2026 Best Nursing Schools in Colorado
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Colorado.
Top Schools in Nursing
Leading the list is Regis University, our #1 school for nursing. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Regis University awarded about 345 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Regis University earn around $94,010 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,427 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Regis University
Colorado Mountain College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public university. About 14% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Colorado Mountain College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Colorado Mountain College earn around $68,039 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,946 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Colorado Mountain College
Pueblo Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. About 122 nursing degrees were awarded at Pueblo Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $71,237. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
Get the full nursing details for Pueblo Community College
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a very large private for-profit university. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs graduates 14% of students within six years. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs awarded about 254 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs earn a median of $112,460 early in their careers. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs graduates carry a median of $30,319 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs
University Of Colorado Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 476 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Denver in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $101,201. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Colorado Denver
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #6 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 172 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Colorado in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $97,319. University Of Northern Colorado graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Northern Colorado
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #7 for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 224 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $89,464. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Denver School Of Nursing placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Denver, Denver School Of Nursing is a small private for-profit university. Denver School Of Nursing awarded about 491 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Denver School Of Nursing generally make around $80,304. Denver School Of Nursing graduates carry a median of $32,832 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Denver School Of Nursing
Red Rocks Community College came in at #9 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. About 10 nursing degrees were awarded at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $76,340. Red Rocks Community College graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Red Rocks Community College
Arapahoe Community College landed the #10 spot for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public university. About 100 nursing degrees were awarded at Arapahoe Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $73,926 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Arapahoe Community College
Mesa State College placed #11 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Junction. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 169 nursing degrees were awarded at Mesa State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $69,631. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Mesa State College
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. About 52 nursing degrees were awarded at Trinidad State Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $66,009 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,801.
See the full nursing program report for Trinidad State Junior College
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #13 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Roughly 31% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 nursing degrees were awarded at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $77,333 in their early career. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates carry a median of $30,119 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Front Range Community College earned the #14 position for nursing this year. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. There were roughly 181 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Front Range Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $76,014 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,625 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Front Range Community College
Pikes Peak Community College placed #15 among the best nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. Pikes Peak Community College awarded about 188 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Pikes Peak Community College earn around $72,869 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,131.
Read more about the nursing program at Pikes Peak Community College
Morgan Community College landed the #16 spot for nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a small public institution. There were roughly 37 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Morgan Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Morgan Community College earn a median of $76,759 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,238.
Read more about the nursing program at Morgan Community College
Aims Community College placed #17 among the best nursing schools. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. There were roughly 33 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Aims Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $45,909. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Aims Community College
Colorado Christian University came in at #18 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 112 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Colorado Christian University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $71,388 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $54,709 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Colorado Christian University
Colorado State University Pueblo earned the #19 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 146 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Pueblo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $95,058 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,562.
Read more about the nursing program at Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado Northwestern Community College placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Rangely. About 21 nursing degrees were awarded at Colorado Northwestern Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Colorado Northwestern Community College generally make around $70,087. Typical student debt for the program is $20,475.
More information about a degree in nursing from Colorado Northwestern Community College
Northeastern Junior College came in at #21 for nursing this year. Northeastern Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Sterling. There were roughly 15 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $68,853 in their early career. Northeastern Junior College graduates carry a median of $23,625 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Northeastern Junior College
Community College Of Aurora came in at #22 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. There were roughly 26 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Community College Of Aurora in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Community College Of Aurora earn around $38,587 in the first couple years of their career. Community College Of Aurora graduates carry a median of $15,365 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Community College Of Aurora
Otero Junior College placed #23 among the best nursing schools. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public university. Otero Junior College awarded about 22 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Otero Junior College generally make around $74,179. Typical student debt for the program is $31,376.
Get the full nursing details for Otero Junior College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 28 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
