A community college ADN and a university BSN can put a graduate in front of the same licensing exam, yet the programs behind them post very different first-time results. In the Colorado data, program-level first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates are not yet published, so there is no spread to compare across schools.
The programs here are ranked mainly on first-time NCLEX-RN performance, because it is the outcome that most directly predicts whether graduates can start working as nurses.
A program that fills its cohort but cannot get graduates licensed is a costly detour, whatever its name recognition.
Top NCLEX-RN Outcomes: 10 Colorado Nursing Programs Ranked for 2027
Every nurse who wants to practice in Colorado has to pass the NCLEX-RN, the licensing exam that stands between graduation and an RN badge. This list is built around that exam: the Colorado programs whose graduates have produced the strongest first-time NCLEX-RN pass results over the past three years. If you are comparing the best nursing schools in Colorado or weighing the best nursing programs in Colorado, start here, then use degree level, location, and cost to narrow the field.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation and retention rates
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass outcomes
- Accreditation by ACEN or CCNE
- Net price after financial aid
- Degree pathways and delivery formats
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
#1Aurora, CO · $37,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100%
Best for: Career changers wanting year-round start dates
Arizona College of Nursing's Aurora campus is a single-purpose nursing school, and its BSN is built to move students toward the exam quickly: no prerequisite coursework, classes that blend in-person, online, and evening delivery, and six start dates a year. Clinical placements fan out across Colorado, and NCLEX-RN preparation is woven into the curriculum from the first term rather than bolted on at the end. Simulation labs with life-like manikins and small class sizes round out a program that holds full approval from the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Institution-wide federal graduation data is not reported for this school.
- Three-year BSN with no prerequisite coursework required
- Six start dates per year, with in-person, online, and evening classes
- NCLEX-RN prep course runs from day one
- Clinical rotations across Colorado
- Simulation labs with life-like manikins
- Small class sizes; 2.8 GPA minimum and HESI entrance exam
- 91% of Aurora graduates working within six months of the NCLEX-RN
- CCNE accredited with full Colorado State Board of Nursing approval
Adams State University
#2Alamosa, CO · $13,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (2-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Students planning rural healthcare careers
Adams State runs its BSN on a residential campus in Alamosa, pairing a state-of-the-art simulation lab with an explicit focus on rural healthcare. Faculty mentorship is a real selling point here: the program reports individual attention, a dedicated clinical placement coordinator, and full student satisfaction with its simulation scenarios. The institution graduates about 39% of its students overall, and nursing graduates report a 95% job placement rate within 90 days of finishing.
- CCNE accredited
- State-of-the-art simulation lab with realistic clinical scenarios
- Focus on rural healthcare
- Individual attention from faculty; clinical placement coordinator available
- 95% job placement rate within 90 days
- Involvement in the National Student Nurses' Association
- 100% student satisfaction with simulation
- Prepares for the NCLEX-RN
Front Range Community College
#3Westminster, CO · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Working RNs adding a BSN online
Front Range Community College has been educating Colorado nurses for more than 50 years and now runs two distinct entry points: a campus-based associate degree in nursing and a hybrid RN-to-BSN completion program. The ADN pairs 42.5 nursing credits with 29 general education credits and offers dual enrollment in the bachelor's track, so students can begin BSN work before they finish the associate degree. The RN-to-BSN can be completed in four full-time semesters with a 68-hour leadership and community health practicum, and the college is regularly cited among the top community colleges for online learning. The school graduates about 35% of its students overall.
- ACEN accredited four-semester program
- 42.5 nursing credits plus 29 general education credits
- Dual enrollment in the RN-to-BSN track
- Clinical experiences across the Denver metro area
- Prepares for the NCLEX-RN
- Holistic, person-centered care curriculum
- CCNE accredited hybrid format: online coursework plus in-person practicum
- Complete in four full-time semesters; part-time options available
- 68-hour practicum in leadership and community health
- Open to current RNs and nursing students; 2.0 GPA minimum
- More than 50 years of nursing education in Colorado
- Dedicated online advisors for BSN students
- Recognized among the top community colleges for online learning
- Prepares for supervisory and management roles
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
#4Denver, CO · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
The University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus is the state's flagship academic nursing program, offering three routes to a BSN: a 24-month traditional track, the 12-month UCAN accelerated track for students who already hold a bachelor's degree, and a cross-campus bridge pathway that pairs three years of prerequisites at CU Denver with two years of nursing coursework in Aurora. The 3+2 bridge estimates nursing-phase tuition at $40,854 for Colorado residents, or $33,198 with the College Opportunity Fund stipend, and it admits about 20 students per term. Coursework is deliberately interprofessional, with nursing students learning alongside pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, and public health students, and CU Nursing has partnered with Fort Lewis College in Durango to expand BSN access in southwest Colorado. The institution graduates about 46% of its students overall.
- 24-month full-time program starting in summer
- 126 total credit hours
- CCNE accredited
- Simulation and direct patient care at the CU Anschutz campus
- Interprofessional learning with pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, and public health
- Optional honors seminars available
- Ranked among the best nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report
- 12-month BSN for students who already hold a bachelor's degree
- 126 total credit hours; same curriculum as the traditional track
- Starts in spring or fall; full-time enrollment
- CCNE accredited; 2.0 GPA minimum with prerequisites required
- Interprofessional clinical simulation and direct patient care
- 3+2 pathway: three years at CU Denver plus two years at CU Anschutz
- About 20 students admitted per term; 3.0 GPA minimum
- Priority deadline of March 1, 2027, for a fall 2027 start
- Estimated nursing-phase tuition of $40,854 for Colorado residents
- Estimated $33,198 with the College Opportunity Fund stipend
- Earn a health-related certificate while completing prerequisites
- Personalized advising and virtual pre-application info sessions
Pikes Peak State College
#5Colorado Springs, CO · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Pikes Peak State College covers both ends of the nursing ladder in Colorado Springs: a campus associate degree for students entering the field and an RN-to-BSN for nurses who want to move into management, education, or specialized care. The upper-division program leans on leadership, community health, and evidence-based practice, with hands-on simulation at the Center for Healthcare Education and Simulation. The college's RN-to-BSN carries a CCNE accreditation, and the institution graduates about 21% of its students overall, a figure shaped by its broad open-access enrollment.
- CCNE accredited RN-to-BSN for practicing registered nurses
- Coursework in leadership, community health, and evidence-based practice
- Hands-on simulation at the Center for Healthcare Education and Simulation
- Advanced manikins used in simulation scenarios
- Prepares RNs for management, education, and specialized care roles
- Recognized as the #2 nursing school in Colorado by RegisteredNursing.org
- Campus-based associate degree in nursing
- Entry-level pathway offered alongside the college's RN-to-BSN
Aims Community College
#6Greeley, CO · ~$11,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 95.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Aims Community College runs a two-year associate degree nursing program in Greeley, and it publishes one of the lowest total program tuitions in the state at roughly $9,590. The program is ACEN accredited and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing, and it reports a 95% licensure pass rate along with smaller class sizes, hands-on lab simulators, an LPN-to-RN track, and a required capstone. It also lays out clear pathways onward to BSN and MSN degrees for graduates who want to keep climbing. The school graduates about 40% of its students overall.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing
- Two-year program; approximately $9,590 total program tuition
- 95% licensure pass rate reported
- Smaller class sizes with hands-on lab simulators
- LPN to RN track available
- Capstone required; prerequisite courses required
- Pathways onward to BSN and MSN degrees
- Nursing information sessions offered
Concorde Career College-Aurora
#7Aurora, CO · $17,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94%
Concorde Career College's Aurora campus offers a 29-month BSN that packs 120 credit hours, 300 lab hours, and 750 clinical hours into a single pre-licensure track. The curriculum spans maternal-child and community health and includes NCLEX-RN preparation, and the program holds interim approval from the Colorado State Board of Nursing. As a private career college, its tuition runs above Colorado's public community college and state university options. The school graduates about 64% of its students overall, one of the higher institutional completion rates in this group.
- 29-month program totaling 120 credit hours
- 300 lab hours plus 750 clinical hours
- NCLEX-RN preparation included
- Covers maternal-child and community health nursing
- Career paths cited include oncology, pediatrics, and nurse practitioner
- Interim approval from the Colorado State Board of Nursing
- ACEN accreditation
- Financial aid and scholarships available
Colorado Christian University
#8Lakewood, CO · $25,000 – $30,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.8% (3-yr weighted avg)
Colorado Christian University is a private Christian institution in Lakewood, and its BSN is delivered in a hybrid format that blends online coursework with on-campus and clinical time. The university admits roughly two thirds of applicants and graduates about 64% of its students overall, among the higher completion rates on this list. Class sizes are relatively small, with about 17 students per faculty member. Because the nursing program publishes few program-level details, it is worth contacting the school directly about clinical placements and NCLEX preparation.
- Hybrid format combining online coursework with campus and clinical time
- Offered through a private Christian university in Lakewood
Metropolitan State University of Denver
#9Denver, CO · $15,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Metropolitan State University of Denver's Traditional Nursing Option is a four-term, on-campus BSN that runs without a summer break and delivers at least 750 clinical hours across hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient facilities. The cohort model comes with pre-nursing advising, a free application, and the same tuition rate for every student regardless of residency, with total program tuition listed at $40,614. Admitted students typically carry a GPA around 3.5. The institution graduates about 32% of its students overall.
- CCNE accredited
- Four-term on-campus program with no summer session
- At least 750 clinical hours in hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient settings
- Cohort model with pre-nursing advising
- Entrance exam required; 2.8 GPA minimum
- Average GPA of admitted students around 3.5
- Free application with fall and spring start dates
- Same tuition rate for all students; $40,614 total program tuition
Trinidad State College
#10Trinidad, CO · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Trinidad State College offers a four-semester associate degree in nursing at its Trinidad and Valley campuses, with traditional and evening or weekend schedules for students who work. The program reports a 96% NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2025 and provides LPN-to-ADN and paramedic-to-ADN pathways plus a BSN dual enrollment option. Coursework covers medical-surgical, maternal-child, and psychiatric nursing. The school graduates about 55% of its students overall.
- ACEN accredited four-semester program
- 96% NCLEX-RN pass rate reported for 2025
- Traditional or evening and weekend schedules
- LPN-to-ADN and paramedic-to-ADN pathways
- BSN dual enrollment option
- Coursework in medical-surgical, maternal-child, and psychiatric nursing
- Offered at the Trinidad and Valley campuses
- Financial aid and scholarships available
What Our Scoring Rewards and Why ACEN or CCNE Accreditation Matters
State approval gets you to the NCLEX-RN, but national accreditation decides how far your degree travels afterward. Both matter, and they are not the same thing.
Board Approval vs. Accreditation
The Colorado Board of Nursing keeps separate approved-program lists for associate and baccalaureate RN programs.1 A program must be on the right list for its graduates to sit for the exam. Accreditation is voluntary and comes from ACEN (common for ADN programs) or CCNE (common for BSN programs). It affects credit transfer into RN to BSN programs in Colorado, admission to MSN programs in Colorado, and how some employers view your credential.
Where Major Programs Stand
ACEN lists Colorado State University-Pueblo's baccalaureate program2 and Pueblo Community College's associate program as accredited.3 Pueblo's next visit is scheduled for Spring 2029.3 Arapahoe Community College's associate program is also listed as accredited, though the directory's stipulation wording is inconsistent, so confirm it on the live ACEN record.4 Pikes Peak State College has an ACEN visit scheduled for October 2026, but that is a review, not a decision.5
For CU Anschutz, Regis, MSU Denver, UNC, and UCCS, confirm status directly in the CCNE and ACEN directories.6 A missing search result does not mean a program is unaccredited.
So, What Is the Best School?
The best fit depends on your degree level and location. First-time NCLEX-RN results are the most objective place to start. Then learn how to verify nursing school accreditation and Board approval before you apply.
Colorado Nursing Schools' NCLEX Pass Rates, Program by Program
Colorado nursing schools' NCLEX pass rates are easiest to compare when you know how to read NCLEX-RN pass rate data and have both a school-by-school breakdown and a national benchmark. For U.S.-educated candidates, the 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 87.1%. The catch is that the most recent Colorado Board of Nursing reporting does not yet publish first-time results by individual ADN or BSN program. This leaves prospective students with a benchmark but no clean way to compare one Colorado nursing school against another until the state publishes its next detailed report.
What the Current Data Does and Does Not Show
- U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN candidates: 87.1% first-time pass rate (2025).
- Colorado NCLEX-RN candidates: 95 total candidates reported in a 2025 jurisdiction summary.
- Colorado program-level first-time pass rates: not published in the latest state report as of October 2026.
How to Read the Gap
When Colorado releases its next program-level report, compare each school against the 87.1% U.S.-educated benchmark rather than treating a single year as the final word. Small ADN cohorts at community colleges can swing several percentage points from one year to the next, so a dip may reflect a few test takers rather than a weak program. BSN programs tend to show steadier results because they usually draw from larger applicant pools and more full-time faculty support. A school hovering just under 87% may still be acceptable if its three-year trend is improving, but repeated first-time results well below the national rate deserve closer scrutiny. In the meantime, treat the 87.1% figure as the line to beat and use it when comparing schools' self-reported pass rates at open houses or admission interviews. Until the detailed state data is public, ask each nursing school for its three-year first-time NCLEX-RN average and check whether it has stayed at or above the national benchmark. Also confirm the program's accreditation status and whether it is among accredited nursing schools with high NCLEX pass rates, and check whether it shares pass-rate data with prospective students, because a school that is transparent about outcomes is usually a safer bet.
Report year and source: 2025 national benchmark for U.S.-educated candidates; Colorado Board of Nursing jurisdiction reporting through 2025; program-level 2025 pass rates not yet available as of October 2026.
Colorado by City
Explore other Colorado related topics
Community College ADN Programs in Colorado and Their Bridges to a BSN
Accredited ADN programs in Colorado are widely available through the Colorado Community College System, and many campuses intentionally build ADN to BSN dual admission bridges into the associate-degree track so students do not lose momentum after licensure.
Where to find ADN programs by region
ADN programs in Colorado cluster around metro and rural campuses. Front Range Community College serves the Denver metro and Fort Collins area, Community College of Denver offers a central-city entry point, and Red Rocks Community College serves the west metro. Arapahoe Community College offers a Nursing AAS in Littleton, and Pikes Peak State College runs an AAS Nursing program in Colorado Springs. Pueblo Community College extends access to the southern part of the state. Western Slope students around Grand Junction can explore Colorado Mesa and partner community-college options for a similar associate-to-bachelor pathway. Most Colorado ADN programs take roughly 18 to 24 months, though exact length varies by campus and by whether a student enters with prior nursing education.
LPN-to-RN advanced placement
Licensed practical nurses can shorten the timeline. Arapahoe Community College's PN-RN option gives Colorado-licensed LPNs credit for the first two semesters, allowing the associate degree to be finished in about three semesters. Pueblo Community College's LPN-to-ADN pathway requires a current Colorado LPN license in good standing and accepts up to 21 credits as a block transfer. These tracks avoid repeating practical-nursing coursework.
Dual-enrollment ADN-to-BSN bridges
Many of the programs below let students begin BSN-level work while still finishing the ADN. Arapahoe Community College allows current nursing students to dual-enroll after completing designated first-year courses and maintaining a 2.0 nursing GPA. Pikes Peak State College identifies local partnerships with UCCS and CSU Pueblo for BSN dual-enrollment. Metropolitan State University of Denver's online RN to BSN program also admits licensed RNs and eligible dual-enrollment ADN students, so a student can start BSN classes before completing the associate degree.
For Denver-area students specifically, ADN programs in Denver and nearby Littleton offer flexible entry points, while rural learners can often use the same online BSN bridge courses without relocating.
ADN vs. BSN vs. Accelerated BSN: Which Path Fits Your Timeline and Budget?
All three paths lead to the same NCLEX-RN exam and the same Colorado RN license. What separates them is time, cost, and how far the degree carries you into leadership roles or graduate study. If you start with an ADN, an RN-to-BSN program is the usual next step, and many working nurses finish it online while employed.
What Colorado RNs Earn
Registered nurses in Colorado earn above six figures on average, though pay shifts with region and experience.
Colorado RN Licensing Essentials
More Colorado Nursing Programs Beyond the Top 13
Beyond the ranked group, Colorado's nursing schools spread across the Front Range, the Western Slope, and the Eastern Plains. A few carry status notes worth checking before you apply: Colorado Mountain College has paused its RN-to-BSN and is not enrolling new associate degree students, while Colorado State University in Fort Collins has approval for a new B.S./M.S. Nursing pathway that will take up to 40 students a year. Reported average net prices appear below for reference and vary by program, aid package, and enrollment status.
Denver Metro
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Accelerated BSN
- B.S. Nursing CHOICE
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program (RN-BSN)
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- AAS Nursing: PN to RN Option
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Nursing Associate Degree Program
- Nursing (RN to BSN)
Northern Colorado
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Second Degree
Northeast Colorado
- Associate Degree Nursing
- RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing
Colorado Springs Area
- Nursing, BSN
Southern Colorado
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Associate Degree Nursing
Southeast Colorado
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing
Western Slope
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing
Northwest Colorado
- Nursing (AAS)