Top Nursing Schools in Colorado
This page lists 28 schools in Colorado that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 12 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 15 associate degree (ADN), 18 bachelor's (BSN), 9 master's and 6 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 23 public, 2 private nonprofit and 3 private for-profit. 23 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Denver (5), Aurora (3), Colorado Springs (3) and Greeley (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (28)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams State University | Alamosa, CO | Public | BSN | CCNE |
| Aims Community College | Greeley, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton, CO | Public | CNA, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood, CO | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-Leadership, DNP | CCNE |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP | CCNE, ACEN |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs, CO | Public | CNA, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | Rangely, CO | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | ACEN |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, DNP | CCNE |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora, CO | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| Denver College of Nursing | Denver, CO | Private for-profit | ADN, BSN, MSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN, BSN | ACEN |
| Lamar Community College | Lamar, CO | Public | CNA, RN Diploma, ADN | ACEN |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | Public | BSN | CCNE |
| Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN |
| Northeastern Junior College | Sterling, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Otero College | La Junta, CO | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora, CO | Public | LPN/LVN | ACEN |
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs, CO | Public | CNA, RN Diploma, ADN, BSN | CCNE, ACEN (candidate) |
Before you apply in Colorado
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Colorado. See online coursework and clinical requirements.