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“It is no exaggeration to say that getting my BSN from the University of Colorado and becoming an RN has transformed my career. It has opened countless doors, earned me respect from my community and colleagues, and given me financial independence that I never had before.”
Christopher Battelli, Graduate of the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus
Nurses are critical professionals within the healthcare system. Colorado is not a unique state in terms of the challenges its nursing workforce currently faces. The immediate sustainability of Colorado’s nursing workforce is under particular strain. The consulting firm Mercer recently performed a U.S. labor market study and projected Colorado will be the third-worst state for registered nurse shortages by 2026. The only states projected to fare worse are Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Current trends suggest a shortage of 10,000 registered nurses and 54,000 allied health professionals by 2026. Perhaps even more sobering is the fact that these projections have been made even though, as noted by the Colorado Hospital Association, hospitals in Colorado have invested more than $1 billion since the Covid-19 pandemic began to retain and recruit staff. Hospitals are working to shore up current staffing and future availability of professionals through various efforts, including tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, training stipends, and professional development programs.
It is not a coincidence that several efforts to retain nursing staff center around the issue of money. Nurses often cite insufficient compensation as a major factor that drives them out of the profession. Compensation problems include low pay, high levels of indebtedness (due to student loan debt), and pay discrepancies between nurses employed by third parties versus those employed by a hospital or doctor’s office. Popular mechanisms to increase pay include incentive bonuses, market and merit increases, protected pay, and emergency relief.
And yet, compensation is not the only major factor influencing nurses’ career decision-making. Since the emergence of Covid-19, there has been an increase in incidents in which patients and their families abuse or even physically assault nursing staff. Such behavior undermines nurse safety as well as their morale. Enhancing nurse safety in the workplace is thus another policy response critical to supporting the sustainability of the nursing workforce both now and in the coming years.
The demand for nursing and other healthcare professionals will remain robust for years. A major driving factor of demand in Colorado is the same as in many other states of America, namely the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and the growth in demand for care this demographic shift has unleashed. Viewed through the lens of economics, the projected and protracted high demand for nurses in Colorado and elsewhere means it is an employees’ market for nurses. Nurses are more likely to succeed in their demands for better compensation, improved benefits, and other critical elements necessary for their profession to remain sustainable.
Read on to discover Colorado’s top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, salary expectations, and licensing requirements for nursing careers in this state.
Meet the Expert: Christopher P. Battelli, BSN, RN
Christopher Battelli is an oncology nurse at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, where he coordinates care for patients with cancer and blood disorders. Previously, he completed a nursing residency at Stanford Hospital, working in medical oncology and bone marrow transplant on an adjustable acuity unit. During his tenure at Stanford, Battelli was involved in committees focused on preventing bloodstream infections and promoting staff wellness, earning him the “Employee of the Quarter” award in Fall 2022. He also delivered the keynote speech at the Stanford Nurse Residency graduation, emphasizing the role of nurses as innovators in healthcare. Before his nursing career, Battelli graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus, receiving the Student Leadership Award in 2021.
NursingColleges.com: How has graduating from a nursing program enhanced your career?
Battelli: It is no exaggeration to say that getting my BSN from the University of Colorado and becoming an RN has transformed my career. It has opened countless doors, earned me respect from my community and colleagues, and given me financial independence that I never had before. I use the methods of critical thinking that I learned in nursing school to find solutions to problems for my patients and in my personal life.
I am hopeful about my future career prospects in a way that many of my friends in other industries are not. Graduating from a nursing program was by far the best professional decision I have ever made.
NursingColleges.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective nursing student?
Battelli: The biggest piece of advice I would give to any prospective nursing student is to get involved while in nursing school. It can be very easy to lose the forest for the trees when in nursing school. It can be stressful, time is short, and I find that many students just put their heads down and try to push through to the career on the other side. However, in doing so, they miss so many opportunities to network and grow during nursing school.
I highly recommend getting to know your classmates and teachers, getting involved in campus activities, and volunteering whenever possible. It grows your resume, gives you unique stories to speak to during your interviews, and helps your professors put a face to the name when writing your letters of recommendation.
Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in Colorado
Colorado offers several great nursing degree program options. When exploring options, prospective students should be aware that many programs offer a variety of tuition rates based on a student’s residency status. Some schools participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program. Coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), this program offers a discounted tuition rate to graduate students from one of sixteen participating states and territories. This discounted rate is customarily equal to a school’s in-state tuition rate. More information about this program can be found on the WICHE website.
The University of Colorado College of Nursing offers a wealth of nursing programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels. Students seeking to become a bachelor’s degree-educated nurse have four options. These are the traditional pathway, the integrated nursing pathway, the accelerated nursing UCAN program, and the CU Denver/CU Nursing bridge bachelor’s program. Taken as a whole, these four pathways are designed to meet the needs of nursing candidates from various academic, professional, and personal backgrounds.
Given the number of degree programs offered at all levels of academic achievement students can enroll into the University of Colorado College of Nursing and build a lifelong career in any number of focus areas. In addition to its degree programs, the University also offers nursing continuing professional development programming and a global health nursing program. This global program is dedicated to training transformational leaders who will address disparities and inequities in healthcare delivery in the USA and abroad. Strengths throughout the University include its quality faculty, research and hands-on learning opportunities, and its collaborative, innovative learning environments.
- Location: Aurora, CO
- Duration: At least 12 months; see program details for info
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Denver College of Nursing offers several degree programs for nursing professionals. Those interested in obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree can choose one of two options: the BSN completion program option or the online RN-to-BSN option. Students who may choose to relocate from Colorado can also attend programs at the school’s second campus in Houston, TX.
The BSN completion program is designed for students who have already met certain prerequisite requirements and only need to complete nursing coursework. Due to their completion of non-nursing prerequisites students of the completion program only need less time than usual to complete this program. The curriculum consists of both didactic and clinical components, and when taken in consecutive quarters a full-time student can typically finish the curriculum in 21 months. This option is popular with professionals trained in a non-nursing discipline who already hold a BS, BA, or associate’s degree. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to secure their license.
The online RN-to-BSN program is designed for licensed, working nurses who wish to advance their education while concurrently working. Because Denver College of Nursing is a single-purpose nursing college, the school is well prepared to know the needs of its students and design appropriate curricula for students from various backgrounds. Students earn their degree in a cohort of their professional peers in a supportive, smaller school environment. Students have 24/7 access to online courses, tutoring and supportive services and can complete the degree in as little as 15 months.
- Location: Denver, CO
- Duration: 15 months to two years, depending on pace of study
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Regis University offers a prestigious 120-credit bachelor of science in nursing degree program. The curriculum teaches students to care for the whole person by emphasizing nursing science and challenging students to engage in discussion regarding the values and ethics of nursing. Through its BSN program, Regis University seeks to produce nursing professionals committed to quality patient care, social justice, and community service. Both nursing faculty and the program’s service learning coordinator work with students to identify appropriate service learning projects in their local community, elsewhere in the USA, or even abroad.
Due to its prestige, this BSN program is competitive. Students are selected based on academic performance, recommendations, writing skills, health care, and volunteer experience. Academic performance is given more weight than the other criteria. The university offers priority admission to the BSN program to Regis students who meet the university’s guaranteed admission policy requirements. Transfer students are accepted on a space-available basis.
- Location: Denver, CO
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
University of Northern Colorado
The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) offers a nine-semester bachelor of science in nursing degree program. Program graduates not only are prepared to provide quality care in a variety of practice settings but also are well prepared to embark on graduate nursing programs. In addition to their nursing coursework, all UNC students must complete 31 credit hours from the University’s liberal arts curriculum. Prospective students concerned about potential student debt burden will be interested to learn UNC ranked first (best) in average student loan debt at graduation among all four-year, public doctoral universities in Colorado in 2020.
UNC offers two tracks to obtain a BSN. These are the traditional BSN and BSN-2nd degree programs. The traditional BSN program is a full-time program for individuals who do not currently have a bachelor’s degree. The curriculum features mostly on-campus courses, though some hybrid courses are also offered. The BSN-2nd degree is also a full-time program but, unlike the traditional program is geared specifically towards students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. The curriculum is again a mixture of on-campus and hybrid courses. The BSN-2nd degree program is offered through the UNC Extended Campus. Regardless of which option they choose, nursing students will have the option to complete their clinical experience in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and public health agencies located in northern Colorado communities.
- Location: Greeley, CO
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Arapahoe Community College, recognized as a leader in nursing education, offers nursing students a 120-credit RN-to-BSN nursing completion program. This completion program is designed for RNs who wish to earn their BSN and current nursing students concurrently enrolled in the Nursing AAS program who wish to obtain a BSN degree. This program is focused on preparing students to broaden their current clinical practice skills and perspective beyond the associate’s degree level, cultivate leadership skills, and promote the value of a commitment to lifelong learning within nursing.
Though the BSN degree requires 120 credits, many students will enter with existing academic credit derived from the pursuit of something like an associate’s degree. As a result, students customarily can complete this program in three years. Students who have completed general education coursework and some nursing courses may finish in as little as 18 months. Among the curriculum are two courses that comprise the student’s required practicum experience. Students choose a practicum experience in an area of personal interest.
- Location: Littleton, CO
- Duration: One-and-a-half to three years, depending on previous education
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs in Colorado
University of Colorado College of Nursing
U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus among the top 15 graduate programs in the country. The University received this recognition based on several metrics, including its outstanding faculty and administrators and the quality of its programs. The University of Colorado MSN program prepares nurses to be future leaders in direct and indirect care roles throughout many specialties.
CU Nursing is noteworthy for several reasons. First, it is the birthplace of the nurse practitioner program. CU Nursing also offers the advantage of being part of a major medical campus featuring three hospitals: the University of Colorado Health Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the Veterans Administration. In addition, the nursing program features its own nurse-run and nurse-led clinics where students gain critical on-the-job experience.
The University offers 12 specialization options for students seeking a master of science in nursing. These options include adult gerontology, family nurse practitioner, healthcare informatics, women’s health nurse practitioner, and pediatric nurse practitioner. Prospective students should consult the University website to learn about these options.
- Location: Denver, CO
- Duration: Review program-specific details to estimate program duration
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Colorado Mesa University offers a master of science in nursing (MSN) program to prepare baccalaureate-prepared nurses to work as nurse practitioners. Graduates are trained in the skills to work in various contexts including clinical practice, teaching, program development and implementation, and scholarship. During their daily activities, they may make clinical, administrative or policy decisions to restore and sustain health among various patient populations throughout the continuum of care.
The MSN program offers students two tracks. These are the family nurse practitioner (FNP) and adult-gerontology (AGNP) tracks. The 47-credit FNP track focuses on primary care across the entire human lifespan. It includes training in the care of rural and vulnerable populations. The 42-credit AGNP track trains students in caring for adult and older adult populations. The curriculum is delivered online, allowing students to remain in their home communities while completing the degree.
Students may, however, need to travel to complete their clinical hour requirement. Students of the FNP track must complete a minimum of 700 direct care clinical hours. The requirement for the AGNP track is 600 hours. Clinical rotation placements include a variety of site possibilities, such as academic settings as well as inpatient, long-term care, community-based, and primary care clinical sites.
- Location: Grand Junction, CO
- Duration: 28 months (7 semesters in total)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Colorado State University-Pueblo
Colorado State University-Pueblo offers a master of science in nursing degree program featuring a curriculum of evidence-based practice training, ethical decision-making, and technologies used in daily nursing practice. Through collaboration with various healthcare professionals, students learn the essentials of providing safe, quality, patient-centered care. Graduates go on to work in careers as nurse administrators, health policy experts, and clinical nurse leaders.
The MSN program features four specialization options. These are adult gerontology, subspecialized in acute care or acute care/family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or nurse educator. Acute care nurse practitioners care for patients in chronic, acute, and emergent care settings. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners provide evidence-based psychiatric and mental health care to patients throughout the lifespan. Finally, nurse educators specialize in the education of future nursing professionals. They may work as faculty in colleges, universities, or hospital based nursing schools or as staff development educators. The nurse educator specialization is a fully online program. The particular curriculum requirements of each specialization vary due to the different learning objectives necessary to effectively train students to meet the needs of the positions they will fill.
- Location: Pueblo, CO
- Duration: Approximately two years
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Nursing School Accreditation
Ensuring that a nursing program is accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is important. These organizations help nursing programs meet certain standards and provide students with quality training.
In Colorado, nursing professionals obtain their licenses through the Colorado Board of Nursing. To be eligible for licensure, applicants must complete an appropriately accredited ADN or BSN nursing program satisfactorily. After that they must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam. After completing these steps and fulfilling several additional eligibility criteria, such as a criminal background check, providing information about past inactive and active licenses and still more, candidates are ready to apply for a license. To apply, candidates create an online professional profile on the Colorado Board of Nursing website and then pay the application fee.
There is a second way nurses can obtain a license. Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. The NLC permits nurses to practice in participating states without applying for a new license in this state. RNs licensed in another NLC state but wishing to practice in Colorado must apply for licensure by endorsement. Because licensing requirements often differ at least somewhat by state, prospective nursing students and existing nursing professionals must thoroughly research the options they are interested in.
Continued education is generally required to renew a nursing license. If a nurse decides to move out of state or pursue work in a different specialization, the nurse will need additional education or other requirements.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Colorado?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of April 2024.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
| United States | Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 630,250 | 5,170 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,790 | $64,710 |
| 10th percentile | $45,670 | $50,680 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,730 | $64,720 |
| 90th percentile | $77,870 | $77,240 |
Registered Nurse Salaries
| United States | Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 3,175,390 | 53,480 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $94,480 | $91,730 |
| 10th percentile | $63,720 | $70,790 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,070 | $86,900 |
| 90th percentile | $132,680 | $112,800 |
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
| United States | Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 47,810 | 530 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $214,200 | $215,870 |
| 10th percentile | $139,980 | $169,120 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $212,650 | $199,100 |
| 90th percentile | >$239,200 | >$239,200 |
Nurse Midwife Salaries
| United States | Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 6,960 | 280 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $131,570 | $126,100 |
| 10th percentile | $87,320 | $90,360 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,650 | $135,160 |
| 90th percentile | $177,530 | $152,010 |
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
| United States | Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 280,140 | 3,680 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $128,490 | $121,990 |
| 10th percentile | $94,530 | $81,110 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $126,260 | $124,280 |
| 90th percentile | $168,030 | $161,450 |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure in Colorado
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Applicants for an LPN license Colorado must;
|
LPN licenses in Colorado expire on August 31st of even-numbered years. Renewal requirements include:
There are no continuing education requirements. |
Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure in Colorado
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Applicants for an RN license Colorado must:
|
Registered nurse licenses in Colorado expire on September 30th of odd or even years, depending on the date of issuance. Renewal requirements include:
There are no continuing education requirements. |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensure in Colorado
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| In the state of Colorado, CNSs are licensed as APNs and require the following:
Colorado APN licenses do not automatically allow for prescriptive authority. Another application is required for RXN in Colorado. |
Advanced practice nurse status in Colorado is renewed every other year and must be accompanied by the RN license renewal. APNs must have a current national certification. Continued education requirements are set by the certifying agency. |
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Licensure in Colorado
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Colorado, CNMs are licensed as advanced practice nurses (APN) and require the following:
Colorado APN licenses do not automatically allow for prescriptive authority. Another application is required for prescriptive authority in Colorado. |
APN status is renewed every other year and must be accompanied by the RN license renewal. Continued education requirements are set by the certifying agency. |
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure in Colorado
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Colorado, NPs are licensed as Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) and required the do the following:
Colorado APN licenses do not automatically allow for prescriptive authority. Another application is required. |
Advanced Practice Nurse status is renewed every other year and must be accompanied by the RN license renewal. Continuing education requirements are set by the certifying agency. |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA) Licensure in Colorado
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Colorado, CRNA license requirements include:
Colorado APN licenses do not automatically allow for prescriptive authority. Another application is required for RXN in Colorado. |
Advanced practice nurse status is renewed every other year in Colorado and must be accompanied by the RN license renewal. Continuing education requirements are set by the certifying agency. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterAt NursingColleges.com, Rachel Drummond has applied her extensive experience in education and mindfulness to elucidate the importance of self-care for nursing students since 2022. Through her writings, she underscores the role of mental and physical well-being in fostering resilient and compassionate healthcare professionals.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.