You love nursing, but your job as a licensed practical nurse is beginning to feel stale! Sound familiar? LPN-to-RN programs in Colorado will help catapult you to the next stage of your nursing career. LPN-to-RN associate degree programs build on the solid foundation of nursing knowledge you already have, teaching you how to assess patients and prepare nursing care plans. Once you pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you’re looking at an average salary of $86,590 a year—44% higher than your salary as an LVN. RNs have plenty of job opportunities, and those opportunities will rise by 29 percent in the next 10 years. Sound fulfilling? More information is available in this guide to the 6 best LPN-to-RN programs in Colorado.
Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 6 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN programs in Colorado.
Program Details: If you are a licensed practical nurse ready to pursue your RN degree in Colorado, Morgan Community College has an excellent program to consider. The program, which is one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Colorado, offers one start date per year in the summer. The program features in-person learning, including lab simulations, and direct-care clinical hours.
At Morgan Community College, the associate in applied science in nursing degree is a 70.5-credit pathway. 46 credits are earned from prerequisites and prior learning credits. You will enter the program in the third semester, completing 24.5 credits in the second year of the associate degree in nursing program. Some of the classes you will take include Advanced Concepts of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.
The college has a state-of-the-art high-fidelity simulation lab where you will practice skills and prepare for clinical practicums. The program includes a minimum of 330 clinical hours in various healthcare settings. Clinicals are arranged by the program faculty to ensure you have adequate learning opportunities relevant to the registered nursing role.
Why Choose This Program
• At Morgan Community College, you will benefit from a range of support services, including student advising, tutoring, and career services, to help you succeed while enrolled in this LPN-to-RN program in Colorado.Program Details: Northeastern Junior College (NJC) offers an excellent LPN-to-RN program in Colorado. As a licensed practical nurse, you will join the traditional associate degree program in the second year with advanced standing and can complete the program in just two semesters.
According to Julie Brower, Program Director, the majority of classes occur on campus but, because the Transition from LPN to ADN course is online, the program is often referred to as having a blended hybrid format. Students participate in the Transition course online, experience classroom learning for other courses, attend patient care simulations and labs on campus, and attend in-person clinical practicums.
The AAS curriculum requires you to complete a total of 70.5 credits. However, after successful completion of the second-year coursework and clinicals, you will be awarded 21 credits from your practical nursing program toward the required hours. In addition to studying advanced concepts in medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and mental health nursing, you will complete at least 445.5 hours of clinical practicum. Clinicals occur at local hospitals, physicians' offices, public and community health agencies, long-term health facilities, and schools. Clinical faculty arrange clinical placements and preceptors to ensure you have adequate experiences.
Why Choose This Program
• At Northeastern Junior College, you will benefit from small class sizes, which facilitate one-on-one faculty attention and individualized learning experiences in the classroom, labs, and clinical facilities.Program Details: Otero College is home to another of our featured LPN-to-RN programs in Colorado, where you can earn your degree in just three semesters. The program is designed for in-person attendance on campus. You will also participate in laboratory simulations on campus and clinical practicums in various healthcare settings, as determined by the Program Director.
The associate of applied science degree program is a 68.5 credit pathway. After completing the required prerequisites, general education courses, and LPN-RN Bridge Course, LPNs enter the program in the second year (third semester) and complete 30 credits to earn the AAS. The curriculum includes clinical courses, such as Advanced Concepts of Medical-Surgical Nursing, which have corresponding clinical practicums.
Why Choose This Program
• Students in the LPN-to-RN program at Otero College have excellent completion rates, high student satisfaction rates, and excellent performance ratings on the NCLEX-RN!Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Colorado. Offered at Arapahoe Community College is an excellent option for LPNs ready to pursue their RN degree. The program admits students in the summer semester during which the Transition from LPN to ADN course is completed. After completing the Transition course, you can complete the program in just three semesters, which includes the summer transition semester. Theoretical instruction includes campus-based simulations and lectures, and in-person patient care clinicals. You will also have reading, workbook and critical thinking exercises, and other assignments, which must be completed prior to coming to class.
The Associate of Applied Science degree features a total 75.5-credit curriculum. However, as a licensed practical nurse, you will receive credit for prior learning, which eliminates the traditional first year of study and decreases the number of credits you must complete to earn the degree.
At ACC, you will practice and hone essential skills in the college’s high-fidelity simulation lab as you prepare for clinicals. Clinical practicums, which are arranged by program faculty, encompass care of clients of all ages across the lifespan who experience diverse levels of health and illness. You will have opportunities to care for patients in mental health, pediatric, family practice, medical-surgical, and geriatric care settings.
Why Choose This Program
• At Arapahoe Community College, you can pursue your Bachelor of Science in Nursing while concurrently earning the Associate of Applied Science degree through the college’s RN-BSN Completion Program. The program allows you to dual enroll in the RN-BSN program, giving you a head start on your BSN degree!Program Details: Front Range Community College offers another excellent LPN-to-RN program in Colorado. While the traditional program takes six semesters to complete, LPNs typically enter the program in the second year and graduate in three semesters, which includes one semester of Transition from LPN to Professional Nursing course studies.
Upon completion, an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing is awarded. To earn the degree, you must complete 74.5 credits. However, upon acceptance, you will be awarded 22 block transfer credits from your LPN program. The remaining credits include 28 credits from general education courses and 24.5 credits from remaining nursing coursework. The innovative curriculum emphasizes the art of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice.
The school website does not mention an exact program format or clinical hours. However, I was able to speak with Janet Ruiz, Nursing Department Chair, who was very helpful in providing program information. According to Ms. Ruiz, the program is now offered primarily on campus. Additionally, students in the LPN-to-RN program complete a minimum of 446 clinical hours. Clinicals occur at local hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including long-term care and assisted living facilities, physicians’ offices, surgery centers, and specialty clinics. To ensure you have adequate and appropriate clinical experiences, clinical faculty arrange and schedule your clinical practicums.
Why Choose This Program
• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program at Front Range Community College have excellent NCLEX-RN pass rates and a strong record of securing employment in diverse healthcare settings.Program Details: Pueblo Community College (PCC) offers another excellent accelerated LPN-to-RN program in Colorado. The LPN-to-RN pathway admits students in the spring semester and takes three consecutive semesters to complete, including one summer session.
The LPN-to-RN program follows a hyflex learning format, which was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hyflex format gives you the option of taking classes in-person or virtually. However, Academic Excellence Administrator, Aaron Lucero, reports the school is evaluating whether the hyflex schedule will continue or if the program will transition to a fully in-person option. Simulation labs and testing are completed on campus, and clinical practicums are in-person at various clinical partner sites.
The AAS curriculum is a 71.5-credit pathway. However, as an LPN, you will receive 24 block transfer credits for having a Practical Nursing License in good standing. The remaining credits are earned through general education and program prerequisites and nursing courses.
You will have excellent opportunities to put what you learn in the classroom into action by providing direct patient care through a broad array of clinical experiences. The program's faculty arranges clinical sites and chooses qualified preceptors to help ensure you have diverse opportunities to learn in various settings from experienced nursing professionals.
Why Choose This Program
• Pueblo Community College is dedicated to the long-term success of its students. You will benefit from having an academic advisor and career coach to help guide you through your time in the program and assist with anything you need to help you succeed.RN Average Starting Annual Salary | LPN Average Starting Annual Salary | Difference | |||
Number | % | ||||
$70,790 | $50,680 | +$20,110 | +39.68% | ||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Level of Experience | RN | LPN | Difference | ||
Number | % | ||||
Entry-Level | $70,790 | $50,680 | +$20,110 | +39.68% | |
1-4 Years of Experience | $80,390 | $58,760 | +$21,630 | +36.81% | |
5-9 Years of Experience | $86,900 | $64,720 | +$22,180 | +34.27% | |
10-19 Years of Experience | $102,140 | $72,380 | +$29,760 | +41.12% | |
20 Years or More Experience | $112,800 | $77,240 | +$35,560 | +46.04% | |
Average Salary | $91,730 | $64,710 | +$27,020 | +41.76% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Metro | RN Average Annual Salary | LPN Average Annual Salary | Difference | ||
Number | % | ||||
Boulder | $99,350 | $68,500 | +$30,850 | +45.04% | |
Colorado Springs | $86,470 | $63,490 | +$22,980 | +36.19% | |
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood | $93,190 | $66,430 | +$26,760 | +40.28% | |
Fort Collins | $89,760 | $62,610 | +$27,150 | +43.36% | |
Grand Junction | $90,840 | $60,870 | +$29,970 | +49.24% | |
Greeley | $90,360 | $64,220 | +$26,140 | +40.70% | |
Pueblo | $89,130 | $63,000 | +$26,130 | +41.48% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Occupation | Employment | New Employment Growth (2020-2030) | |||
2020 | 2030 | Number | % | ||
RN | 53,100 | 68,270 | +15,170 | +28.57% | |
LPN | 5,360 | 6,510 | +1,150 | +21.46% | |
Difference | +47,740 | +61,760 | +14,020 | +7.11% | |
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
Occupation | New | Replacement | Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement) | ||
RN | 1,517 | 2,913 | 4,430 | ||
LPN | 115 | 405 | 520 | ||
Difference | +1,402 | +2,508 | +3,910 | ||
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
Average Colorado LPN-to-RN Annual Salary | Average National LPN-to-RN Annual Salary | Difference | |||
Number | % | ||||
$91,730 | $94,480 | -$2,750 | -2.91% | ||
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |