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Best Nursing Schools in Colorado

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2023 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado

25 Colleges
$71,454 Avg Salary
$30,386 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in Colorado with 6,496 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are so many healthcare programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 25 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado

The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Colleges.

Top 10 Best Nursing Schools

Our analysis found Platt College - Aurora to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Colorado. Located in the large city of Aurora, Platt College - Aurora is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Platt College - Aurora carry an average student debtload of $48,125.

Full Nursing at Platt College - Aurora Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado list. CU Anschutz is a very large public school located in the city of Denver.

On average, nursing graduates from CU Anschutz take out $31,125 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $191.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

The excellent programs at University of Northern Colorado helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Colorado. Located in the medium-sized city of Greeley, University of Northern Colorado is a public college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at University of Northern Colorado take out is $25,971. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $206.

Full Nursing at University of Northern Colorado Report

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Red Rocks Community College is a great place for nursing students. Located in the medium-sized city of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Nursing at Red Rocks Community College Report

Out of the 25 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, Denver College of Nursing landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Denver, Denver College of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Denver College of Nursing take out $34,542 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $390, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#6

Pikes Peak Community College

Colorado Springs, CO

Pikes Peak Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, PPCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at PPCC take out is $23,844.

Read More…

#7

Otero Junior College

La Junta, CO

Otero Junior College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in the remote town of La Junta, Otero JC is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Otero JC carry an average student debtload of $31,200.

Read full report on Nursing at Otero Junior College

#8

Regis University

Denver, CO

Regis University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Regis U is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Regis U accumulate an average of around $29,111 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $373.

Read full report on Nursing at Regis University

Colorado State University - Pueblo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University - Pueblo is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Colorado State University - Pueblo accumulate an average of around $28,528 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Colorado State University - Pueblo Report

Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs accumulate an average of around $29,303 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Report

Best Nursing Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Utah 17,535
Idaho 1,593
Montana 745
Wyoming 397

Nursing is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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