Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado
If you want to become a nurse practitioner in Colorado, you're in the right place. You can join this rewarding and lucrative career in Colorado by attending one of at least seven excellent, accredited programs. This guide explores the best nurse practitioner programs in Colorado, including accreditation, tuition, requirements, and more.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
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, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
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, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
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
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown'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.
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Colorado
You can become a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Colorado by completing the following steps:
- Attend an accredited BSN program
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
- Gain relevant experience as an RN if needed
- Apply for an MSN or DNP nurse practitioner program
- Graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program
- Sit for the exam to become board-certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Get a job as a nurse practitioner
If you already have an NP degree, you can attend a post-graduate nurse practitioner certificate program instead of earning a separate degree. Some schools may also offer RNs with a bachelor's degree in another non-nursing field to attend a bridge MSN program.
Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado
The best nurse practitioner programs are organized based on our ranking methodology, which considers tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation. We also evaluate programs based on the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard.
1. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Any pathway you are considering, from traditional master's to doctoral to post-graduate NP certification, you can find at the U of C. There are even dual program pathways available, such as earning your MSN and DNP all at once. In general, the applications open for January, although some of the individual programs have specific deadlines, so it's recommended to check before applying. Denver and Aurora students will get arranged clinical placement, while students outside of the Denver Metro area will have to set up their own clinicals.
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
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, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
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, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
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
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown'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.
2. University of Northern Colorado
The University of Northern Colorado offers a traditional MSN-FNP program, as well as post-graduate specialty certifications in family and emergency nursing. The MSN-FNP program is a hybrid program, so courses can be completed primarily online with some in-person learning requirements. There's also one class per week held on Thursday on campus that students must attend. The school assists students in clinical placement, with a requirement of 855 hours (the hours are a combined real-world clinical hours and a minimum of 90 simulation lab hours).
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
3. Regis University
Traditional students with an RN-BSN can choose to become a nurse practitioner with specialities as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, or a Psychiatric Mental Health Care Practitioner. The traditional MS-NP programs are offered in two pathways for student flexibility: in-person or remote. It's designed to be finished within six semesters of continuous study.
- School Type: private
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
4. Colorado State University
Colorado State University makes things simple: they have students choose a pathway based on their starting degree of BSN or MS, as well as a pathway for ADN nurses. Next, they can choose from concentrations in family nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, or adult-gerontology. All pathways are offered with hybrid options for a combination of online and in-person coursework. Admission applications are due by February 15th for the following fall start.
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Program Admission Requirements
Admission requirements to Colorado nurse practitioner programs vary depending on the school and degree path. General admission requirements for all nurse practitioner programs include the following:
- A BSN from an accredited program
- A BSN GPA of at least 3.0
- Unencumbered RN license
- A basic statistics grade of 2.0 or better
- One year of relevant bedside nursing experience
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Personal statement
- CV/Resume
- Official application and fee
- Personal interview
- GRE scores, if applicable
- TOEFL score, if applicable
How Hard Are Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado?
Nurse practitioner programs, in Colorado or elsewhere, are challenging and require a significant amount of time and money. Coursework is intense and often involves a lot of time to prepare, study, and complete clinicals.
Full-time nurse practitioner students won't have enough time for a job, and their family and social time may become more restricted. Considering these factors will help you understand whether a nurse practitioner program in Colorado is right for your nursing career.
How Long Are Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado?
The length of a nurse practitioner program depends on the degree. Most students can earn an MSN in just two years, while DNP programs take three to four years.
Some schools also offer part-time options, allowing students up to six years to complete all requirements. Part-time attendance is ideal for students who must work while attending the program or those with family obligations.
No matter the length, you can expect a Colorado nurse practitioner program to first consist of in-person or online didactic coursework. Clinicals correspond directly with the classwork, and students generally complete them toward the end of the program.
What to Expect Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Colorado
Nurse Practitioner Salary in Colorado
The average annual salary for a nurse practitioner in Colorado is $137,007 or $66 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the career outlook for NPs is excellent. Over the next decade, the BLS predicts employment for NPs will grow by 40% (Much faster than average).
Where Can You Work? Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Colorado
Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of locations throughout Colorado. These include:
- Academia
- Community Mental Health Centers (urban and rural)
- Consulting with businesses and communities
- Correctional Facilities
- Domestic Violence Shelters
- Government Agency
- Home Health Agencies
- Hospitals
- Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities
- Primary Healthcare Clinics
- Private Psychiatric Practices
- Psychopharmacology Clinic
- Psychiatric Consult Services
- Public health agencies
- Residential Substance Abuse Facilities
- Schools
- State Psychiatric Facilities
- Student Health Clinics
- Urban Nurse-Managed Clinic
- Veterans Administration Psychiatric Facilities
Next Steps for Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Colorado
Becoming a nurse practitioner is rewarding because you can make a significant difference in your patients' lives. Furthering your education with a master's or doctoral degree and sitting for your NP certification can also allow you the opportunity to choose a specialty concentration you are passionate about.
The first step for becoming a nurse practitioner in Colorado is finding a program that suits your needs. The programs on this list are all excellent options. To choose one, you should consider several factors. Ask yourself:
- Do I want an MSN or a DNP degree?
- Will I attend full or part-time?
- Do I need online options?
- What is my tuition budget? Am I eligible for financial aid or assistance from my current employer?
- Is the program nearby? Am I willing to relocate?
- Do I meet the admission requirements? Can I complete them by the application deadline?
- Am I able to secure my own clinical placement if needed? If not, does the school offer clinical placement for its students?
If you have more questions, try contacting the program representative. Talking to a point of contact could help your application become noticed while addressing your concerns.
Depending on the program, you may also have to acquire a preceptor and clinical site. If your school doesn’t assign these, you should begin the search early, as the process can take time.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
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, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
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, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
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
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown'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.
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