Colorado's state-approved practical nursing programs cluster outside Denver, and the strongest NCLEX-PN pass rates often come from smaller community colleges in Lamar, Grand Junction, and the eastern plains. That geography shapes every practical decision, from commute time to clinical site availability.
Applicants researching Best LPN Programs in Denver 2026 may face a waitlist at the nearest program while rural campuses seat cohorts sooner. Meanwhile, net price at Colorado's LPN programs spans a wider range than most students expect, and the timeline for a certificate runs 10 to 14 months of full-time coursework.
For many prospective LPNs, the real tradeoff is choosing among short wait time, low net cost, and a clinical placement that works within commuting distance. Rarely do all three align.
Colorado's Highest-Ranked LPN Programs by NCLEX-PN Pass Rate
Colorado's strongest LPN programs are not clustered in Denver. Several of the best licensure exam results in the state come from community colleges in Lamar, Grand Junction, and the eastern plains, where small cohorts and close clinical partnerships produce outcomes that rival private career schools at a fraction of the price. The cards below spell out what each program requires, how long it takes, and where graduates tend to work.
How we ranked these
- NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates
- Institutional graduation and completion rates
- Accreditation and Colorado board approval
- Tuition and net price
- Program length and scheduling flexibility
- NCLEX first-time pass rates published by the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- Independent editorial research
Lamar Community College
Lamar Community College is a small rural campus on Colorado's southeastern plains where the practical nursing credential comes as an exit option inside the nursing program rather than a standalone certificate. Students complete the first year of nursing coursework plus a summer session, then sit for the NCLEX-PN and move into local hospitals, nursing homes, and acute care settings. The college's graduation rate sits near 55%, and cohorts are deliberately small, which suits learners who want close contact with faculty. Net price is among the lowest of any program on this list.
- PN exit option after the first year of nursing coursework plus a summer session
- Approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing; the PN option is not ACEN accredited
- Theory classes on campus with hands-on simulation lab practice
- Clinical placements in local nursing homes, hospitals, and acute care
- Entrance exam required with a 2.5 GPA minimum
- One start per year, fall entry with a June 30 application deadline
- Prerequisites include anatomy and physiology, English, and nutrition
- Stacks toward the RN program with BSN completion partnerships
Practical Nursing (PN) Option, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College is one of the largest community colleges in Colorado, and its practical nursing certificate is a two-semester route to LPN licensure delivered at the Larimer campus. The college reports a 95.24% NCLEX-PN pass rate and full approval from the Colorado State Board of Nursing, with ACEN continuing accreditation on the certificate. Admission is competitive and the institution-wide graduation rate is roughly 35%, so prerequisite grades and the entrance exam are the real gatekeepers.
- Two-semester, 43-credit certificate
- Reported 95.24% NCLEX-PN pass rate
- 100% on-time completion rate
- ACEN accredited with a continuing accreditation decision
- HESI A2 entrance exam required; prerequisites need a 3.0 GPA
- Simulation labs plus clinical partnerships with local health agencies
- Larimer campus only, with a spring application window in April
- Graduates work in long-term care, clinics, hospitals, and home care
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University runs its one-year practical nursing certificate on the western slope, with separate cohorts in Grand Junction and Montrose so students can train near home. The program is ACEN accredited and reports a 94.6% licensure pass rate alongside a 92.92% job placement rate, and it feeds a formal LPN to BSN ladder at the same institution. With well over a hundred candidates sitting the NCLEX-PN, it is also one of the larger practical nursing pipelines in the state.
- One-year technical certificate, August start through a May finish
- ACEN accredited; selective admission with a January 15 deadline
- Reported 94.6% NCLEX-PN pass rate and 92.92% job placement
- Program completion rate reported at 96.7%
- Cohorts run in both Grand Junction and Montrose
- Students complete at least 400 direct patient-care clinical hours
- Direct pathway into the LPN to BSN program
- Coursework covers therapeutic communication, safety, and coordinated care
Practical Nursing (Technical Certificate) — On-Campus
Community College of Denver
Community College of Denver sits on the Auraria campus downtown and offers a practical nursing certificate built around full-time study, with a 51-credit sequence covering nursing arts, pharmacology, geriatrics, maternal-newborn care, pediatrics, mental health, and adult health alterations. The college also offers a part-time evening and weekend track and advertises an LPN to BSN bridge within the community college system, which makes it a natural starting point for students who plan to keep climbing. Institution-wide graduation is about 20%, so the program's own completion expectations matter more than the college average.
- 51-credit certificate including prerequisite coursework
- Full-time daytime track runs three semesters
- Part-time evening and weekend track runs five semesters
- At least 400 supervised clinical hours required to graduate
- Prerequisites changed beginning spring 2026, so check the current catalog
- Clinical practice in simulation labs and Denver-area healthcare settings
- CPR certification, background check, and drug screen required
- LPN to BSN bridge offered within the community college system
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Morgan Community College
Morgan Community College serves Colorado's eastern plains with a practical nursing exit option that lets nursing students step out with a certificate after the first year of study. One transition course, offered once a year, converts that first year into a practical nursing certificate and NCLEX-PN eligibility. The college's graduation rate is around 45%, and the small cohort size means clinical placements are built around nearby facilities rather than a large metro hospital system.
- Practical nursing certificate as an exit option after the first year
- One transition course required, offered once a year
- Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN
- Prepares for patient care roles in clinics, long-term care, and hospitals
- Financial aid available
- Timing matters, since the transition course runs on a single annual cycle
Practical Nursing Exit Option, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Trinidad State College
Trinidad State College anchors nursing education in southern Colorado, with a practical nurse certificate offered at both the Trinidad and Alamosa campuses. It is one of the few PN programs in the state with an evening and weekend option built for working adults. The ACEN-accredited one-year certificate stacks directly toward the associate degree in nursing, so graduates can move from LPN to RN without leaving the system, and the college's institution-wide graduation rate is about 55%.
- One-year, 39-credit certificate at $175 per credit
- ACEN accredited and approved by the state board
- Offered at both the Trinidad and Alamosa Valley campuses
- Evening and weekend schedule available at the Trinidad campus
- Practical nursing exit option after a year plus a summer transition course
- Training includes IV therapy and central line care within LPN scope
- Stacks toward the associate degree in nursing and RN licensure
- Financial aid and scholarships available
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Pueblo Community College
Pueblo Community College offers an ACEN-accredited practical nursing certificate through its Southwest campus in Mancos, a 43-credit program with simulation labs and clinical rotations across multiple care settings. The college has announced that this practical nursing cohort is not accepting students for the current academic term, so confirm availability before planning around it. Institution-wide graduation is about 31%, and admission is selective and point-based.
- 43-credit certificate with a fall start
- ACEN accredited and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing
- Clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care
- Simulation labs with daytime course scheduling
- Selective admissions; TEAS Reading and Math scores required
- Background check, 10-panel drug screen, and CPR documentation required
- Positive THC screening blocks entry even with a Colorado medical card
- Offered at the Mancos campus only
Practical Nursing (LPN Certificate) — On-Campus
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Pima Medical Institute's Aurora campus is a private, career-focused option in the Denver metro, and its 12-month practical nursing certificate runs entirely on campus rather than online. The program holds initial NLN CNEA accreditation and Colorado State Board of Nursing approval, and admissions commonly favor applicants who already hold a CNA license or have completed a medical assistant program. Institutional graduation is about 72%, higher than several public two-year campuses in the state.
- 12-month certificate delivered on campus
- Approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing
- Initial NLN CNEA accreditation running through September 2029
- Roughly 405 clinical hours plus supervised simulation labs
- Career services support for job placement after graduation
- Approved for licensure in both Colorado and New Mexico
- A CNA license or medical assistant background is often preferred
- Financial aid and scholarships available
Practical Nursing Certificate Program — On-Campus
Concorde Career College-Aurora
Concorde Career College runs a 10-month practical nursing diploma in the Denver-Aurora metro with a daytime schedule, a curriculum that includes IV skills certification, and NCLEX-PN review built into the program. The campus sits behind the largest PN cohort on this list by number of test-takers, and it is ACEN accredited and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Institution-wide graduation is about 64%.
- 10-month diploma totaling 35.5 credit hours
- 405 clinical hours plus 120 lab hours
- ACEN accredited and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing
- IV skills certification built into the curriculum
- NCLEX-PN review included in the program
- Daytime-only schedule in the metro area
- Prepares for roles in long-term care, home health, and clinics
- Financial aid and scholarships available
Practical Nursing Diploma Program — On-Campus
Emily Griffith Technical College
Emily Griffith Technical College is a Denver technical school whose ACEN-accredited practical nursing program runs 12 months full time or 18 months part time, a level of scheduling flexibility that public two-year colleges rarely match for a PN certificate. Its reported licensure pass rate and job placement rate trail the state leaders, so it is best treated as an accessible entry point for Denver students who want to start quickly. Tuition is listed at $15,970, with scholarship funds the school says are aimed at helping students graduate debt-free.
- 12-month full-time or 18-month part-time certificate
- $15,970 total program tuition
- ACEN accredited with rolling admissions
- TEAS entrance exam required and no application fee
- 405 clinical hours spread across four internships
- Reported 71% licensure pass rate and 85% job placement
- Covers adult health, pharmacology, maternal-newborn, pediatrics, and geriatrics
- Graduates can pursue IV certification eligibility in Colorado
Practical Nursing, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
What LPN Programs in Colorado Actually Cost
Cost is one of the biggest factors when choosing an LPN program in Colorado, and the range across the state is wider than most applicants expect. The table below ranks the five most affordable programs by average net price, which reflects institution-wide average costs after financial aid rather than a guaranteed quote for any individual student. Your actual out-of-pocket expense will depend on residency status, personal aid eligibility, and program-specific fees for items like uniforms, clinical supplies, background checks, and licensing exam prep that are not always captured in headline tuition figures. In-state residents who qualify for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend can shave a meaningful amount off per-credit costs at every public institution listed here, while out-of-state students at these same schools may pay roughly double the sticker tuition. Before you budget, contact the nursing department directly to request a full cost-of-attendance breakdown that includes books, supplies, CPR certification, immunizations, drug screening, and NCLEX-PN exam fees.
| School | City | Net Price (Avg. After Aid) | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Program Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora | $6,600 | $5,140 | $9,250 | 38.5 |
| Lamar Community College | Lamar | $9,161 | $4,550 | $7,260 | N/A |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | $9,450 | $5,058 | $17,658 | 51 |
| Trinidad State College | Trinidad | $10,772 | $4,608 | $7,318 | 39 |
| Otero College | La Junta | $11,103 | $4,560 | $7,270 | N/A |
Realistic Timelines: Are Accelerated LPN Programs Available in Colorado?
Accelerated in Colorado means roughly 10 to 12 months of full-time nursing coursework, not a 12-week boot camp. If search results promise a 12-week LPN program in Colorado, treat them carefully. No state-approved initial LPN program in our review advertises a 12-week or ultra-compressed schedule, and the shortest documented full-time programs land around three semesters.
The Fastest Legitimate Timelines
Among Colorado's quickest options, Trinidad State College lists a one-year practical nursing program with 39 total credit hours and training sites in Trinidad and Alamosa. Pickens Technical College in Aurora, which appears among the Best LPN Programs in Aurora 2026, describes a two-semester sequence that can be completed in about one year of classes. Pima Medical Institute's Aurora and Denver campuses both advertise a 12-month practical nursing certificate. Community College of Denver, which appears among the Best LPN Programs in Denver 2026, runs a full-time day track of three semesters, and Pikes Peak State College, which appears among the Best LPN Programs in Colorado Springs 2026, has a PN certificate designed for three semesters and marketed as a 12-month path.
Working Adults and Part-Time Schedules
Evening and weekend options do exist, but they stretch the calendar. CCD runs a part-time evening/weekend track across five semesters after prerequisites and admission. Pikes Peak offers day and evening sections within its three-semester structure. In general, part-time LPN students in Colorado should expect roughly 16 to 24 months, not the 10 to 12 months advertised for full-time study. Some private programs list part-time options near 16 months, but 18 to 24 months is a realistic planning range for working adults.
Prerequisites Add Real Time
Advertised program length usually starts after prerequisites. At CCD, for example, students complete anatomy and physiology, English, medical terminology, and math before entering the nursing sequence. Those prerequisite courses can add a semester or more on top of the three-semester full-time or five-semester part-time program, so a program billed as 12 months can feel closer to 15 to 18 months from start to license. When a Colorado school says accelerated, it usually means a compressed three-semester format or summer-intensive scheduling, not a 12-week sprint.
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Steps to Earn Your LPN License in Colorado
From completing your program to holding your Colorado LPN license, the process involves several sequential steps through Pearson VUE and the Colorado Board of Nursing under DORA. Budget roughly $285 to $325 in fees and plan for a timeline that can stretch from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on background check processing and NCLEX scheduling availability.
Colorado LPN Licensure: DORA, NCLEX-PN, and Enlc Compact Details
Earning your LPN certificate is only half the equation; actually working as a licensed practical nurse depends on navigating the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), passing the NCLEX-PN, and understanding whether a multistate license fits your career plans.
DORA Application and Background Check
Colorado LPN licensure runs through DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations. After completing an approved program, you submit an online application, pay the state licensing fee, and complete a fingerprint-based background check. Colorado contracts with an approved vendor for fingerprinting, and results typically take two to four weeks depending on volume. The state board requires a clean record with no prior state or federal felony convictions for standard licensure. Keep copies of all documentation; DORA processing times can stretch during peak graduation seasons.
NCLEX-PN Registration and Scheduling
Once DORA confirms your program completion, you register for the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE. The current exam fee is $200, though that rises to $350 effective February 1, 2027. Your registration remains open for 365 days while awaiting board eligibility confirmation. If the board does not grant or denies eligibility within that window, your registration and fee are forfeited.
After eligibility clears, Pearson VUE issues your Authorization to Test (ATT). ATT validity varies by state; typical windows run around 90 days, though Colorado's exact period is set by the Board of Nursing. Schedule promptly to avoid expiration.
Colorado programs generally perform well on the exam. Front Range Community College posted a 95.24 percent first-time pass rate in 2024, and the state board requires approved programs to maintain at least 75 percent first-time pass rates to hold full approval status.
Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)
Colorado participates in the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows LPNs (and RNs) to practice across all compact states under a single multistate license, a form of LPN/LVN Reciprocity. Eligibility hinges on declaring Colorado as your primary state of residence (PSOR). Acceptable proof includes a Colorado driver's license, Colorado voter registration, or a completed W-2 showing a Colorado address.
If you relocate from another compact state, you have 60 days to apply for a Colorado multistate license. The compact simplifies travel nursing and cross-border employment, but you must meet all uniform licensure requirements and pass the required background check.
Is an Online LPN Program an Option in Colorado?
For practical nursing, fully remote versus campus-based is a false choice. No LPN program in Colorado, or anywhere in the country, can be completed entirely online, because state boards require hands-on clinical hours performed in a supervised healthcare setting. What actually exists, and what answers the "best LPN programs in Colorado online" search, is a hybrid model: lecture and theory delivered through a learning platform, paired with in-person skills labs and clinical rotations at partner hospitals or long-term care facilities.
Among Colorado's ranked programs, several community colleges offer Hybrid LPN Programs structured this way, particularly for general education and foundational nursing theory courses. Students complete reading, video lectures, quizzes, and care-plan assignments on their own schedule, then report to campus or an affiliated clinical site for lab check-offs and supervised patient care.
What the Hybrid Format Looks Like
Clinical hour requirements don't shrink because part of the program is online. Expect several hundred hours of hands-on training regardless of format, typically scheduled in blocks of 8 to 12 hour shifts across a set number of weeks.
Weighing Fit
- Commute distance: Online didactic work cuts campus visits but clinical sites still require reliable transportation.
- Work schedule: Asynchronous coursework helps night-shift CNAs and parents, but clinical blocks are usually daytime and non-negotiable.
- Learning style: Self-paced modules demand discipline; students who need structured classroom accountability may struggle without it.
Colorado LPN Pay: Denver, Colorado Springs, and Beyond
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes detailed wage data for LPNs and LVNs under SOC code 29-2061. Colorado-specific figures broken out by metro area (Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Fort Collins, Pueblo) and by work setting are available in the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables on the BLS website, though they had not yet been incorporated into this page at the time of publication. The national benchmarks below give you a useful starting point for comparison. To find the most current Colorado numbers, visit the BLS OEWS data finder, select SOC 29-2061, and filter by state or metropolitan area. You should also check career services pages at Colorado community colleges and nursing programs, which often publish graduate salary reports, and consult the Colorado Nurses Association or the National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses for wage surveys and networking opportunities. Because BLS data can lag by a year or more, contact local hospitals, nursing care facilities, and home health agencies directly for real-time pay ranges, and cross-reference any salary figure with cost-of-living indices for each metro area.
| Scope or Setting | Median Hourly Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | 10th Percentile Annual Wage | 90th Percentile Annual Wage | Data Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (All Settings) | $28.72 | $29.23 | $45,670 | $77,870 | May 2023 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (National) | N/A | $25.80 | N/A | N/A | May 2021 |
| Home Health Care Services (National) | N/A | $25.32 | N/A | N/A | May 2021 |
| Continuing Care Retirement and Assisted Living (National) | N/A | $25.22 | N/A | N/A | May 2021 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (National) | N/A | $25.21 | N/A | N/A | May 2021 |
LPN Earnings by Work Setting in Colorado
Your paycheck as an LPN in Colorado can vary significantly depending on where you work. The statewide median sits at $73,880, but individual settings push that number up or down. Hospitals and government agencies consistently offer the strongest compensation, while nursing care facilities and home health services employ the largest share of LPNs across the state.
From CNA to LPN to RN: Bridge Programs at Colorado Colleges
The real tradeoff here isn't whether an LPN credential leads anywhere. It's whether you build your ladder one rung at a time or look for LPN Bridge Programs that let you skip steps. Colorado's public colleges have invested heavily in the upper rungs (LPN-to-RN and RN-to-BSN) even though the lower rung, CNA-to-LPN, remains largely undocumented as a formal bridge.
CNA to LPN: What Actually Exists
If you're searching for cna to lpn programs colorado, be aware that no Colorado school currently publishes a dedicated bridge that grants CNA experience automatic advanced standing in an LPN program. CNA work still matters for admissions competitiveness and clinical comfort, but plan on entering an LPN program through the standard LPN/LVN Program Admissions process rather than a shortcut.
LPN to RN Bridges
Once licensed, the picture changes. Morgan Community College runs a single annual summer-start LPN-to-RN bridge requiring an active, unencumbered PN license and 70.5 total ADN credits, with LPNs stepping directly into the program's second year. Pikes Peak State College and Arapahoe Community College both offer similar Colorado LPN to RN bridge programs or LPN-to-ADN pathways for licensed PNs in good standing, with Arapahoe's 2026 application window running March 24 through April 10.
LPN to BSN and Beyond
Community College of Denver launched Colorado's first LPN-to-BSN bridge within the state system in fall 2025, approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing, open to currently licensed LPNs. For nurses who complete an ADN first, CSU Pueblo's online RN-to-BSN accepts 33 articulated credits toward its 120-credit degree, and Denver College of Nursing extends RN-to-BSN eligibility to ADN graduates from any of the 13 CCCS institutions. A 2022 statewide articulation agreement formally links LPN, RN, LPN-to-RN, and RN-to-BSN tracks across two- and four-year schools.
Each bridge step typically adds one to two years and additional tuition, but for LPNs planning a longer career, the certificate functions less as an endpoint and more as a funded, working entry point into RN and BSN credentials.
