Nursing in Colorado
Colorado has 44 nursing schools running 75 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 88.4%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $100,260; nurse practitioners, $132,930. Colorado is a compact state, so a license here can be a multistate license. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Colorado
47 of Colorado’s 75 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 86.4% — 0.1 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 85.4%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 25 | 84% (15 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 25 | 89.3% (21 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. Ties go to the program with more nursing graduates. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Front Range Community CollegeWestminster · ADN100%
- Colorado Northwestern Community CollegeCraig · ADN100%
- Adams State UniversityAlamosa · BSN100%
- Arizona College of NursingAurora · BSN100%
- University of Colorado College of Nursing (Anschutz)Aurora · BSN (Accelerated)98.5%
What Nurses Earn in Colorado
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Colorado is $2,710 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $630 above the $132,300 national NP median.
| Colorado | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,260 | $132,930 |
| Median hourly | $48.20 | $63.91 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $79,500 | $87,770 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $124,940 | $170,310 |
| Employed in state | 54,490 | 4,270 |
Licensing in Colorado
Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Colorado can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Colorado board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: 2022-11-20 (list "Updated 11/20/2022"; 8-qrt rate column headed 7/1/2024-6/30/2026).
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Colorado?
Colorado has 44 nursing schools running 75 board-approved programs — 51 RN programs and 24 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Colorado?
The median Colorado RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 88.4%, and the average across programs was 86.4% — 0.1 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Colorado?
Registered nurses in Colorado earn a median of $100,260 a year ($48.20 an hour), $2,710 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $132,930 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Colorado a compact nursing state?
Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Colorado can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.