The Best 8 Nursing Schools in Denver

Getting into one of the best nursing schools in Denver might be the much craved advantage you need to secure that ‘Registered Nurse’ job in the city.  

Denver is the capital city of the State of Colorado. With a population of over 700,000 people, it is normal for the best nursing schools in the state to be in the city.

The fact that Colorado is the 4^th highest paying state for nurses in the United States makes the city of Denver even more appealing. It’s also important to note that registered nurses (RNs) in Denver earn an average annual salary of $87,173. That is an hourly wage of $42.73.

If you’re looking to get a nursing job in Denver, it is important you know that you need a license from the state. This means you have to take the NCLEX licensing exam. And also meet the state requirements to be eligible to work as an RN in Denver.  

One of the easiest ways to meet these requirements is to attend one of the accredited nursing schools in the state. And what better city to school in, than the beautiful, urban city of Denver?

In this article, if you stick with me, I will help you make a choice among the best nursing schools in Denver.

8 Best Nursing Schools in Denver

You might be wondering how we came about the 8 best nursing schools. Well, considering that the aim of most nursing graduates is to secure a job after graduation. We selected only accredited nursing schools.

We also considered their NCLEX pass rate, tuition affordability, job opportunities offered and the reviews by the students.

So by default, graduating from any of these schools automatically places you in the top 5% in the state.

1. Regis University

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 88.57%

Accreditation: CCNE

Programs: BSN, RN-BSN, RN-MSN, MSN, DNP, Post-Master’s certificates.

Loretto Heights School of Nursing, Regis University, is one of the best nursing schools in Denver and Colorado as a whole. It is ranked no. 25 among the top 75 Nursing Schools in the West by the American Society of Registered Nurses, and the no. 1 in Colorado by Niche.com.

Regis offers several Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs to its students. This includes the traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN and the unique CHOICE BSN program. The CHOICE BSN is designed for students who are already healthcare workers but wish to switch full time to nursing. The classes are organized in the evenings, twice a week, and clinical rotations are done in the evening.

The school boasts of a dynamic and collaborative learning environment as it provides its students with a world-class simulated health center for hands-on practical experiences.

Schooling at Regis affords you the opportunity to get world-class internship experiences in top institutional and research healthcare settings.

Click here to visit the school website.

Also Read:

The Top 8 Nursing Schools in Massachusetts

The 8 Best Nursing Schools in Dallas, Texas

2. Aspen University

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate:

Accreditation: CCNE

Programs: Pre-Licensure BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, RN-MSN, DNP

As one of the best nursing schools in Denver, Aspen University School of Nursing & Health Sciences offers a wide range of nursing programs to its students.

Its BSN program is offered as a pre-licensure program or an RN-BSN program. However, the master’s programs are offered in several exciting specializations like Forensic nursing, Informatics, Administration and Management, Education and Public Health.

Most of their programs are offered in online and hybrid formats, which makes it easy for working nurses to study for their degrees.

Click here to visit the school website.

3. Colorado Christian University

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 95%

Accreditation: CCNE

Programs: Pre-Nursing to BSN, RN-BSN, MSN and DNP

The Colorado Christian University School of Nursing views nursing as both a scientific discipline and a sacred calling. This is because the school is built on strong Christian values and wants that to reflect in how its graduates carry out their duties.

The school offers both traditional and adult student pathway BSN programs to its students. While the traditional students complete the BSN prerequisites and major classes on-site, the adult students are allowed to complete their prerequisites online.

The school also offers an online RN-BSN degree program to accommodate RNs with ASN degrees.

Studying nursing at the Colorado Christian University School of Nursing comes with loads of classroom and clinical experiences.

Click here to visit the school website

4. Denver College of Nursing

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 94.53%

Accreditation: ACEN, CCNE

Programs: ADN, BSN, RN-BSN, MSN

The Denver College of Nursing (DCN) is a private single-purpose college focused on raising highly qualified nurses. The school believes strongly that good nurses are the future of quality healthcare. That is why its programs are structured to attain excellence in healthcare education.

DCN offers on-campus programs for pre-licensure students and distance learning programs for its post-licensure programs. However, the quality of education offered in both settings are the same. So whether you take part in the on-campus or online programs, you’re assured of getting the best education.

To live by its belief of making a difference in the healthcare sector, students at DCN are encouraged to participate in community services. This is done to offer free healthcare to people and actually make a difference in the lives of others.

Click here to visit the school website.

5. Metropolitan State University of Denver

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 89.6%

Accreditation: ACEN

Programs: Accelerated BSN, BSN, RN-BSN

The Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) offers some of the best nursing programs out there in the city of Denver.

Being a public university, the majority of its students are from Colorado. However, you still stand a good chance of being admitted if you’re from another state or country.

MSU Denver offers BSN programs in three variations. The accelerated BSN program is for students who have acquired a bachelor’s degree from another discipline and are looking to switch to nursing. While the traditional BSN program is for high school graduates and prospective students who have no bachelor’s degree. Also, its RN-BSN program is designed for registered nurses who wish to acquire a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

One important benefit of schooling at MSU Denver is that it offers its students a vast professional network and world-class internship programs.

Click here to visit the school website.

6. Platt College

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 87.88%

Accreditation: ACEN, CBON

Programs: BSN

The Platt College of Nursing offers a BSN program, designed for completion in a period of 3 years. The program is designed to match the standards set by The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. They also meet the Pre-Licensure knowledge, skills, and attitudes described by the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN).

The standards are based on these five (5) competencies: nursing process, nursing informatics, professional standards, evidence-based practice and interprofessional collaboration.

Graduates of Platt College are rated highly in Colorado and beyond because of their high NCLEX pass rates and employment rates.

Click here to visit the school website.

7. Arapahoe Community College

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 93%

Accreditation: ACEN

Programs: LPN, AAS (RN), RN-BSN

Arapahoe Community College offers excellent nursing programs to its students. There’s no wonder as to why it ranked no. 2 in the best Nursing Associate Degree programs in Colorado.

The school provides its students with state-of-the art simulation labs for excellent practical learning experiences. The faculty and staff are very much accessible to the students, which has enhanced personalized learning experiences in the school.

Being the first junior college in the Denver metro area, Arapahoe Community College has maintained high professional standards through its 57 years of existence.  

Click here to visit the school website. 

8. Front Range Community College

NCLEX First Time Pass Rate: 100%

Accreditation: ACEN

Programs: LPN, LPN-ADN, AAS in Nursing, RN-BSN

Front Range Community College (FRCC) offers its students nursing programs that are structured to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving healthcare system.

FRCC believes that academic knowledge acquired from biological, social and behavioral sciences forms the foundation of an effective nursing profession. While sufficient clinical experience helps to develop the required skills, students need to impact lives.

The school in partnership with state-of-the art care centers has provided its students enough options in their quest to gain practical nursing experiences.

Click here to visit the school website.

Conclusion

The nursing profession isn’t just another career path out there. It is an avenue to make a real impact in the lives of people. That is the major reason nurses are called caregivers. In your quest to build a successful career, care for humanity should be at the forefront of your principles.

That is why we’ve carefully outlined the best nursing schools in the city of Denver in this article. These schools are structured to give you the best learning experiences and also fuel your passion for this noble profession.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Nursing Schools in Denver

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