Top Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Colorado | 2026
Direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs allow students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree to become nurses without returning for another undergraduate degree. Some programs award a general MSN, while others bridge the gap to advanced practice registered nursing degrees.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, NP and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the university has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. The university's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Nurse.org’s Top Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Colorado
| School | Tuition | Program Length | Accreditation |
| Herzing University | Varies | 20-24 months | CCNE |
| Regis University | $149,930 | 3 years | CCNE |
We’re highlighting two direct-entry MSN programs in Colorado. These programs are both private with varying program lengths, which makes pursuing an education while working or caring for loved ones more feasible. These programs take between 20 and 36 months to complete.
Herzing University offers 100% online courses with clinical site partnerships all throughout the state of Colorado. Coursework prepares students with a non-nursing bachelor's with skills that include pathophysiology, pharmacology, scholarly practice, mental health nursing, nursing informatics, healthcare technology, and population health. A GRE is not required, but applicants will need a minimum score of 66 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). While the program coursework is online, students are also required to attend three 2-4 day intensives at Herzing’s Brookfield, WI or Nashville, TN campuses. The intensives will focus on in-person skills introduction, skills checks, testing, and meeting and advising with faculty.
Program Highlights
- 100% online coursework
- Clinical site partnerships throughout Colorado
- No GRE required
Requirements
- Non-nursing bachelor's degree
- Minimum TEAS score of 66
- Three 2-4 day in-person intensives
Program Information
- School Type: Private
- Location: Colorado
- Degrees/Programs Offered: MSN
- Contact Information:
Regis University allows students to sit for their NCLEX after 16 months of the program to earn their RN (100% of Regis students passed the test in 2024 and 85.7% passed in 2025). Then, they can continue on in the program to earn their master's and choose an NP specialty track in family, psychiatric/mental health, pediatric, adult gerontology, primary care, or women’s health. In the third year of the program, once students have earned their RN, they can also choose to continue their studies part-time or full-time, if they would like to work as a nurse while finishing the degree.
Program Highlights
- 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2024
- Multiple NP specialty tracks available
- Part-time or full-time options in year 3
Requirements
- Non-nursing bachelor's degree
Program Information
- School Type: Private
- Location: Colorado
- Degrees/Programs Offered: MSN, RN, NP
- Contact Information:
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, NP and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the university has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. The university's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
What to Expect in a Direct-Entry MSN Program in Colorado
Direct-entry MSN programs in Colorado are most common for people with a non-nursing background who are looking to get into nursing in a fast and reliable pathway. With a bachelor's in a non-nursing field, an MSN degree can be achieved in as little as 20 months to three years.
Direct-entry MSN programs may also make sense for some nurses already working in Colorado since the state does not require its nurses to hold a BSN to practice. However, many individual hospitals mandate that their RNs earn their BSN within a certain number of years working in the hospital. Some nurses may instead choose to earn their MSNs.
Tuition for Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Colorado
Tuition for direct-entry MSN programs varies by program. The most affordable program on our list is Herzing University, which ranges from $47,400 to $60,830, depending on the number of credits needed. On the higher end is Regis University, coming in at $150,000 total tuition. Remember that you should also consider other university fees, commuting costs, and fees for study materials.
Admission Requirements for Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Colorado
Admission requirements for direct-entry MSN programs in Colorado differ depending on the school. To understand the specific standards of your chosen school, you should speak with an academic advisor.
However, most direct-entry MSN programs in Colorado will have these general prerequisites:
- A Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Prerequisite courses (per program)
- All transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Completed school application
Are Direct-Entry MSN Programs in Colorado Difficult?
The direct-entry MSN programs in Colorado are considered to be rigorous and competitive. Most direct-entry MSN programs, regardless of the state, are considered full-time programs, meaning students are generally discouraged from working outside of the program. Some programs may also require weekends, evenings, and year-round course and clinical work.
What to Expect Working as an APRN in Colorado
NP Salary in Colorado
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average wage for nurse practitioners in Colorado is $127,610, or $61.35 per hour, which is a bit lower the national median annual salary for NPs, which is $129,210 per year.
APRNs, in general, earn an average salary of $132,050 per year, $63.48 per hour, and the field is expected to grow 35% (much faster than average) over the next ten years. Going from RN to APRN provides you with not only more responsibilities but also more career opportunities to grow into.
Career Outlook
The BLS projects that the NP career field will grow 35% (much faster than average) over the coming decade. Additionally, it estimates 134,000 openings for APRNs each year. Currently, Colorado is home to 4,130 NPs.
Where Can You Work? RN Jobs in Colorado
Depending on your interests and skills, you can work in several locations as a nurse. The largest and most common employer of nurses is hospitals. Other possible job locations include:
- Ambulatory healthcare services
- Government agencies
- Academia
- Medical and aesthetic spas
- Outpatient clinics
- Long-term care facilities
- Private practice
- Surgery centers
- Urgent care centers
Next Steps
The top direct-entry MSN programs in Colorado are perfect for working nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to pursue becoming an NP or APRN. These graduate programs allow you to take the next step in your career, even if you started in a non-nursing field.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, NP and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide except CT, NY, RI
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the university has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. The university's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
FAQs
Additional Resources
For more information on earning a direct-entry MSN, check out these resources:
- Top Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing (MSN) Programs
- Top Cheapest Direct-Entry MSN Programs for 2026
- Types of Master's in Nursing (MSN) Degrees | Programs 2026
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