Colorado Community Colleges
Nursing Programs
Compare nursing programs across community colleges in this state. ADN, LPN, and pre-nursing pathways with section counts and transfer details.
13 colleges · 93 sections · 34 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
Colorado community colleges are the most popular launchpad into nursing in the state — 13 CCCS institutions offer the coursework and clinical hours required for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam, and many graduates step directly into staff-nurse roles at local hospitals without ever attending a four-year school. The associate degree in nursing (ADN) typically takes two years full-time; LPN programs run 12–18 months.
This term, the 93 sections across these 13 colleges span the full nursing pipeline: pre-nursing prerequisites like anatomy and microbiology, the clinical ADN sequence, and bridge-to-BSN pathways for nurses planning to continue toward a bachelor's. Programs vary in clinical site partnerships, NCLEX pass rates, and waitlist length, so it pays to compare each college's awards-per-year and graduate earnings below before choosing where to apply.
Colleges offering Nursing
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Nursing is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Nursing Availability Snapshot
How nursing sections are being offered across 13 colleges in Colorado this term (93 sections total).
Delivery format
- online49 (53%)
- in person29 (31%)
- hybrid13 (14%)
- zoom2 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)16
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)4
- Evening (5 PM and after)9
- Asynchronous / TBA64
Start dates
Sections begin on 12 distinct dates. 84 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 60 distinct instructors across 13 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Aims Community College5 programs
Arapahoe Community College4 programs
Community College of Denver1 program
Front Range Community College4 programs
Pueblo Community College8 programs
Red Rocks Community College4 programs
Common Nursing courses
- NUR 1069Transition into Practical Nrsg(9 sections)
- NUR 3001Integration into BSN Practice(7 sections)
- NUR 3002Trends in Nursing Practice(6 sections)
- NUR 4009Leadership in the Nur. Profess(6 sections)
- NUR 2012Pharmacology II(5 sections)
- NUR 3003Nursing Research/EBP(5 sections)
- NUR 4008Legal/Ethical Issues(5 sections)
- NUR 4010Community Health Nursing/Prac(5 sections)
- NUR 4011Senior Seminar(5 sections)
- NUR 3005Emergency Preparedness(4 sections)
- NUR 3007Behavioral Health(4 sections)
- NUR 2002Transition from LPN to Prof NS(3 sections)
Career outlook for Nursing graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Colorado’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a registered nurse from a community college?
- Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) from any accredited Colorado community college qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — the same exam BSN graduates take. ADN-prepared RNs work in the same hospitals and earn the same starting wage as BSN-prepared RNs at most Colorado employers, though some larger health systems prefer or require a BSN within 5 years of hire.
- How long does the nursing program take?
- The ADN is typically a 2-year full-time program (4 semesters of core nursing courses after prerequisites). Most Colorado community colleges expect students to complete 1–2 semesters of prerequisites — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English, statistics — before applying to the competitive nursing cohort, so the total time from first enrollment is often 3 years.
- Do nursing credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Yes. Every CCCS ADN program has at least one RN-to-BSN bridge partnership with a four-year university — usually the closest state university. ADN graduates can typically complete the BSN online in 12–18 months while continuing to work as an RN, often with their employer covering tuition.
- What's the demand for nurses in Colorado?
- Strong and growing. BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average occupation — and Colorado faces the same aging-population pressure driving demand. Most Colorado ADN graduates have job offers before completing the program; rural hospitals and long-term care facilities offer signing bonuses and tuition forgiveness to recruit RNs.
Compare Nursing programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Colorado’s nursing programs stack up.
Other programs in Colorado
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.