RN Programs in Colorado – Schools, Salary, and License Info

They say: ‘’A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step’’.

Being a nursing school student in Colorado is a long journey indeed.

But with the support of the school and the student’s willingness to succeed, this journey can be the best ever.

As a student, you need to find a school that helps you get the license at the end of the nursing program.

And to see that issue more clearly, you can also try to consider NCLEX-RN pass rates of the school through a period of time.

In particular, you need to look for the percentage of those who have passed the exam.

Both the actual and historical evidence has been attached to them.

And you have to make this analysis in the entire 28 RN programs found in Colorado.

And to make this process easier for you, I am selecting the top-ten nursing schools in the state.

In this analysis of mine have been included nursing programs through which you can earn an Associate Degree in the field.

These programs are (ADN; ASN), BSN, or Direct-Entry MSN Degree.

So, nursing is a promising career in Colorado.

You can see that from the predicted influx of nurses in the state, which is expected to be 20% as we enter 2022.

Of course, this interest does not come in vain.

The state strived to offer high standards of nursing care for its patients in the first place.

And secondly, the aging population normally has created the need for skilled and competent nurses of different aspects in the field.

Nurses who have a Bachelor of Science in nursing have a better hourly salary and have more chances for employment in numerous locations.

That is, both urban and rural areas are the places they can practice their nursing profession.

For RN bridge programs visit:

• RN to BSN Programs in Colorado
• RN to MSN Programs in Colorado

ADN Programs in Colorado

AND programs are the most common programs in Colorado.

As an aspiring student, you can earn the RN or AND in two years.

The coursework has luckily been narrowed down into one year and a half time, including 4 semesters in total.

The number of AND programs in Colorado is optimal.

There are 20 programs available so far.

They can be accessed in both community and private colleges around the state.

Their approval is taken from the Colorado Board of Nursing on a normal basis.

What to Look For in an ADN Program in Colorado

There are a number of factors to check for when choosing to study an ADN program in Colorado.

Besides the learning style, place, and budget, there are other factors to consider as well.

Accreditation

In Colorado, two institutions accredit schools and regulate policies and the quality of nursing education for students.

The first institution is the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (AECN) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Due to the transparency, accredited schools from any of the accrediting bodies are part of the documents in the Board of Nursing.

Licensing

Upon graduation of the AND program, you should take the NCLEX exam as well.

As such, you will be a national Registered Nurse.

From the last year’s evidence, 90% of the RNs were successful in this exam as graduating from the ADN program initially.

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes are a useful criterion to stimulate students to register a particular program or not.

By checking them, students will find out if a program matches their studying goals in the long run.

These statistics are public in colleges and junior colleges around the state.

So basically, you should make sure you check the following outcomes:

• The graduation rate for each cohort
• NCLEX-RN pass rate
• Student satisfaction data
• Rate of post-secondary employment (related field only)

One example to consider is the Colorado Mountain College which is located in Glenwood Springs and other little communities in the state.

The college has a 92% pass rate of the NCLEX exam.

While It offers a correct AND program in the warm and scientific environment for the students.

ADN Program Admission Requirements in Colorado

The AND admission requirements in Colorado’s schools depend on the place, in the national and work demands as well as the group of students who apply in a year.

However, the most common requirements for all of them include these:

• Students must satisfy college-specific and program-specific entrance criteria
• Students must provide evidence of GPA exceeding 2.5
• Students must provide evidence of proficient scores in TEAS
• Students must provide official transcripts from all former schools and programs

Tuition and Costs of ADN Programs in Colorado

If you’ve been worried about finding an ADN program in Colorado that has affordable tuition and costs, don’t worry anymore!

There are many of them available in the state and their costs are special for each.

However, every student should make prior research about the cost before applying to a program.

In the short run, he or she should be aware of the fact that equipment, materials, textbook, and clothing are on their charge and out of the tuition cost.

One way to know that is to check the tuition cost of the AND program of the Lamar Community College.

Its total tuition cost is $161 per credit hour in the entire 70-hour program for 4 semesters.

Program costs are extra, as are room and board costs as well.

Advantages of ADN Programs

The advantages of attending ADN programs in Colorado are that they are affordable and short.

They are also equipped with enough technology in the nursing field, the students can make their hands-on experience easily.

Apart from that, they can graduate in fields that are in high demand in the state and start working in them right away.

This way, they will also be able to pay the end of their education as well.

LPN to RN Programs in Colorado

LPN to RN programs are available in Colorado.

Through this program, nurses are intended to pass the gap between practical and RN nursing skills and duties.

Apart from them, there are also subsidiary programs that extract from the LPN to RN.

They are LPN to RN diploma programs, LPN to AND, and LPN to BSN pathways.

LPN to ADN/BSN Programs

Nursing program transitions are frequent in Colorado.

The most common one if the LPN to ADN transition.

And it can be finished in less than a year.

So it’s definitely worth it.

This transition can be found in the Front Range Community College of Westminster.

The college program requires 54.5 credit hours in total.

However, students can also pursue another transition in the meantime.

This may be the LPN to BSN pathway.

Through it, they will get he Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

This program can be enrolled in the Colorado Mesa University.

Its aim is indeed noble.

The program is meant to prepare students for work in a variety of medical settings after graduation.

LPN to RN programs in Colorado typically require the following for admission:

• Active Colorado LPN license in good standing
• Proof of completion of any prerequisite courses (minimum GPA required)
• Proof of graduation from an approved LPN program
• Must pass a criminal background check

BSN Programs in Colorado

So, you started small, but that should not prevent you from reaching the heights of your success in education.

A BSN degree can be apt for in the middle of the career.

The BSN program takes 4 years to finish, which can be found in a variety of universities in Colorado.

A good program can be found in the Colorado Mesa University especially.

But of course, there are many institutions and satellite campuses in the state.

They are 15 in total.

What To Look For in a BSN Program in Colorado

When choosing a BSN program, you need to have some things in mind.

To begin with, the class size is one important factor.

Freshman lectures are usually more crowded, while small size ones are more for those classes that offer hands-on experience.

After the class, it is also important to have a teacher with due credentials in the field.

They should be experienced and additionally credentialed in nursing so that students will be sure they are being taught with the quality of the information in the field.

In addition, students can pursue a continuing education program that comes after the BSN program.

A place to do so is the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Its program is accredited and is perfect for students who are near licensure.

The university is enriched with role model teachers and healthcare professionals which makes students be more empathic and caring toward patients.

This is a highly valuable characteristic of medical professionals in a world with a lack of nurses.

Many universities make it easy for post-licensure RNs to pursue additional qualifications through continuing education.

They do so in order to enrich their careers and patient practice.

BSN Program Length in Colorado

BSN programs take four school years and eight semesters to complete.

Students who pass the NCLEX exam early on can go for an RN to BSN program through the school they choose to attend the program in.

Candidates and nurses are encouraged to consult with their school’s nursing program admissions personnel directly.

BSN Program Admission Requirements in Colorado

BSN programs vary from institution to institution, however, they do have a few elements in common:

• Confirmed acceptance to your university of choice via letter
• Activated online student account
• Attend necessary orientation programs
• Complete nursing application form
• Provide official transcripts via your online account
• Meet immunization standards and course grade prerequisites

Tuition and Costs of BSN Programs in Colorado

In the tuition cost of BSN programs in Colorado take part in equipment, uniforms, textbooks, and technology used.

Knowing the school’s cost will make the student’s school choice much wise and decisive.

One example to consider there is the University of Colorado.

Its tuition cost is nearly $410 per credit hour for residents.

Other costs such as room and board are added to the school.

While students can also be granted scholarships and grants as well.

Advantages of BSN Programs

BSN programs prepare students for more career opportunities.

Also, BSN nursing students earn a higher salary at work.

RNs can also access an RN to BSN bridge program to help them continue their career.

MSN Programs in Colorado

Through a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), nursing students are able to lead in their field.

And fortunately, Colorado offers many programs to them.

Through these programs, there are administrators, nurse educators, managers, and policymakers making their way into a nursing career successfully.

The beauty of enrolling in such a program is that they have accelerating options in administrative, clinical care, and teaching environments.

MSN Program Length in Colorado

The MSN program lasts 3 years of coursework.

And with it, a student is considered eligible for a full-time job.

You may wonder how?

Well, the graduate degree requirements are the same in learning and time-management level.

Whereas part-time MSN studies last 5 to 6 years at most.

MSN Admission Requirements in Colorado

MSN admission requirements vary from program to program, however, some of the core criteria remain the same:

• Graduate from an accredited in-state BSN program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Submit a professional portfolio and resume
• Submit evidence of your RN licensure and transcripts from undergraduate programs and continuing education units
• Be accepted as a student in good standing at the university of your choice
• Have practiced as an RN for two or more years

Tuition and Costs of MSN Programs in Colorado

The greater the importance of a program, the higher the cost.

But it’s always worth it to seek knowledge and to actually pay for it.

Since we pay a price for everything, knowledge should always be our top priority to strive for in life.

Obviously, MSN tuition is higher than that of the undergraduate programs we’ve been talking so far.

The cost of the course is different from school to school.

In this cost textbooks, materials, lab costs, clinical equipment, and uniforms are not included.

These materials are meant to already belong to the student.

For example, the University of Colorado at Denver’s MSN program costs students about $600 per credit hour and does not include additional fees.

Cool right?

For NP programs visit:

• Colorado DNP Programs
• Colorado Midwifery Schools
• Colorado Midwifery Schools
• Colorado Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Colorado Post-Graduate Certificate Nursing Programs

Getting a Colorado Nursing License

For Colorado State regulations for licensure by examination or endorsement a completed application, including your Social Security Number along with the following items should be submitted:

• Proof of citizenship or immigration status-completed affidavit of eligibility
• Completed screening questionnaire
• Name change documentation (if applicable)
• health care Professionals Profiling Program – questionnaire to be completed
• Transcripts to be mailed directly to the state nursing board
• Proof of registration for the NCLEX-RN examination

Apply for endorsement of licensure can be done by providing all of the above documentation, as well as the following:

• Current/active license from another state
• NURSES Verification request completed
• Declare any and all other states licenses including state, issuance, expiration, number, and status

Accelerated Nursing Programs in Colorado

Accelerated nursing programs are the last option to benefit from in the world of nursing education in Colorado.

In the state, there are many colleges that offer an accelerated nursing degree.

Their lengths are various.

Some take 12 to 20 months in a full-time schedule.

Admission requirements are also various.

But usually, the requirements include the length of the program and the courses a student will have to attend one.

• Colorado Accelerated BSN Programs
• Colorado Accelerated MSN Programs

Latest Colorado NCLEX-RN Pass Rates and Statistics

• Total Number of State Approved Schools: 28
• Total Number of Test Takers in 2019: 2,171
• 2019 Average Statewide Colorado NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 92.9%

The Best RN Schools in Colorado

Since we all look for the best, here are the best Nursing schools for you here.

There are top-ten RN schools located throughout Colorado.

In them, you will be able to enroll in a BSN, MSN, and other transitory programs of nursing.

Colorado RN Salaries

Salaries are an issue for many.

The highest salary comes with an MSN degree.

While other degrees secure you a good income as well.

The salary mostly depends on education, work experience, and place.

Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in Colorado

RN Programs by State