Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado (2027)

Compare affordable, accelerated, and online NP programs across Colorado — with tuition, clinical hours, and pass rates side by side.

Most important takeaways…

  • Colorado offers roughly a dozen NP programs across online, hybrid, and in-person formats from public and private universities.
  • University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado Colorado Springs rank among the most affordable public options.
  • Accelerated BSN-to-MSN tracks in Colorado can be completed in as few as 12 to 24 months of full-time study.
  • Boulder leads Colorado metro areas in median NP pay, edging out Denver despite its smaller employer base.

Demand for nurse practitioners in Colorado has outpaced the national average for years, and the state's full practice authority statute removes the physician-oversight hurdles that slow NP careers in roughly half the country. That combination makes Colorado one of the more strategically sensible states in which to complete an NP degree and build a long-term practice.

Programs range from fully online options designed around a working nurse's schedule to hybrid and in-person tracks at major universities across Denver, Colorado Springs, and beyond. Tuition gaps between the lowest- and highest-cost programs can exceed $30,000, so identifying the right fit early prevents a costly mismatch.

Colorado's median NP salary of $129,750 is a strong number, but metro area, specialty, and employer type each pull that figure in different directions. Understanding nurse practitioner salary by specialty helps put that number in context, and choosing a program with solid clinical placement networks in your target region matters as much as the credential itself.

Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado for 2027

Colorado's nurse practitioner schools divide neatly into public university systems and a smaller set of private and online-first options, and the entries below are the ones that make the strongest overall case for working nurses this year. Each card shows how coursework is delivered, what the institution charges for graduate study, and what the school's graduates typically go on to earn. One caveat worth carrying through this whole page: graduation rates and median earnings describe each institution as a whole, not the nurse practitioner program specifically.

How we ranked these
Factors considered
  • Earnings ten years after entry
  • Tuition adjusted for local costs
  • Online and hybrid delivery options
  • Institutional graduation rates
  • Program breadth and accreditation
Data sources
  • Program-level records maintained in house
  • Independent editorial research
  • National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
  • State cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities — bea.gov
  • Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
UN

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · $5,000 – $10,000/yr

Hispanic-Serving Institution
Best for: Denver-area nurses seeking an academic medical campus

Home to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, this is the state's flagship academic health center for advanced practice nursing. The school offers a hybrid Family Nurse Practitioner MSN and a BSN-to-DNP pathway that folds the master's degree into the doctoral sequence, with clinical placements coordinated across the CU Anschutz network and partner systems in Colorado. Graduate tuition is listed at roughly $9,360 for Colorado residents and $28,368 for nonresidents, and the estimated total tuition for the FNP doctoral pathway runs about $65,700 in state against $106,400 for nonresidents. Institution-wide, about 46 percent of students graduate and graduates earn a median of roughly $64,300 ten years after entry.

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), MSN — Hybrid
    University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
    CCNE accredited
    • 56 total credit hours
    • 630 clinical hours required
    • 12 specialty tracks offered
    • Hybrid delivery with on-campus requirements
    • CCNE accredited
    • Prepares for national certification and APRN licensure
    • Applications submitted through NursingCAS
    Visit Website
  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP — Hybrid
    University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
    CCNE accredited
    • 74 total credit hours
    • 1,170 clinical hours
    • Hybrid format with a three-day on-campus requirement
    • BSN-to-DNP pathway with a master's awarded along the way
    • CCNE accredited
    • Focus on adult and geriatric acute care
    • Hands-on DNP project experience
    Visit Website
UN

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO · $16,000 – $27,000/yr

Best for: Rural nurses needing fully online coursework

Based in Colorado Springs, UCCS delivers its Family Nurse Practitioner master's and its post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice entirely online, with clinical hours arranged in approved states and no required campus visits. That design makes it a practical choice for nurses outside the Front Range who cannot commit to a weekly commute. Graduate tuition is listed near $9,022 for residents and $23,155 for nonresidents. The institution reports an overall graduation rate around 47 percent, and its graduates earn a median of about $54,700 ten years after entry.

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master of Science in Nursing — Online
    University of Colorado Colorado Springs
    CCNE accredited
    • 47 to 48 total credits
    • 100 percent online with no campus visits required
    • Clinical hours completed in approved states
    • Rolling admissions with spring, summer, and fall starts
    • 3.0 minimum GPA and an active RN license
    • Primary care family nurse practitioner concentration
    • CCNE accredited
    Visit Website
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post-BSN DNP — Online
    University of Colorado Colorado Springs
    CCNE accredited
    • 70 total credit hours
    • Online delivery with on-campus components
    • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner concentration
    • DNP quality improvement project required
    • Seven-year completion limit
    • BSN from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program required
    • CCNE accredited
    Visit Website
UN

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · $15,000/yr

Hispanic-Serving Institution
Best for: Front Range nurses balancing part-time study

Greeley-based UNC pairs hybrid delivery with a single on-campus day each week, usually Thursday, so Front Range nurses can keep working while they study. The school offers an Adult Gerontology Acute Care MSN and a post-bachelor's Family Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice that runs about five years part-time with 1,125 clinical hours. Per-credit pricing is a draw: about $771 per credit on the FNP doctorate, with the same rate for residents and nonresidents and no student or technology fees. Institution-wide, roughly 51 percent of students graduate and median graduate earnings land near $52,200 ten years after entry.

  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
    University of Northern Colorado
    CCNE accredited
    • Hybrid online format
    • $734 per credit flat tuition
    • No additional student fees
    • Specialized acute care concentration for adults and older adults
    • CCNE accredited
    Visit Website
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Doctor of Nursing Practice — Hybrid
    University of Northern Colorado
    CCNE accredited
    • 84 total credit hours
    • 1,125 clinical hours
    • Five-year part-time sequence with fall starts
    • Hybrid delivery with weekly in-person Thursdays
    • $771 per credit, same rate in state and out of state
    • No student or technology fees
    • Clinical placement coordinator assistance
    • Prepares for ANCC or AANP certification
    Visit Website
CO

Colorado State University Pueblo

Pueblo, CO · $10,000/yr

Hispanic-Serving Institution

CSU Pueblo is the most affordable public option on this list, building its NP offerings around a Doctor of Nursing Practice with Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks, plus a post-master's PMHNP certificate for nurses who already hold a graduate degree. Resident tuition runs about $396 per credit against $750 to $915 for nonresidents, and the FNP doctorate can be completed in as little as two and a half years full time. Every track is hybrid, blending online coursework with campus time, and admissions gives preference to Southern Colorado residents for the certificate. Graduate tuition is listed near $7,076 in state and $15,300 out of state, with an overall graduation rate around 40 percent and median graduate earnings near $55,600 ten years after entry.

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post-Master's Certificate — Hybrid
    Colorado State University Pueblo
    • Hybrid online and campus format
    • At least 16 credit hours
    • 585 clinical hours
    • Individualized plan of study
    • 3.0 GPA and an active Colorado RN license required
    • Three recommendation letters plus a letter of intent and CV
    • Courses in psychopharmacology and psychiatric assessment
    • Preference for Southern Colorado residents
    Visit Website
  • Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice — Hybrid
    Colorado State University Pueblo
    • 104 total credit hours
    • 585 clinical hours
    • Hybrid delivery
    • Population-focused FNP competencies
    • DNP project as the scholarly capstone
    • Simulation-based learning integrated
    • Interprofessional collaboration focus
    Visit Website
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice — Hybrid
    Colorado State University Pueblo
    • 86 to 87 total credit hours
    • 1,320 clinical hours including 780 practicum hours
    • Hybrid delivery
    • Concurrent master's in nursing awarded
    • Eligible for the PMHNP certification exam
    • Capstone and oral comprehensive exam required
    • 3.0 GPA minimum
    Visit Website
CO

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO · ~$11,000/yr (est.)

Colorado Mesa anchors advanced practice nursing on the Western Slope from Grand Junction, with tracks built around rural and underserved primary care. Offerings include an online Adult Gerontology Primary Care MSN, a hybrid Family Nurse Practitioner MSN, and a hybrid DNP FNP with clinical placements arranged in students' home communities. Resident pricing sits around $662 per credit, or about $1,008 for nonresidents, placing it in the middle of Colorado's public options. The institution reports an overall graduation rate near 41 percent, and median graduate earnings are about $45,800 ten years after entry.

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), MSN — Hybrid
    Colorado Mesa University
    CCNE accredited
    • 49 credit hours
    • Hybrid format with in-person clinical examinations
    • 3.0 GPA and a current RN license required
    • Capstone project required
    • Multiple clinical practicum courses
    • Prepares for FNP certification
    • Follows AACN Essentials standards
    Visit Website
  • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Online
    Colorado Mesa University
    CCNE accredited
    • 46 total credit hours
    • 750 clinical hours
    • Fully online with clinical rotations
    • Focus on rural and underserved populations
    • OSCEs each semester
    • Capstone required
    • Primary care for adults and older adults
    Visit Website
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Doctor of Nursing Practice — Hybrid
    Colorado Mesa University
    CCNE accredited
    • 74 total credit hours
    • 1,000 clinical hours
    • Hybrid format with focused on-campus intensive sessions
    • Clinical requirements completed in home communities
    • Rural health care clinical experiences
    • Leadership and policy skills emphasis
    • CCNE accredited
    Visit Website
RE

Regis University

Denver, CO · ~$24,000/yr (est.)

Hispanic-Serving Institution

Denver's Regis University is the private, Jesuit option here, serving nurses who already hold a master's in nursing through two post-graduate certificates: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Both are fully online and prepare graduates for national certification, with the FNP certificate requiring 36 credits that include clinical hours. Graduate nursing tuition is listed near $1,055 per credit, the highest on this page, though the institution's outcomes are strong, with an overall graduation rate around 61 percent and median graduate earnings near $72,100 ten years after entry.

  • Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate Certificate — Online
    Regis University
    • 36 credit hours including clinical hours
    • Fully online delivery
    • Requires an MSN and at least two years of nursing experience
    • Prepares for AANP and ANCC exams
    • NursingCAS application with transcripts, resume, personal statement, and three recommendations
    Visit Website
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate Certificate — Online
    Regis University
    • 26 to 36 credit hours
    • Fully online format
    • May start dates
    • Requires a nursing master's degree
    • Interview required
    • Curriculum covers advanced psychopharmacology, psychiatric assessment, and treatment planning
    • Prepares for national certification
    Visit Website
CO

Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO · ~$15,000/yr (est.)

Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs offers a single fully online MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner, 68 credits with 630 direct-care clinical hours and two required weekend labs on the Colorado campus. Courses run in five-week blocks with up to ten start dates a year, which can shorten time to completion for nurses who can study full time, and no GRE or GMAT is required. Tuition is a flat rate for residents and nonresidents, around $540 per credit, making it one of the more affordable choices for out-of-state students. The institution reports an overall graduation rate near 19 percent, with median graduate earnings of about $37,200 ten years after entry.

  • Family Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing — Online
    Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
    CCNE accredited
    • 68 total credit hours
    • 630 direct-care clinical hours across adult, women's health, pediatric, and lifespan populations
    • Fully online and asynchronous with two required weekend labs in Colorado
    • Five-week course blocks with up to 10 start dates per year
    • No GRE or GMAT required
    • CCNE accredited
    • 3.0 GPA minimum and work experience required
    • APEA MyQBank and certification review course included
    Visit Website

The NP Landscape in Colorado: Practice Authority, Demand, and Opportunity

Some states tether nurse practitioners to physician oversight for their entire careers. Colorado chose a different path, one that treats NPs as autonomous providers after a structured transition. For nurses considering online NP programs, that distinction matters because it shapes everything from clinical training to long-term earning potential.

Full Practice Authority After a Mentorship Transition

Colorado is a full practice authority state, meaning NPs can evaluate, diagnose, treat, and prescribe without a supervisory agreement with a physician. New graduates do not immediately step into full independence, however. The state requires a mentorship period before an NP obtains full prescriptive authority. The current requirement is 1,000 hours of mentorship, with at least 750 of those hours attested by the mentor.1 The mentorship must be completed within a written agreement with a Colorado-licensed physician or an APRN who already holds full prescriptive authority. Communication between the mentor and the NP during this period must be synchronous and real-time (secure audio, video, or web conferencing, not email).2 Once the mentorship hours are documented and the mentor provides the required attestation, the NP can apply to upgrade to full prescriptive authority. The process is overseen by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) through the nursing board.2

Legislative Stability in 2025 and 2026

No changes to the mentorship requirement or scope-of-practice laws occurred during the 2025 or 2026 legislative sessions. The framework remains steady, and recent policy rationale has focused on making mentoring more flexible so NPs can serve in underserved areas where physician colleagues may be scarce. The state still requires the mentorship agreement to be retained for three years and mandates three years of clinical experience before the NP can qualify for the mentorship pathway.1

Demand Drivers: An Aging State with Rural Gaps

Colorado's NP workforce is in high demand. An aging population, persistent rural health shortages, and primary care access gaps are all fueling rapid hiring. Rural areas across the state often lack both preceptors and permanent providers, which creates both a training bottleneck and an immediate employment opportunity. The nurse practitioners rural healthcare challenge is not unique to Colorado, but the state's mentorship model is designed to get newly licensed NPs into practice quickly while still ensuring quality oversight. Surveys suggest that 60 to 70 percent of Colorado NPs have considered leaving their positions, underscoring the strain on the existing workforce and the urgent need for incoming clinicians.

A More Attractive State for New NPs

Compared with restricted-practice states, Colorado allows NPs to reach full practice authority relatively early in their careers. The 1,000-hour mentorship period, followed by full prescriptive independence, means you can build your own panel of patients, open a practice, or join a rural clinic on more equal footing with physicians sooner. That autonomy, combined with strong demand, makes Colorado one of the best states for nurse practitioners entering the job market.

Colorado NP Programs at a Glance

Before diving into the affordable and accelerated options below, here is a quick snapshot of what the NP program landscape looks like across Colorado in 2026.

Six quick stats on Colorado NP programs including tuition range, net price, format, and median state NP salary

Most Affordable NP Programs in Colorado

If keeping costs manageable is a priority, and for most working nurses it is, the table below highlights three of the lowest-cost NP programs at public universities in Colorado. Note that the net price figures shown are institution-wide averages for all undergraduate and graduate students combined; your actual cost as a graduate NP student will likely differ depending on credit load, program fees, and financial aid. Be sure to request a program-specific cost estimate from each school's graduate admissions office. Colorado nurses also have access to meaningful financial support beyond standard federal aid. The Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) offers up to $90,000 in loan repayment for nurse practitioners who commit to three years of service at an eligible site, with application windows in March and September. The federal HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program covers tuition, fees, and a living stipend for Family Nurse Practitioner students who agree to post-graduation service at an NHSC-approved site. Both programs target primary care providers willing to work in underserved communities, making them especially worth exploring if you plan to practice in rural or medically underserved parts of the state.

SchoolIn-State TuitionOut-of-State TuitionNet Price (Institution Average)Format
University of Colorado Denver / Anschutz Medical Campus$9,298$27,154$11,900Hybrid
Colorado State University Pueblo$10,064$16,684$10,051Hybrid
Colorado Mesa University$10,900$16,359$15,103Hybrid

Questions to Ask Yourself

Public programs may save $20,000 or more over private options, but accelerated tracks can get you earning NP wages a year sooner. Calculate whether the tuition difference outweighs the income you'd gain by finishing earlier.

Some Colorado programs require weekend or week-long campus residencies for simulation labs and skills validation. If travel or time off work is difficult, look for schools offering 100% online didactic coursework with local clinical placements.

Some schools secure preceptors and clinical sites on your behalf, while others expect you to find your own. If you lack professional connections in Colorado healthcare systems, a program with dedicated placement coordinators can save months of stress.

Accelerated and Fastest NP Programs in Colorado

An accelerated nurse practitioner program compresses the coursework and clinical training required for licensure into the shortest calendar span that accreditation standards allow, typically 12 to 24 months for a full-time BSN-to-MSN track, and occasionally longer for BSN-to-DNP pathways. Colorado schools offer both streamlined full-time options and flexible part-time tracks, each designed to fit different life circumstances. For a broader look at fast-track options nationwide, see our guide to accelerated nurse practitioner programs.

Full-Time BSN-to-MSN Tracks: 18 to 24 Months

Most Colorado institutions that admit BSN-prepared nurses directly into an MSN-NP concentration report full-time completion timelines of 18 to 24 months. Denver College of Nursing, for example, lists a minimum duration of 15 to 18 months for motivated students who enter with prerequisite coursework complete and enroll continuously. Full-time schedules typically bundle didactic modules, simulation labs, and clinical rotations into consecutive semesters without summer breaks, allowing students to satisfy the 500 to 720 clinical hours required for family nurse practitioner certification in roughly a year and a half.

Part-Time Pathways: 30 to 48 Months

Working nurses who cannot step away from a full-time job will find part-time options that stretch the same curriculum over 30 to 48 months. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs Online MSN program, for instance, typically spans 36 months when students carry a reduced course load each term.2 Part-time enrollment does not reduce total clinical hours. You still log the same 500-plus hours in outpatient, primary-care, and specialty rotations, but you spread the burden across more calendar quarters, easing weekly time pressure.

BSN-to-DNP and Year-Round Enrollment

BSN-to-DNP accelerated tracks add scholarship and systems-leadership coursework to the clinical FNP core, pushing full-time completion closer to 30 to 36 months. If you are curious about BSN to DNP program length across different schools, timelines vary widely by institution. Some Colorado programs offer multiple start dates each year (spring, summer, and fall cohorts) so you can begin sooner rather than waiting for a single August intake. Year-round enrollment shortens the time between decision and degree, though the credit-hour and clinical requirements remain identical.

What Determines the Floor for Completion Time

No matter how aggressive the schedule, two variables set a hard minimum: the number of clinical hours mandated by your certifying body (usually 500 for acute-care, 600 to 720 for family practice) and the didactic credits your program requires for graduation. Preceptor availability, site contracts, and your own clinical proficiency also influence whether you finish in the minimum window or take an extra semester. Programs that promise 12-month completion are rare in Colorado and typically require entering students to hold advanced standing or prior graduate credit.

Online, Hybrid, and In-Person NP Programs Compared

Colorado's nurse practitioner programs fall into three main delivery formats, each with distinct advantages for working nurses. Fully online options include University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Regis University, and Colorado Technical University. Hybrid programs, which blend online coursework with periodic on-campus sessions, include University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Mesa University, and Colorado State University Pueblo. No Colorado NP program is entirely campus-based in the traditional sense, but keep in mind that every format requires hands-on clinical hours completed at approved practice sites.

Comparison PointFully Online (e.g., UCCS, Regis, CTU)Hybrid (e.g., CU Anschutz, UNC, Colorado Mesa, CSU Pueblo)
Schedule controlCoursework can be completed on your own schedule from anywhere, making it the most flexible option for nurses working rotating shiftsCoursework is mostly online, but you will need to travel to campus periodically for labs, simulation days, or skills intensives
Clinical hour logisticsYou are typically responsible for securing your own preceptor and clinical site in an approved state; UCCS, for example, notes clinical hours can be completed in multiple statesPrograms often have established clinical partnerships in their region (Denver metro, Greeley, Grand Junction, or Pueblo), which can simplify placement
Peer and faculty interactionDiscussion is largely asynchronous; Regis offers a lower student-to-faculty ratio (11:1) that can mean more individualized attention even onlineScheduled on-campus days create built-in networking with classmates and faculty; CU Anschutz's connection to a major medical campus adds interprofessional exposure
Cost considerationsTuition varies widely: UCCS charges roughly $15,700 in-state while CTU lists about $14,600 with a flat rate for all students; Regis, a private university, is around $24,300Public hybrid programs can be more affordable for Colorado residents: CU Anschutz lists about $9,300 in-state tuition, and Colorado Mesa is roughly $10,900, though travel costs for on-campus days should be factored in
Best fit forNurses who live far from a campus, work unpredictable hours, or are out-of-state students seeking a Colorado degreeNurses who value face-to-face skills practice and live within reasonable driving distance of a Colorado campus

What Colorado NP Programs Require for Admission

Admission requirements are the academic credentials, professional experience, and documentation each university expects before you can begin taking classes in an NP program. Colorado schools vary widely in what they ask for, and policies often shift from one admissions cycle to the next.

Check Official Admissions Pages Every Year

Always visit the school's official admissions page before you apply. A GPA floor of 3.0 might be listed on one university's catalog, while another accepts students with a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA but expects your nursing-course average to be higher. Some programs require one year of RN clinical experience, others ask for two, and a few accept new graduates. Prerequisite courses (biostatistics, health assessment, advanced pathophysiology) also differ from one institution to the next. Policies change annually, so a brochure you downloaded last year may already be outdated.

GRE and Standardized-Test Policies

Many Colorado NP programs dropped their GRE requirement during the pandemic and have not reinstated it. Others waive the test for applicants whose undergraduate GPA exceeds a threshold (often 3.2 or 3.3). Call the admissions office directly to confirm whether the GRE is still optional, waived, or required for the cohort you plan to join. Policies are in flux, and website updates sometimes lag behind official decisions.

Verify Accreditation and Track-Specific Details

Confirm that the program holds Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation. Our nursing accreditation guide explains the differences between CCNE and ACEN, and CCNE status also appears on the agency's public directory. If you are pursuing a family nurse practitioner track, look for FNP-specific admission criteria: some universities have separate prerequisites, clinical-hour expectations, or interview processes for each specialty concentration. Students considering a doctoral pathway should also review online DNP NP programs in Colorado, where admission benchmarks may differ from MSN-level tracks.

State and National Standards

The Colorado Board of Nursing publishes licensure and approval standards for advanced-practice nurses; review those documents to understand what regulatory agencies will expect after you graduate. National consensus competencies that many schools align their curricula and admissions benchmarks with are also available through major professional organizations. Both resources are free and kept current online.

Nurse Practitioner Salaries and Job Outlook in Colorado

Colorado employs roughly 4,130 nurse practitioners, and the state's median annual salary of $129,750 outpaces the national median for NPs by a healthy margin. For context, the national median for nurse practitioners sits near $126,260, so Colorado NPs enjoy a meaningful pay advantage. Keep in mind that Bureau of Labor Statistics figures reflect wages across all practicing NPs regardless of experience, while program-level earnings data from federal sources captures what recent NP graduates specifically earn one to four years after completing their program, which can look quite different from seasoned practitioners' pay.

OccupationTotal Employment in Colorado25th Percentile SalaryMedian Salary75th Percentile SalaryMean Salary
Nurse Practitioners4,130$110,300$129,750$139,440$127,610
Registered Nurses54,510$81,790$96,520$104,370$95,470
Medical and Health Services Managers7,830$100,830$131,130$167,060$148,330
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary1,160$63,330$80,440$103,140$84,730

NP Pay Across Colorado's Metro Areas

Nurse practitioner salaries vary meaningfully across Colorado's metro areas, and the differences don't always line up with what you might expect. Boulder edges out Denver for the highest median NP pay, while the Denver area dominates in sheer number of NP positions. Keep in mind that the higher salaries in the Denver and Boulder corridors are partially offset by elevated housing and living costs, so a competitive salary in a smaller metro like Pueblo or Grand Junction may stretch further in day-to-day life.

Metro AreaNP EmploymentMean Annual SalaryMedian Annual Salary25th Percentile75th Percentile
Denver, Aurora, Centennial2,190$130,490$130,630$118,030$139,620
Boulder260$131,690$134,670$114,290$145,570
Fort Collins, Loveland270$126,460$129,830$112,270$138,980
Colorado Springs470$125,010$125,770$108,190$138,210
Pueblo170$121,970$125,370$102,000$141,390
Grand Junction140$118,490$121,130$97,460$137,200
Greeley130$110,970$115,820$76,590$135,330

Steps to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Colorado

Colorado offers nurse practitioners full practice authority after completing a supervised mentorship period, making it one of the more autonomous states for NPs. Here is the typical pathway from your BSN through independent practice.

Six-step pathway to becoming a nurse practitioner in Colorado, from earning a BSN through independent full practice authority

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