2023 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, nursing was the most popular one in Colorado. In total, 6,496 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Colorado.
With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 25 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado
The colleges and universities below are the best for nursing majors pursuing a .
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. Platt College - Aurora is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Greenwood Village.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Platt College - Aurora carry an average student debtload of $41,237.
Out of the 25 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of Denver, CU Anschutz is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at CU Anschutz accumulate an average of around $43,423 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $211, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Northern Colorado is a great place for nursing students. University of Northern Colorado is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Greeley.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from University of Northern Colorado carry an average student debtload of $36,495. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $225.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Red Rocks Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Colorado list. Red Rocks Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Denver College of Nursing is a great place for nursing students. Denver College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Denver College of Nursing accumulate an average of around $25,043 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $411.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Colorado ranking. PPCC is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at PPCC take out is $12,946.
Otero Junior College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero JC is a public school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Otero JC carry an average student debtload of $17,592.
Regis University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Regis U is a small 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 $33,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $446.
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. Colorado State University - Pueblo is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Colorado State University - Pueblo carry an average student debtload of $32,556.
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 |
| Montana | 745 |
| Idaho | 1,593 |
| Wyoming | 397 |
Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 262,974 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,647 |
| Nursing Practice | 8,862 |
| Nursing Administration | 8,663 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4,717 |
| Nursing Science | 4,701 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,895 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,075 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 2,011 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,768 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 747 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 622 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 567 |
| School Nursing | 539 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 502 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 340 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 269 |
| Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing | 262 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 192 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 87 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 26 |
| Forensic Nursing | 23 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 13 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
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.