2026 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in Colorado? This list ranks 86 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Nursing Degree Search analyzed 69 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in Colorado
Explore the leading schools below:
Red Rocks Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Nursing degree schools in Colorado. Based in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. The median Nursing program debt is $14,471. See the full Red Rocks Community College profile
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You'll be in good company at University Of Colorado Denver, which ranked #2 this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a public school based in Denver, CO. About 46% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. More on University Of Colorado Denver
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You'll be in good company at University Of Northern Colorado, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Greeley, CO. University Of Northern Colorado posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. University Of Northern Colorado Nursing students take on a median of $23,974 in debt. Get the full University Of Northern Colorado report
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Out of the 69 schools in Colorado in this year's ranking, Pikes Peak Community College landed the #4 spot. Pikes Peak Community College is a public school based in Colorado Springs, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Get the full Pikes Peak Community College report
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You'll be in good company at Regis University, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. Regis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,140. Typical Nursing student debt is $31,773. More on Regis University
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Otero Junior College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in La Junta, CO, Otero Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. The median Nursing program debt is $21,759. Get the full Otero Junior College report
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Colorado State University Pueblo landed the #7 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Pueblo, CO, Colorado State University Pueblo is a public institution. Colorado State University Pueblo graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,720, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Students borrow a median of $25,325 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Colorado State University Pueblo
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Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 14% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs Nursing students take on a median of $39,095 in debt. More on Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs
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Colorado Northwestern Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Rangely, CO, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. Colorado Northwestern Community College Nursing students take on a median of $18,127 in debt. See the full Colorado Northwestern Community College profile
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University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public school based in Colorado Springs, CO. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Typical Nursing student debt is $23,559. Get the full University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs report
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Morgan Community College landed the #11 spot in Colorado this year. Set in Fort Morgan, CO, Morgan Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,252, compared with $16,852 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,746 in student loans. Read more about Morgan Community College
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Colorado Mountain College placed #12 among Nursing schools in Colorado. Colorado Mountain College is a public school based in Glenwood Springs, CO. Colorado Mountain College posts a six-year graduation rate of 14%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Graduates carry a median of $12,953 in student loans. Get the full Colorado Mountain College report
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Mesa State College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Grand Junction, CO. Mesa State College graduates 47% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Read more about Mesa State College
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Trinidad State Junior College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Trinidad, CO, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. The median Nursing program debt is $10,502. Read more about Trinidad State Junior College
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Front Range Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Westminster, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. More on Front Range Community College
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Aims Community College placed #16 among Nursing schools in Colorado. Based in Greeley, CO, Aims Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans. See the full Aims Community College profile
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Lamar Community College landed the #17 spot in Colorado this year. Located in Lamar, CO, Lamar Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,550, compared with $7,260 for out-of-state students. Lamar Community College Nursing students take on a median of $9,300 in debt. More on Lamar Community College
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Pueblo Community College did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Pueblo, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Pueblo Community College Nursing students take on a median of $14,106 in debt. Read more about Pueblo Community College
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Arapahoe Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Littleton, CO, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Students borrow a median of $20,448 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Arapahoe Community College
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Colorado Christian University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Lakewood, CO, Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. The median Nursing program debt is $36,092. Get the full Colorado Christian University report
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Community College Of Denver landed the #21 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Denver, CO, Community College Of Denver is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,830 in student loans. See the full Community College Of Denver profile
Request InformationNortheastern Junior College did well this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Northeastern Junior College profile
Request InformationTuana European Beauty Academy placed #23 among Nursing schools in Colorado. Read the full report on Tuana European Beauty Academy
Request InformationXenon International Academy Denver came in at #24 in this year's ranking. See the full Xenon International Academy Denver profile
Request InformationNational Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa placed #25 among Nursing schools in Colorado. Read the full report on National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Delta Montrose Technical College landed the #26 spot in Colorado this year. More on Delta Montrose Technical College
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Denver landed the #27 spot in Colorado this year. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Denver profile
Request InformationCommunity College Of Aurora ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Community College Of Aurora report
Request InformationEmily Griffith Technical College landed the #29 spot in Colorado this year. Get the full Emily Griffith Technical College report
Request InformationPima Medical Institute Colorado Springs came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs profile
Request InformationPima Medical Institute Aurora came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Pima Medical Institute Aurora
Request InformationToni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs profile
Request InformationCasa Loma College Aurora placed #33 among Nursing schools in Colorado. More on Casa Loma College Aurora
Request InformationColorado State University Global Campus did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Colorado State University Global Campus
Request InformationUniversity Of Colorado System Office ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on University Of Colorado System Office
Request InformationEmpire Beauty School Littleton did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Empire Beauty School Littleton profile
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Colorado College
Colorado College came in at #37 in this year's ranking. More on Colorado College
Request InformationArizona College Of Nursing Aurora came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Arizona College Of Nursing Aurora
Request InformationAdams State College did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Adams State College
Request InformationEmpire Beauty School Thornton did well this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Empire Beauty School Thornton report
Request InformationIntellitec College Colorado Springs did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Intellitec College Colorado Springs
Request InformationFort Lewis College placed #42 among Nursing schools in Colorado. Read more about Fort Lewis College
Request InformationBel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology placed #43 among Nursing schools in Colorado. Get the full Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology report
Request InformationColorado State University Fort Collins did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Colorado State University Fort Collins report
Request InformationColorado Media School came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about Colorado Media School
Request InformationColorado School Of Trades ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Colorado School Of Trades profile
Request InformationStacey James Institute ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Stacey James Institute report
Request InformationTaft University System placed #48 among Nursing schools in Colorado. More on Taft University System
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs placed #49 among Nursing schools in Colorado. More on Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs
Request InformationRocky Mountain College Of Art And Design ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design report
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 69 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 86 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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