleton, CO | $12,000/yr | RN-track students seeking early LPN | |
Arapahoe Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate is designed as an alternative nursing pathway for students already accepted into its RN program. This 47-credit program combines general education with nursing courses and a summer transition course, preparing graduates for NCLEX-PN licensure. Located in Littleton, it is a convenient option for south metro Denver students.
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| #3 | Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | Aurora, CO | $23,000/yr | Quick path for hands-on learners | |
Pima Medical Institute's Aurora campus offers a 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate program blending classroom instruction with hands-on lab and clinical training. The program holds initial NLN CNEA accreditation and Colorado State Board of Nursing approval. Students gain skills in IV therapy, medication administration, and electronic health records, with career services support for job placement.
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| #4 | Pickens Technical College | Aurora, CO | $5,000 – $9,000/yr | ||
Pickens Technical College, located in Aurora, offers a 1-year Practical Nursing program with ACEN accreditation and a strong employment response rate of 98%. The curriculum includes medical-surgical, maternal-infant, pediatric, and geriatric nursing, with supervised clinical rotations and simulation labs. Its NCLEX-PN pass rate is 84.4% and program completion rate is 91.2%.
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| #5 | Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver, CO | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Pima Medical Institute's Denver campus provides a 12-month Practical Nursing Certificate with hands-on training in vital signs, IVs, and medication administration. The program is NLN CNEA-accredited and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. It includes career services support and preparation for the NCLEX-PN exam.
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| #6 | Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora, CO | $17,000/yr (net price) | ||
Concorde Career College's Aurora campus offers a 10-month Practical Nursing Diploma with 405 clinical hours and 35.5 credit hours. The program is ACEN-accredited and Colorado State Board of Nursing approved, featuring IV skills certification and integrated NCLEX-PN review. It also offers financial aid and scholarships for qualifying students.
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| #7 | Community College of Denver | Denver, CO | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Community College of Denver offers a full-time Practical Nursing certificate requiring 51 credits, including prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. The program includes clinical experiences in simulation and healthcare settings, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN exam and careers in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
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How do you separate strong LPN programs in Aurora from ones that might not deliver the results you need? We built this list around four data points that directly affect your career: licensure exam success, affordability, graduate earnings, and completion rates.
We start by screening all accredited practical nursing programs within 75 miles of Aurora. Both campus-based and hybrid formats (with in-person clinicals) are included, because fully online LPN training isn't possible given the required hands-on hours.
Unlike lists that rank schools without explaining why one gets the top spot, we share the criteria openly. You can weigh the factors that matter most to you, whether that’s a sky-high pass rate, a lower price tag, or strong early-career earnings. Our goal is to give you the facts, not just a number.
Tuition at private and technical schools in the Aurora area is typically not published upfront and must be confirmed directly with each program. The table below compiles publicly reported details so you can compare program length and format side by side.
| School | Program | Length | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concorde Career College (Aurora) | Practical Nursing (PN) diploma | 10-13 months | Evening and weekend classes available |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Practical Nursing | 12 months (full-time), 18 months (part-time) | Day (Mon-Thu 8am-4pm) or Evening |
| Pickens Technical College | Practical Nursing (LPN) | 12 months | Not specified; contact program director |
| Pima Medical Institute (Aurora) | Licensed Practical Nursing | 12 months | Not published; contact admissions |
| Community College of Denver | Practical Nursing Certificate | 3 semesters (full-time), 5 semesters (part-time) | Full-time day or part-time evening/weekend, hybrid |
Application procedures for LPN programs around Aurora fall into two camps: schools that require a specific entrance exam like the TEAS, and those that use the HESI or no published exam. On top of that, one program mandates a current CNA license, while others accept a broader range of healthcare experience or none at all. Knowing which path a school follows saves you from last-minute scrambles and ensures you meet every threshold before the deadline.
Emily Griffith Technical College requires applicants to take the ATI TEAS exam. Results help the admissions committee assess readiness for the nursing curriculum. Concorde Career College Aurora, Pickens Technical College, and Pima Medical Institute Denver do not publish a specific entrance exam on their websites for the 2025–2026 cycle. In many practical nursing programs, the HESI A2 serves a similar purpose, so a candidate applying to multiple schools should confirm which test, if any, each campus demands.
Course prerequisites differ markedly. Emily Griffith expects completion of HPR 1040 Comprehensive Medical Terminology (within the past two years) and BIO 1006 Basic Anatomy and Physiology (within seven years). Applicants must also hold an active Colorado CNA license or have finished a medical assisting program. Other Aurora-area schools typically list fewer instructional prerequisites but still require a high school diploma or GED. Concorde, for instance, emphasizes foundational readiness but does not impose extensive college coursework prior to enrollment.
Admissions timing varies by institution. Emily Griffith uses a cohort-based model with fixed cutoffs and start dates; missing the deadline means waiting for the next cycle. Career-oriented campuses like Concorde and Pima often operate on rolling admissions with multiple start windows throughout the year, allowing more flexibility. Prospective students should contact each school directly to learn the latest deadlines, as dates shift from one cohort to the next.
Regardless of the school, every LPN applicant in Aurora should prepare a standard set of documents and clearances: official high school transcripts or GED scores, a completed application form, proof of immunizations (including hepatitis B and Tdap), a negative TB test, current CPR certification from an approved provider (usually the American Heart Association), and a background check. Many programs also require a drug screening. Gathering these items early helps you meet enrollment deadlines without delay.
What do LPNs earn in Aurora, and what does the local job market look like?
According to 2023 BLS data, LPNs in the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood metropolitan area earned a median annual wage of $58,260, roughly $28.00 per hour. The middle 80% of earners fell between $47,640 and $73,560, so experienced nurses and those in specialized settings often reach well above the median.
That median substantially exceeds the national LPN median (which hovered near $55,000 in recent years) and reflects the metro’s higher cost of living and strong healthcare demand. For reference, the statewide median hourly wage for LPNs in Colorado stood at $29.36 in 2023, though the metro-area figure is best compared on an annual basis. The takeaway: practicing in Aurora pays a noticeable premium over most other markets.
Nationally, the BLS projects just 3% employment growth for LPNs from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations. However, Colorado’s rapidly expanding healthcare sector, driven by population growth and an aging resident base, suggests stronger local demand. With over 9,300 LPNs already employed across the metro, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies remain the primary employers. Major systems such as UCHealth, HealthONE, and Centura Health regularly recruit from Aurora’s programs, and graduates who earn their Colorado license typically find opportunities quickly.
LPN-to-RN bridge pathways in the Denver metro have expanded to include both ADN and direct BSN options, reflecting the growing need for nurses with varied educational backgrounds. Aurora-area licensed practical nurses have several accredited routes to become registered nurses without starting over.
Two community colleges offer LPN-to-ADN bridges that award an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. Arapahoe Community College’s LPN to ADN Nursing AAS requires 75.5 credits and admits a small cohort of 12 students each cycle, delivered on campus.1 Front Range Community College’s Nursing Advanced Placement , Bridge Program LPN to ADN (AAS in Nursing) is a 54.5-credit pathway, also campus-based.2 Galen College of Nursing’s Aurora campus runs an LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge that can be completed in 15 to 18 months of full-time study.4
The Community College of Denver hosts an LPN‑BSN Bridge Program that leads directly to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.3 This on-campus offering lets LPNs earn a baccalaureate degree without first completing an ADN, shortening the total time to a BSN.
While Galen’s 15- to 18-month timeframe is the most explicit,4 ADN bridge lengths generally align with completing nursing coursework and clinicals over three to four semesters after prerequisites. Part-time options may be available at some schools, but structured cohort sequences are the norm; prospective students should confirm pacing directly with each program. For a broader search across Colorado, including programs outside the immediate metro, the LPN programs in Colorado directory can help identify additional bridge opportunities.
Here are quick answers to the questions prospective LPN students ask most often about Aurora, Colorado programs. We've gathered the essential details in one place, with links to deeper information throughout this page.
