Colorado has built a strong nursing education infrastructure centered on the Denver metro, with programs serving the Front Range corridor from Fort Collins to Pueblo and reaching into the Western Slope. The state faces a persistent nursing shortage driven by population growth in the Denver-Aurora metro, an active outdoor and adventure medicine sector, and a robust travel nursing market fueled by Rocky Mountain resort communities. Colorado joined the Nursing Licensure Compact in 2007, giving Colorado RNs the ability to practice across 40+ compact states on a single license — a meaningful benefit in a state where travel nursing has long been popular. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus anchors the state’s academic nursing sector, while community colleges across the Front Range provide the state’s primary pipeline of ADN-prepared nurses.
Types of nursing programs available in Colorado
ADN programs (2 years, post-prerequisites) Community colleges across the Front Range offer ADN programs: Arapahoe Community College, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College, Pikes Peak State College, Pueblo Community College, and Morgan Community College, among others. These ACEN-accredited ADN programs are the most affordable path to RN licensure in Colorado and are consistently in demand.
BSN programs (4 years) The University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus (Aurora) is Colorado’s flagship nursing school and one of the country’s leading research nursing institutions. Colorado State University in Fort Collins and Regis University in Denver also offer CCNE-accredited BSN programs. Adams State University serves the southern Colorado market with an affordable BSN option.
Accelerated BSN (12–18 months) For candidates with existing bachelor’s degrees, accelerated BSN programs are available at the University of Colorado, Regis University, and Denver College of Nursing. CU’s accelerated program is highly competitive and based at the Anschutz Medical Campus, with clinical placements at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and affiliated sites. Typical entry requirements: bachelor’s degree, prerequisite sciences completed within 5–7 years, minimum GPA 3.0–3.2.
LPN programs (12–18 months) LPN programs are available at community colleges and vocational schools statewide. Colorado LPNs can bridge to RN through LPN-to-ADN programs at several community colleges.
Online and hybrid options RN-to-BSN completion is widely available online in Colorado through Colorado State University Global, Regis University, Adams State University, and Western Governors University (WGU). These are practical options for working Colorado nurses at UCHealth, SCL Health, and other systems who want to advance their credentials without leaving practice.
Admission requirements
Colorado nursing programs share a core prerequisite framework across both ADN and BSN tracks.
Common prerequisites:
| Prerequisite | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II | With lab; grade of C or better (B preferred) |
| Microbiology | With lab |
| Chemistry | General or introductory, with lab |
| English Composition | Writing-intensive; C or better |
| Psychology | General or developmental psychology |
| Statistics | Required by most programs |
| Human Development | Required by many programs |
| Nutrition | Required by some programs |
Most Colorado programs require science prerequisites completed within the past five to seven years.
Entrance exams: ATI TEAS is the most common entrance exam for Colorado nursing programs. HESI A2 is accepted at some institutions. Community college ADN programs typically target TEAS scores at the 60th–70th percentile and above; BSN programs at CU and Regis generally expect 75th percentile or higher. For a full comparison, see nursing school prerequisites by state.
GPA: Minimum GPA requirements range from 2.7 to 3.0 across Colorado programs, with competitive applicants to CU’s BSN and accelerated BSN presenting 3.3 and above. If your GPA is a barrier, see nursing schools that accept lower GPAs for programs with more accessible entry standards.
Application timeline: Community college ADN programs typically admit once or twice per year, with fall the primary intake cycle. Programs in the Denver metro area are competitive — more applicants than seats is common at Arapahoe Community College and Front Range Community College. Apply early and to multiple programs.
Notable nursing schools in Colorado
University of Colorado College of Nursing – Aurora (Anschutz Medical Campus) CU’s nursing college is CCNE-accredited and ranked among the top public nursing schools in the country by US News & World Report. It offers BSN, accelerated BSN, MS, DNP, and PhD programs. Clinical placements run through UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Denver Health Medical Center. NCLEX first-attempt pass rates for CU graduates are consistently above 90%. The Anschutz Medical Campus co-locates nursing students with medical, pharmacy, and public health students, enabling interprofessional education.
Regis University Loretto Heights School of Nursing – Denver Regis is CCNE-accredited and offers BSN, accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. The Jesuit institution emphasizes values-based healthcare practice. Accelerated BSN program is 16 months. Strong clinical placements in the Denver metro through partnerships with SCL Health, CommonSpirit Health, and other systems.
Colorado State University Department of Nursing – Fort Collins CSU’s nursing program is CCNE-accredited and serves the northern Front Range and Larimer County market. BSN program available. Clinical placements through UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital and the Larimer County health network. CSU’s RN-to-BSN online program is a popular option for northern Colorado nurses.
Denver College of Nursing – Denver DCN is CCNE-accredited and offers BSN and accelerated BSN programs. The institution focuses exclusively on nursing and health sciences, with dedicated simulation labs and clinical faculty who have extensive acute care backgrounds. Clinical partnerships span the Denver metro including St. Joseph Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Arapahoe Community College Nursing Program – Littleton ACC is one of the most enrolled ADN programs in Colorado, serving the south Denver metro. ACEN-accredited. Admission is competitive and point-based. Strong NCLEX performance history. Graduates enter practice primarily at UCHealth, SCL Health, and HealthONE facilities in the Denver south suburbs.
Pikes Peak State College Nursing Program – Colorado Springs PPSC’s ADN program is ACEN-accredited and the primary nursing program serving the Colorado Springs market and the military community (Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base). Competitive admission. Graduates enter practice at UCHealth Memorial Hospital, Penrose-St. Francis, and CommonSpirit Health facilities in the Springs.
NCLEX pass rates and licensing
The Colorado State Board of Nursing (CSBN) oversees RN and LPN licensure. Colorado first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for US-educated graduates typically run near or above the national average of approximately 80–85%. University-level programs, particularly CU, consistently outperform the national average on first-attempt pass rates.
Review CSBN-published program pass rate data and see NCLEX pass rates by nursing school for additional comparisons. For preparation strategies, see NCLEX first-attempt strategy.
Compact status: Colorado joined the Nursing Licensure Compact in 2007. A Colorado RN license is a multi-state privilege license, recognized in all other NLC member states (40+ states as of 2026) without separate applications. Colorado nurses who maintain Colorado as their primary state of residence hold this multi-state privilege. This is particularly valuable in Colorado given the state’s strong travel nursing market: ski resort communities (Summit County, Eagle County, Pitkin County), rural mountain towns, and the broader Rocky Mountain region all draw travel RNs who benefit from compact license portability.
To apply for RN licensure in Colorado, submit through the CSBN’s online portal at dora.colorado.gov. Requirements include nursing program completion, NCLEX-RN registration through Pearson VUE, and a criminal background check.
Salary and job market
BLS data places Colorado mean annual RN wages at approximately $82,000–$88,000. Denver-Aurora metro wages run toward the upper end. Travel nursing premiums in ski resort and rural mountain communities can significantly exceed standard Colorado wages, though these are contract-specific.
Major healthcare employers in Colorado:
- UCHealth – The University of Colorado’s health system, headquartered in Aurora with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital as its flagship. Operates hospitals throughout the Front Range, northern Colorado, and the Western Slope. The state’s leading academic medical system and a major employer of Colorado nursing graduates.
- SCL Health (now Intermountain Health) – Merged into Intermountain Health in 2022. Operates Saint Joseph Hospital and several other Denver metro hospitals. Catholic health system with a strong presence across Colorado’s northern Front Range.
- Children’s Hospital Colorado – Aurora Colorado’s primary pediatric academic medical center. Attracts BSN-prepared nurses seeking pediatric specialty practice. Competitive hiring process.
- HealthONE – HCA Healthcare’s Colorado division, operating Swedish Medical Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center, and other Denver metro facilities. High volume acute care system; a major employer of new graduate RNs.
- Centura Health (now CommonSpirit Health) – Operates Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, Parker Adventist Hospital, and other Front Range facilities.
Colorado’s travel nursing market is notable: resort communities in mountain counties have chronically high demand for temporary nurses, and the compact license makes Colorado a common base state for Rocky Mountain travel nursing assignments.
How to choose the right program
BSN for long-term flexibility: Magnet-designated hospitals and academic medical centers in Colorado — particularly UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado — place a premium on BSN-prepared nurses. BSN is the stronger credential for advancement into specialty practice, leadership, and graduate education.
NCLEX pass rates: Use CSBN-published data to evaluate programs. First-attempt rates above 85% indicate strong instructional quality. CU consistently outperforms the national average; compare community college ADN programs individually.
Accreditation: Verify ACEN or CCNE accreditation before enrolling. This affects financial aid eligibility, employer recognition, and RN-to-BSN program transfer acceptance.
Clinical placement quality: Programs with partnerships at UCHealth, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Denver Health offer exposure to Level I trauma care, pediatric specialty, and safety net environments. Ask programs to specify clinical placement sites and whether students receive consistent site assignments.
Cost: Community college ADN programs in Colorado are significantly less expensive than private university BSN programs, often $10,000–$25,000 total versus $60,000–$100,000+ at private institutions. Online RN-to-BSN completion is a cost-effective bridge. For a cost-benefit analysis, see is nursing school worth the debt?.
For a full program selection framework, see how to choose a nursing school.
Next steps
- Apply for RN licensure through the CSBN at dora.colorado.gov after completing your nursing program.
- Register for NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE once you receive Authorization to Test (ATT).
- Use your Colorado compact license to practice across 40+ NLC member states — particularly useful for travel nursing in the Rocky Mountain region.
- Review nursing school prerequisites by state to confirm Colorado’s specific prerequisite requirements for your target program.