Nursing Schools in Colorado (2026)
46 accredited nursing programs found
Colorado has 46 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with 29 public and 17 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $12,169, with public schools averaging $6,958 and private schools averaging $29,758. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,454 to $12,760, indicating a wide low-cost band with a meaningful private tail. The cheapest tracked program is Aims Community College at $2,090 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of Colorado Boulder at approximately 31,578.
Across Colorado programs the average graduation rate is 49.6 percent and the average retention rate is 70.2 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $44,127 and median federal debt at graduation averages $15,601. The state's healthcare employer base includes UCHealth, Centura, HCA HealthONE, and Kaiser Permanente, with most major employment concentrated in the Front Range corridor between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.
Registered Nurse Market in Colorado
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in Colorado
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the Colorado average of $12,169.
Matches the Colorado average of 49.6%.
Matches the Colorado median of $44,127.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $6,958 |
| Lowest Tuition | $2,090 |
| Highest Tuition | $59,340 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $29,758 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 49.6% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $47,326 |
| Avg Student Debt | $15,601 |
| Total Enrollment | 221,730 |
All Nursing Schools in Colorado
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder | Public | $16,430 | 31,578 |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | For-Profit | $12,760 | 25,932 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins | Public | $12,896 | 25,148 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver | Public | $10,780 | 14,932 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Public | $4,740 | 11,132 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | Public | $10,017 | 10,686 |
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | $4,302 | 9,307 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Public | $9,712 | 8,870 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Public | $9,712 | 7,604 |
| Colorado State University Global | Aurora | Public | $8,400 | 6,202 |
| University of Denver | Denver | Private | $59,340 | 6,059 |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver | Public | N/A | 5,914 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | Public | $12,010 | 5,693 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | $4,308 | 5,392 |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood | Private | $39,266 | 5,363 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Public | $4,902 | 5,156 |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | Public | $4,707 | 4,281 |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora | Public | $4,030 | 3,346 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Public | $4,883 | 3,293 |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | Public | $2,090 | 3,182 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango | Public | $9,670 | 3,070 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | Public | $9,401 | 3,028 |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs | Public | $2,700 | 2,821 |
| Regis University | Denver | Private | $43,980 | 2,599 |
| Adams State University | Alamosa | Public | $9,776 | 1,239 |
| Trinidad State College | Trinidad | Public | $4,468 | 1,168 |
| Intellitec College-Grand Junction | Grand Junction | For-Profit | N/A | 1,160 |
| Denver College of Nursing | Denver | For-Profit | N/A | 949 |
| Northeastern Junior College | Sterling | Public | $5,582 | 825 |
| Intellitec College-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | For-Profit | N/A | 816 |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora | Public | $4,930 | 646 |
| Otero College | La Junta | Public | $4,418 | 642 |
| Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan | Public | $4,127 | 619 |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | Rangely | Public | $4,454 | 500 |
| Lamar Community College | Lamar | Public | $4,422 | 406 |
| Naropa University | Boulder | Private | $34,600 | 368 |
| Aveda Institute-Denver | Denver | For-Profit | N/A | 316 |
| IBMC College | Fort Collins | For-Profit | $15,320 | 306 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | Aurora | For-Profit | N/A | 290 |
| Platt College-Aurora | Greenwood Village | For-Profit | $20,590 | 215 |
| National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) | Denver | Private | N/A | 203 |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | For-Profit | N/A | 196 |
| Technical College of the Rockies | Delta | Public | N/A | 142 |
| Colorado School of Healing Arts | Lakewood | For-Profit | $12,206 | 60 |
| Academy of Natural Therapy Inc | Greeley | For-Profit | N/A | 52 |
| Dr. Ida Rolf Institute | Boulder | Private | N/A | 24 |
Nursing Schools by City in Colorado
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Colorado?
What is the average nursing school tuition in Colorado?
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Colorado?
What is the average retention rate in Colorado?
What do graduates from nursing schools in Colorado earn?
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Colorado?
How much do registered nurses earn in Colorado?
What is the RN job outlook for Colorado?
Colorado Nursing Market Context
BLS data for Colorado shows an RN median annual wage of $84,250 and a mean of $88,050. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $62,280 to $117,670. Statewide RN employment is approximately 52,510 and the projected growth rate is 8 percent — above the national 6 percent figure.
Median program debt of $15,601 against an $84,250 RN median wage produces a comfortable payback profile, helped by the relatively low community-college floor and the public-university tuition averages. The 8 percent projected growth rate is one of the stronger tailwinds among western states. The 90th-percentile figure of $117,670 reflects what experienced and credentialed Colorado RNs can reach in Denver-area academic medical centers. Front Range cost of living absorbs a portion of the wage advantage compared with rural Colorado markets, and recent statewide compensation movements have pushed the wage curve upward.