2021 - Best Nursing Schools in Colorado

Pikes Peak Community College is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  They offer an RN program and a dual enrollment RN to BSN program.  Their RN program is unique in that students enrolled may exit with their LPN at a designated point in the program rather than continuing for the full program if they so choose.  The dual enrollment program allows the RN student to also take classes towards their BSN while working towards their ADN.  This would allow the student to first obtain their ADN but still have credits for their BSN after completion of the program.

The nursing program at Pikes Peak Community College prepares the students with the skills, technical competence, and the skills they need for a successful nursing career. The college is diverse both in terms of its students and the programs offered. At PPCC, the average class size is 16, allowing for personal mentorship and guidance by experienced faculty.

Pikes Peak Community College leaves no stone unturned when it comes to taking care of the students. About $1 million scholarships are awarded annually along with affordable tuition, and the college's nationally accredited Child Development Center provides quality care and educational services to children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. 

Similarly, nursing graduates receive a quality education that prepares them to be leaders and care providers to a diverse population. The course work is designed to provide a better life to the students by understanding them physically, educationally, and financially.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program provides the students with core competence in caring intervention, health-illness, holistic care, teaching/learning, nursing process, professionalism, communication, and leadership.

Similarly, the LPN to RN bridge program and the RN to BSN program allow nursing professionals to obtain a bachelor's degree, thereby opening new doors in terms of nursing education, research skills, and leadership. Students of these programs take the classes on campus and have clinical rotations in some of the best healthcare facilities in the community.

The School of Nursing at Colorado State University-Pueblo is a regional nursing education for Southern Colorado. It provides its students with quality learning experiences, multiple degree entry paths, educational excellence, and a supportive and caring learning environment. The students here are capable of maintaining competencies throughout their practice, and hence are capable of bringing a positive change in the healthcare environment.

Being a diverse and inclusive institution, Colorado State University offers its students a variety of social, educational, and cultural opportunities that help them develop as competent human beings, in addition to apt professionals. Students enjoy personal mentorship and individualized education in small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. The University also offers CARES funding to help students pay for their food, housing, healthcare, course materials, technology, and other needs in addition to their tuition.

In Colorado State University School of Nursing, students enjoy the benefits of online, in-person, or hybrid learning formats, student organizations, high-quality simulation labs, and networking opportunities.

Undergraduate Programs: The BSN program at Colorado State University teaches students the holistic synthesis of person, health, and environment. There are also courses designed especially for working RNs who want to complete their degrees. The RN (ADN) to BSN and RN (ADN) to MS programs are online courses that the students can take without letting their work schedule affect education and vice-versa.

Graduate Programs: The MS-Nurse Practitioner, Nurse manager, and Leader, and MS-Nurse Educator are online courses with in-person clinical postings that help students master evidence-based practice, ethical decision making, and use of technology as they provide advanced nursing care. 

Similarly, the DNP program exists for those seeking a terminal degree in nursing. This is an innovative, inter/intra-professional education that focuses on evidence-based healthcare.

Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, Colorado.  Arapahoe Community College offers an LPN program, an ADN program, and an LPN to ADN program.  They also have partnerships with three neighboring universities, which allows their graduates to easily gain entrance into a BSN program after completion of the ADN program.

The nursing program at Arapahoe Community College is an award-winning program that is a recognized leader in nursing education. The college ranks as one of the nation's and state's best when it comes to the quality of nursing education. 

The program boasts high professional standards, a superior reputation in the community, and accessible faculty and staff. The graduates have had excellent rates of hire in some of the most reputed healthcare facilities in the state and the nation. Students participate in active learning in classrooms, high-quality simulation labs, and supervised clinical experiences in multiple healthcare facilities.

The college itself is committed to affordability by providing low tuition and multiple financial aids and scholarship opportunities. Also, to ensure that the students never feel alone and confused about their career, Arapahoe Community College provides supports like advising, career/transfer counseling, tutoring, counseling, and more, all of which are completely free of cost.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree in Arapahoe Community College paves the way for students to become professional RNs who are qualified to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation units, and other clinical settings.

For licensed RNs who want to advance their career further, the RN to BSN program offers online classes so that they can further build their skills, enhance their leadership skills, and open doors for further education.

Similarly, the students who successfully complete the first two semesters of the AAS Nursing program are eligible to earn their Practical Nursing Certificate. Arapahoe Community College also accepts admissions from LPNs who wish to complete their ADN.

University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, Colorado.  UNC has a diverse student population; 87% of its population is from Colorado, with 58 of its 64 counties represented.  47 out of 50 states currently have students studying there.  In addition, 34 countries are represented at UNC.  In addition, their nursing program is over 50 years old.  Their nursing program offers a BSN option and an RN to BSN option.

The University of Northern Colorado prides itself in its College of Natural and Health Sciences for having highly qualified faculty, competitive and rigorous academic standards, and a commitment to quality professional practice. It is one of the top nursing colleges that teaches students to view the patient holistically and practice patient-centered care. 

One of the most unique and prominent features of this university's nursing program is the Poverty Simulation for Nursing Students. This simulation is set up each semester and allows nursing students to understand social justice, reservation of judgment, and personal biases that people living in poverty face. It helps students get a sense of how it feels to live in poverty and teaches them a valuable lesson on empathy. 

The University of Northern Colorado is diverse in terms of both its majors and student body. The students here learn the value of hard work and personal growth while participating in rigorous lessons as well as extra-curricular activities. In addition to being highly affordable, the University of Northern Colorado also provides a multitude of financial aid and scholarships to students who seek them.

Undergraduate Programs: The College of Natural and Health Sciences has a five semester RN-BSN program for RNs who have completed their associate degree. There is also a dual enrollment option where students who are currently studying for their Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in an affiliated Colorado Community College are able to take the RN-BSN courses at the University of Northern Colorado.

Graduate Programs: The University offers multiple courses in their MSN program, including FNP, Leadership, Adult-Gerontology, and so on. These courses prepare nurses to become primary care providers while contributing to evidence-based research and practices.

The DNP courses at the University of Northern Colorado aim to prepare nurses to become clinical experts, critical thinkers, leaders, and policymakers. Similarly, there is also a Ph.D. in Nursing Education course, which can be taken online. This course focuses on knowledge development, education strategies, leadership, and research.

Colorado Mountain College is located in various locations throughout Colorado.  They offer both an ADN and a BSN program at their Breckenridge and Spring Valley locations.  Having the BSN program on-campus allows their students to continue for their BSN degree immediately after obtaining their ADN degree.

The nursing programs at Colorado Mountain College are focused on teaching the students patient-centered care at every level of life. The graduates have gone on to work in some of the most demanding, high-quality healthcare facilities all around the world. Being one of the top-ranked nursing schools in both Colorado and the nation, Colorado Mountain College leaves no stone unturned to provide the best nursing education that is in step with the ever-changing global healthcare scenario.

The college offers low-cost tuition paired with a small class atmosphere of 13:1 student to teacher ratio. Students graduate with surprisingly low student debt and high-quality education that helps them make a positive change in the society, as demonstrated by the success of the alumni. 

The nursing programs at Colorado Mountain College are available online and are as relevant as they are competitive. The program emphasizes on nursing theory, community health, population-focused care, research, evidence-based practices, and leadership.

Undergraduate Programs: Colorado Mountain College offers a BSN degree for RNs who have completed their AAS degree and are currently working. This online course is designed to add to the practical knowledge that a working RN possesses and the theoretical knowledge that they acquired through their AAS degree.

The AAS degree prepares nurses to sit for their NCLEX-RN examination and start a career as a successful RN. The students learn through clinical rotations in acute care hospitals, ambulatory care settings, clinics, and home health, long-term care facilities, and so on.

Denver College of Nursing provides its students with quality nursing education through a faculty of highly-trained dedicated professionals and multiple hands-on experiences. Focused solely on nursing education, this college allocates all its resources from finances to infrastructure to prepare competent, professional nurses. 

Students at Denver College of Nursing engage in multiple in-person experiences that provide them with all kinds of learning experiences such as SNA, community service, service-learning, and GHP. The college has various learning facilities like a skills lab and clinical classes at healthcare facilities on top of traditional classes with small student sizes. The college also provides multiple financial aids and scholarships tailored to the needs of each individual student. 

Students can choose to attend the college in person or enroll in online classes as per their choice of program and work. 

Undergraduate Programs: Denver Nursing College offers an 18-month long ADN program, an in-person program that includes both didactic and clinical components. The students are considered eligible to take their NCLEX-RN exam upon the completion of this program. Similarly, the BSN degree is another of their in-person degrees that is also composed of both didactic and clinical components. In addition to these, there is an online RN to BSN option designed for working RNs by competent nurse educators.

Graduate Programs: Their MSN program can be taken online, and it is a great course for RNs who wish to advance their education to become nurse leaders and educators.

Nursing instructors at Front Range Community College prepare students to provide safe, quality, and patient-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings. The nursing program is ideal for students who want to provide quality nursing care to patients while adhering to evidence-based practices.

The nursing program at Front Range Community College is available at the Larimer Nursing Department and Westminster Nursing Department. Different programs are available according to the campus. Both the colleges have classrooms and labs equipped with the most advanced technology in the state. Students gain clinical experience in some of the most prominent acute care centers, long-term care, home health, and community agencies of the state. The nursing course is designed to meet the needs of the rapidly changing global healthcare delivery system. Students here learn to promote and practice the culture of caring to provide support, compassion, and culturally competent holistic care. 

Undergraduate Programs: The Practical Nursing course is a three-semester-long program available at the Larimer campus. It prepares students to take their NCLEX-PN exam and practice in long-term care facilities, clinics, or other healthcare facilities. Similarly, there is an LPN to ADN course available at Westminster campus for LPNs practicing in Colorado who wish to complete their associate degree.

Both the Larimer and Westminster Campuses have an AAS in nursing degree that prepares nurses for their NCLEX-RN and embark on a Registered Nurse career. There is also an online RN to BSN Completion Program designed for graduates of ADN degrees or those who wish to complete both their ADN and BSN degrees simultaneously.

University of Colorado Denver is located in Denver, Colorado.  They offer a few different options for their BSN students.  They offer a traditional BSN program.  They also offer an RN to BSN program, which is an online program.  This online program is also available to non-Colorado residents.  They also offer their "integrated nursing pathway" program, which is a collaboration with various local community colleges.  This allows students with an ADN to take their first two semesters of their BSN program at their local college, finishing up at the main campus.

In the University of Colorado College of Nursing, students get to choose from 17 programs, four nurse-led practices in nine locations, and two major Colorado hospitals in the region's largest academic medical campus. The university prides itself in its reputation as a leader and pioneer in nursing education.

The University of Colorado has a history as rich as its student body is diverse. The university was the first one to start a Nurse Practitioner program and created the very first Nurse Practitioner and School Nurse in the US. The learning environment here is innovative and both classes and labs are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Students learn classes integrated with high-quality research in an environment that is designed to foster innovation and interdisciplinary education. To facilitate this innovation and research, the University of Colorado has provided over $654 million in research grants alone. 

Undergraduate Programs: University of Colorado offers multiple undergraduate degrees for aspiring nurses who wish to build a career in healthcare, research, and leadership. They include the Traditional BSN pathway, Integrated Nursing Pathway, Accelerated Nursing Bachelor's pathway, Online RN to BSN pathway, and Online Dual Enrollment ADN and BSN pathways. Students enrolling in these pathways enjoy the benefit of being taught by a distinguished faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative programs.

Graduate Programs: The Master's Degree in Nursing program prepares nurses for direct and indirect care roles, administrative duties, health promotion activities, and managing and evaluating care within communities and healthcare systems.

The college also offers one of the nationally top ranked DNP programs which is a clinical practice-oriented leadership curriculum focusing on evidence-based practice that aims to improve clinical care delivery, health system leadership and management, and so on. Students can enroll in the BS to DNP pathway directly or advance to the Post-Graduate DNP pathway with a Master's degree.

For students who hold a MSN degree and want to become nurse scientists, the University of Colorado offers a Nursing Ph.D degree which is a research degree taught with a combination of online and in-person classes.

At Regis University Loretto Heights School of Nursing, all students are taught to think logically, critically, and creatively to formulate a global view of nursing and healthcare. The University has been ranked as one of the best in the country and rightly so.

Nursing students at Loretto Heights School of Nursing, Regis University learn in a dynamic and collaborative environment and practice all the necessary nursing skills required in their career as a nurse in the high-fidelity simulation health center. Here nursing students learn alongside physical therapy, pharmacy, and counseling students and learn to integrate interprofessionalism into practice. Students also gain hands-on experiences in community, institutional, research and other healthcare settings under the guidance of experienced faculty members.

Graduates from Loretto Heights School of Nursing are known for their knowledge, competence, compassion, ethics, leadership abilities, commitment to social justice, and community service.

Undergraduate Programs: In addition to a traditional and accelerated approach to BSN, the Loretto Heights School of Nursing also offers a CHOICE BSN program (Connecting Health Occupations with Innovative Curriculum Experiences). This program allows working students to take night and weekend classes to complete their BSN degree and open doors to a multitude of opportunities. 

There is also an RN to BSN completion degree that is offered online for current RNs. 

Graduate Programs: Students can choose from a plethora of MSN courses at Regis University, including an RN to MSN dual degree program. This program allows students to gain both their undergraduate and master's degree in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems in just three years.

Similarly, the traditional DNP and the Post-BSN to DNP dual degree programs allow nurses to become competent enough to change healthcare policies and nursing as a profession upon completion.

In addition to these programs, the university also offers multiple post-masters and graduate certificates such as FNP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Health Care Education, and others.

Colorado Christian University is located in Lakewood, Colorado.  They offer a pre-license BSN program (designed for students without a nursing degree) and an RN to BSN program, which is offered online.  This program is offered online as a courtesy to its students, so that they do not have to travel to class as these students often have busy lives.

At Colorado Christian University, nursing students are taught to be competent, compassionate, and moral leaders who can make a positive impact and transform healthcare. At the university, the students are trained while upholding the teachings and values of Christianity. The nursing profession at CCU is a scientific discipline along with a sacred calling.

Many of the CCU's nursing pathways are available online, and the university even provides some scholarships for simply transferring the credits to an online program. With more than 9000 students attending the university, CCU ensures that no student has to turn away from education because of their financial situation by providing almost 90% of the students with some kind of financial aid and scholarship. Alumni graduating from this top-ranked university have nothing but good things to say about their educational experience while at Colorado Christian University.

Undergraduate Program: CCU offers three pathways for the completion of a BSN degree which include a traditional BSN pathway, a BSN Adult Student Pathway for adult students with a high school diploma or GED, and an online RN to BSN degree completion pathway for working RNs.

Graduate Programs: For nurses who already have a bachelor's degree, the two-year MSN program that is available online is a perfect choice as it allows the students to work while studying.

Finally, the online DNP program is the best fit for nurses who want to become nurse practitioners, nurse administrators, healthcare leaders, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse educators. This practice-focused degree is aimed to prepare experts in specialized advanced nursing practice.