Compare accredited nursing programs, costs, and outcomes for schools serving the Murray, CO area.
Residents of Murray, a small community south of Denver, rarely find a nursing school within town limits. Our search spans a 75-mile radius, bringing in 22 accredited institutions and 35 distinct program listings, from community-college ADN pathways to public-university BSN and direct-entry MSN options.
Cost and clinical placement availability drive most decisions, especially when commuting across the Front Range. Recent NCLEX first-time pass rates among Colorado programs underscore the importance of program choice, not just degree level. For those willing to travel or relocate within the state, the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro’s robust nursing labor market rewards the commitment.
Murray is a small community south of Denver, so our search includes nursing programs within a 75-mile radius, bringing in top schools from the Front Range and beyond. The institutions listed here offer a mix of associate and bachelor's pathways, with varying delivery formats to fit different schedules and career goals.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Northeastern Junior College | Sterling, CO | $14,000/yr (net price) | Rural Colorado students entering nursing | |
Northeastern Junior College in Sterling delivers a small-cohort ADN experience with a heavy emphasis on hands-on clinicals and a 67.5-credit curriculum. ACEN accreditation and a 2.5 GPA admission threshold make it an accessible starting point for aspiring RNs in rural Colorado. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN and meet licensure requirements both in Colorado and other compact states.
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| #2 | Trinidad State College | Trinidad, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | LPNs bridging to RN with evening classes | |
Trinidad State College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing with multiple schedule options, including evening and weekend tracks, plus an LPN exit option and an LPN-to-ADN bridge. The curriculum stresses critical thinking, patient care quality, and professional ethics, all reflected in historically strong NCLEX-RN pass rates. The program is designed to serve diverse populations across southern Colorado.
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| #3 | Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | RNs earning BSN via hybrid format | |
Front Range Community College serves the northern Denver metro with both an on-campus ADN and a hybrid RN-to-BSN completion program. The ADN track provides robust clinical placements in Denver, while the RN-to-BSN blends online coursework with a practicum, ideal for working nurses. Over 50 years of nursing education experience underpins both pathways.
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| #4 | Lamar Community College | Lamar, CO | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Lamar Community College provides a five-semester Associate of Applied Science in Nursing that includes an option to test for PN licensure after the first year. The nationally accredited program combines on-campus theory with extensive lab and simulation experiences, emphasizing safe, evidence-based practice. Small class sizes and partnerships for advanced degrees support students aiming for BSN and MSN pathways.
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| #5 | Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood, CO | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood delivers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing that builds clinical reasoning and leadership skills through classroom and hands-on practice. Prerequisites include sciences such as anatomy, physiology, and chemistry. The program prepares graduates to deliver safe, ethical care across diverse healthcare environments.
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| #6 | Regis University | Denver, CO | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | ||
Regis University in Denver offers a CCNE-accredited BSN with three distinct pathways: traditional four-year, accelerated one-year, and a hybrid CHOICE option for working professionals. All tracks require 756 clinical hours and integrate ethical foundations and social justice principles. The institution's Jesuit heritage and strong graduate earnings distinguish its nursing programs.
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| #7 | Aims Community College | Greeley, CO | $11,000/yr | ||
Aims Community College in Greeley reports a 95% NCLEX-RN pass rate for its Associate Degree Nursing program, well above national averages. The campus-based curriculum includes lectures, labs, and an internship, covering pharmacology, nursing fundamentals, and patient care. In-district and in-state tuition rates make it a particularly affordable option for residents of northern Colorado.
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| #8 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
The University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is recognized among top nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. It offers a traditional BSN, a 12-month accelerated track for second-degree students, and a 3+2 bridge pathway for Colorado residents. All tracks provide interprofessional collaboration with pharmacy, dentistry, and medicine, culminating in immersive clinical experiences.
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| #9 | Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan, CO | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan provides an online RN-to-BSN completion program at an exceptionally low cost of $200 per credit hour, along with a campus-based ADN. The BSN track features seven-week courses and can be finished in as few as three semesters, making it one of the most affordable and flexible advanced degrees in the region.
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| #10 | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | $18,000/yr (net price) | ||
The University of Northern Colorado's hybrid BSN program serves both first-time degree seekers and career changers with a prior bachelor's. Spread over nine semesters, it combines on-campus and online courses, emphasizing critical inquiry and health outcomes. The second-degree track condenses nursing coursework for those already holding a non-nursing degree.
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Cost, location, and long-term career returns rarely align perfectly, and nursing students in Murray, Colorado often find that the most flexible program is not the most affordable. This ranking weighs multiple factors to help you identify nursing programs in Colorado that strike a practical balance.
When comparing BSN programs near Murray, the net price (what students actually pay after financial aid) often differs significantly from the listed tuition. The table below shows in-state and out-of-state tuition, net price, median student debt, and ten-year median earnings for five bachelor's-level nursing programs in the area.
| School | Program Type | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Debt | Median Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak State College | Campus | $4,510 | $17,110 | $6,007 | $9,000 | $40,796 |
| Colorado Mountain College | Campus | $5,112 | $12,840 | $7,813 | $9,000 | $44,127 |
| Morgan Community College | Online | $4,252 | $16,852 | $9,266 | $8,501 | $39,429 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Hybrid | $9,720 | $17,944 | $10,051 | $21,500 | $55,563 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Online | $4,434 | $17,034 | $11,571 | $11,884 | $48,341 |
Two-year associate vs four-year bachelor’s: NCLEX pass rates often reflect the depth of preparation, but the individual program matters even more. For students near Murray, Colorado, BSN programs within a reasonable radius show particularly strong outcomes when measured against state and national benchmarks.
Adams State University in Alamosa is the closest four-year BSN program to Murray, and its recent pass rate of 94.7% places it well above the national average. Expanding the radius brings in other high-performing options: the University of Colorado Anschutz’s accelerated BSN track leads the state at 98.5%, while its traditional BSN follows at 96.0%. Metropolitan State University of Denver reports a 95.7% rate, and Colorado Mountain College’s BSN pass rates have ranged from 94% to 100% in recent years. These figures underscore that many programs serve students from the broader southeastern Colorado region with reliable licensure preparation.
Colorado’s BSN programs collectively posted a 92.66% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the 2022–2024 period, and the statewide rate for all RN candidates reached 93.1% in Q1 2026. Both numbers outpace the 2025 national first-time average of 86.7%, meaning graduates of Colorado BSN programs typically exceed the national benchmark by a noticeable margin. Students who attend a program with a pass rate in the mid-90s or higher join a cohort that consistently performs above most U.S. nursing graduates.
NCLEX pass rates are not static. They can shift from one exam cycle to the next based on cohort size, curriculum updates, and evolving test plans. Before enrolling, it is wise to check the latest figures through the Colorado Board of Nursing or the NCSBN’s published data. A strong multi-year trend carries more weight than a single year’s spike or dip, so looking at two-to-three-year averages gives a more reliable picture of program quality.
Choosing between an online and on-campus BSN in Colorado depends on your schedule, learning style, and career timeline. Online programs like Morgan Community College's RN-to-BSN offer flexibility and lower costs, while traditional campus-based programs at Regis University provide immersive clinical experiences. Compare key factors below.
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Considering nursing schools in the Murray area? Here are answers to common questions about programs, costs, and requirements.
Beyond the top 10, Colorado has many other quality nursing programs. Here is a directory of additional schools offering BSN, ADN, and direct-entry MSN pathways near Murray and across the state. For a complete statewide list, explore our full Colorado nursing schools directory on topnursing.org.
