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Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado

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2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

15 Schools Ranked
$12,860 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right 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 or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 15 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Red Rocks Community College

Lakewood, Colorado
120 Total Awards
$15,811 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Red Rocks Community College the best value school in Colorado for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Lakewood, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 120 students in 2020-2021.

Red Rocks Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $15,811 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at Red Rocks Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.

Red Rocks Community College also took the #1 spot in our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado rankings.

Full Red Rocks Community College Report

#2

Aims Community College

Greeley, Colorado
115 Total Awards
$10,418 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Aims Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Aims Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Greeley, Colorado that handed out 115 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Aims Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,418 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Aims Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#3

Pikes Peak Community College

Colorado Springs, Colorado
382 Total Awards
$15,403 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Pikes Peak Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Colorado. PPCC is a fairly large public school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 382 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

PPCC undergraduate students pay an average of $15,403 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at PPCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

PPCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list.

Read full report on Pikes Peak Community College

#4

Morgan Community College

Fort Morgan, Colorado
32 Total Awards
$15,274 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Morgan Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Fort Morgan, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 32 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Morgan Community College are $15,274 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Morgan Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Morgan Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list.

Read More…

24 Total Awards
$6,596 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Colorado Northwestern Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. CNCC is a small public school situated in Rangely, Colorado. It awarded 24 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CNCC are $6,596 a year.

Online courses are available at CNCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 25% took at least some of their classes online.

CNCC also took the #3 spot in our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado rankings.

Read More…

#6

Community College of Aurora

Aurora, Colorado
53 Total Awards
$15,369 Average Tuition & Fees

Community College of Aurora landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. CCA is a medium-sized public school situated in Aurora, Colorado. It awarded 53 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

CCA undergraduate students pay an average of $15,369 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CCA. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 25% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#6

Otero Junior College

La Junta, Colorado
49 Total Awards
$6,563 Average Tuition & Fees

Otero Junior College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. La Junta, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 49 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Otero JC are $6,563 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Otero JC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 28% took at least some of their classes online.

Otero JC also took the #4 spot in our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado rankings.

Read More…

#8

Front Range Community College

Westminster, Colorado
212 Total Awards
$15,454 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Front Range Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. This fairly large public school is located in Westminster, Colorado, and it awarded 212 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

FRCC undergraduate students pay an average of $15,454 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at FRCC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 38% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#9

Trinidad State Junior College

Trinidad, Colorado
45 Total Awards
$6,631 Average Tuition & Fees

Trinidad State Junior College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. This small public school is located in Trinidad, Colorado, and it awarded 45 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Trinidad State Junior College are $6,631 per year.

Trinidad State Junior College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 17% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Lamar Community College

Lamar, Colorado
13 Total Awards
$6,592 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Lamar Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Lamar, Colorado is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 13 students in 2020-2021.

LCC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,592 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at LCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 21% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#11

Colorado Mountain College

Glenwood Springs, Colorado
119 Total Awards
$11,484 Average Tuition & Fees

Colorado Mountain College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Colorado Mountain College is a medium-sized public school located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado that handed out 119 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Colorado Mountain College are $11,484 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Colorado Mountain College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#12

Pueblo Community College

Pueblo, Colorado
145 Total Awards
$15,958 Average Tuition & Fees

Pueblo Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Pueblo Community College is located in Pueblo, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pueblo Community College are $15,958 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Pueblo Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Pueblo Community College

#13

Community College of Denver

Denver, Colorado
109 Total Awards
$16,167 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Community College of Denver did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Located in Denver, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 109 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.

CCD undergraduate students pay an average of $16,167 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CCD. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 38% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#14

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
57 Total Awards
$22,322 Average Tuition & Fees

Colorado Mesa University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and it awarded 57 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Colorado Mesa are $22,322 per year.

Colorado Mesa does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Colorado Mesa University Report

#15

Intellitec College - Grand Junction

Grand Junction, Colorado

Intellitec College - Grand Junction did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Grand Junction, Colorado is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 77 students in 2020-2021.

Intellitec College - Grand Junction undergraduate students pay an average of $0 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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