2 Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado Springs, CO (Online & Campus) – 2025


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Interested in becoming a nurse practitioner in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains? In a medium-sized city like Colorado Springs, the primary healthcare services NPs provide pays off. The Springs has one of the lowest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure in the U.S., and the city’s dedicated NP workforce is one of the reasons why. On average, Colorado Springs-based nurse practitioners earn $107,070 annually. Demand for these highly trained professionals is expected to increase by 43 percent within just 10 years. If you’ve been wondering what schools are offering NP programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado, keep reading to find out about the 2 nurse practitioner programs in Colorado Springs.



TOP 5 REASONS WHY COLORADO SPRINGS IS A GREAT PLACE TO PURSUE NP PROGRAMS


Colorado Springs’s combination of beautiful parks, clean air, and strong community make it a highly desirable place to live and work. It would be hard to find a more pleasant place to earn your nurse practitioner degree and certification and embark upon your professional career. Here are five reasons you should consider attending NP school in Colorado Springs.

1. Quality of life:

Colorado Springs is a vibrant modern city nestled amidst the majestic Rocky Mountains that boasts an exceptionally high quality of life. U.S. News & World Report recently dubbed it number two among the nation’s best cities. As a nurse practitioner student, you’ll enjoy your time here.

2. Health is a priority:

People who live in Colorado Springs prioritize physical and psychological health. They exercise regularly, eat sensibly, and frequently participate in activities that encourage mindfulness. As a primary healthcare professional, it’s heartening to be surrounded by people who take wellness seriously.

3. Booming healthcare industry:

As an aspiring nurse practitioner in Colorado Springs, you’ll have plenty of places to do your clinical rotations. And as a certified nurse practitioner in Colorado Springs, you’ll find plenty of places to practice. Colorado Springs is home to two of the Centennial State’s best hospitals: Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and UCHealth Memorial Hospital.

4. High demand for NPs:

Nurse practitioners, in particular, are in high demand throughout Colorado Springs and surrounding communities. According to the job site Zippia, the number of employment opportunities for nurse practitioners has increased by more than 300 percent between 2021 and 2022.

5. Colorado Springs is in a full-practice state:

Colorado is a full-practice state where nurse practitioners can diagnose patients, treat patients, and prescribe medications without physician supervision. NPs in Colorado Springs can practice to the full extent of their education and training.



HOW LONG ARE NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN COLORADO SPRINGS?


Master’s degree programs associated with NP programs in Colorado Springs take between 18 months and three years to complete when pursued full-time. At Colorado Technical University, full-time students can complete their nurse practitioner programs in Colorado Springs in as few as 18 months. The University of Colorado’s NP certificate training has no set length but must be finished within six years.



HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN COLORADO SPRINGS COST?


In general, nurse practitioner tuition costs are higher for programs at private universities than for public universities. Out-of-state residents typically pay higher tuition than in-state residents, and for-profit universities usually charge lower rates than nonprofit universities. Thus for-profit Colorado Technical University charges $17,760 for its online nurse practitioner degree, while the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs charges as much as $41,640.

The tuition you’ll be charged for earning an NP certificate at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs will depend upon how many credits you can transfer over from your previous graduate nursing coursework. If you can transfer over the maximum number of credits, you’ll spend $20,820.



WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 2 NP programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado (Online & Campus) for the year 2025.)


1. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs


Programs Offered: MSN and Post-Master's Certificate

MSN Specialties Offered: Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master's Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult/Geriatric NP, Family NP, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP


About the School: The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs offers three nurse practitioner programs in association with its MSN degree: an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track, a Family Nurse Practitioner track, and a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. This nurse practitioner program in Colorado Springs also offers these same three NP concentrations as post-master’s certificates. You must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 to remain in good standing when enrolled in one of these nurse practitioner programs in Colorado Springs.

MSN Program Details: U.S. News & World Report ranks the MSN program at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs as the 23rd best in the U.S. Its AGPCNP and FNP tracks each consist of 47 credits and 630 clinical hours. In comparison, its PMHNP track comprises 48 credits and 630 clinical hours.

Each of the three NP tracks includes core MSN coursework and specialty focus classes. MSN core coursework includes classes such as “Philosophical Foundations in Nursing Practice,” “Research and Knowledge Translation in Nursing,” and “Advanced Health Assessment,” culminating with either a thesis or a research project. Specialty focus classes include courses like “Primary Care of Chronic Health Conditions,” “Gender Health in Primary Care,” and “Adult Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP.”

Apart from your clinical rotation, your coursework will be delivered entirely online. You’ll be able to do your clinical rotation in the community where you live, and your preceptors can be nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, or (in the case of aspiring PMHNPs) psychologists, licensed counselors, or psychiatric social workers.


MSN Program Length: You must complete the MSN curriculum within six years. Full-time students can complete it in three years, while part-time students should be able to complete it in four years.

MSN Admission Requirements: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must have a valid, unrestricted RN license in the state where you plan to do your practicum. Additionally, you’ll need to submit a curriculum vitae or a resume and three professional references.

This program only admits students from California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, and Florida.

Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: Depending on the coursework you’ve already completed for your graduate degree, NP certificates offered by the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs can consist of anything between 25 and 34 credits.

NP certificates essentially reduplicate the specialty focus coursework associated with each of the three nurse practitioner concentrations. If your Master’s of Science in Nursing degree didn’t include courses like “Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics,” “Advanced Health Assessment,” and “Advanced Pathophysiology” or their equivalent, though, you’ll have to take them now.

You’ll be able to do your practicum in the area where you reside. The Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program entails 430 clinical hours.


Post-Master’s Certificate Program Length: You must complete this NP certificate within six years of beginning it.

Post-Master’s Certificate Admission Requirements: You’ll need a current, unrestricted RN license in the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotation and a master’s degree from an accredited nursing program. You’ll also need to submit a resume or curriculum vitae with your application.

The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ NP certificate program only accepts applicants from California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, and Florida.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for University of Colorado at Colorado Springs NP Students: The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has an endowment, which it uses in part to award nursing scholarships. MSN students may be eligible for some of these scholarships. You may also qualify for state and federal grants and loans depending on the information you submit with your FAFSA form.


Interesting Highlights About University of Colorado at Colorado Springs NP School

• The University of Colorado in Colorado Springs was founded as a tuberculosis sanatorium for Navajo Native Americans.

U.S. News & World Report ranks the MSN program at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs as the 23rd best in the U.S.

• In 2021, the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences awarded 62 Master’s of Science in Nursing degrees.

• Fifty-six percent of the faculty members associated with the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences have a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.


2. Colorado Technical University


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)


About the School: Colorado Technical University is a for-profit academic institution that offers a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration in conjunction with its Master’s of Science in Nursing degree. One hundred percent of the applicants who apply to this program are accepted.

MSN Program Details: The 68-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program involves 630 clinical hours. Like other online NP programs in Colorado Springs, its curriculum is divided into 16 credits of MSN core coursework and 52 credits relevant to your nurse practitioner concentration. MSN core coursework includes classes like “Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice” and “Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society.” Coursework related to the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration includes classes like “Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner” and “FNPI Advanced Nursing Practice: Care of the adult, geriatric and frail elderly.”

You’ll be able to complete your clinical rotation in the location where you live. In fact, under some circumstances, you may be able to complete your practicum where you work.


MSN Program Length: Colorado Technical University operates on the quarter system rather than the semester system. You should be able to finish this NP program in Colorado Springs in 18 months if you enroll full-time.

MSN Admission Requirements: CTU’s MSN/NP program requires a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 90 quarter credits (60-semester credits) of study. You must also hold an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations.

Colorado Technical University’s Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum does not meet state requirements for licensing or certification in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington State, West Virginia, or Wyoming.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for Colorado Technical University NP Students: CTU doesn’t designate any scholarships specifically for nursing students. However, you may qualify for state and federal financial aid based on the information you submit with your FAFSA form.


Interesting Highlights About Colorado Technical University NP School

U.S. News & World Report lists Colorado Technical University’s online nursing master’s degree program as the 119th best in the nation.

• One-hundred and twenty-nine students graduated with a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Colorado Technical University in 2021.

• CTU uses a proprietary asynchronous adaptive learning platform that allows you to skip over what you already know and focuses on what you still need to learn.

• Coursework for Colorado Technical University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program can be accessed via your mobile phone.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



CAREER INFORMATION FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO


HOW MANY NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE THERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS?


Four hundred and thirty nurse practitioners are employed in Colorado Springs.

Employment
430
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


WHERE DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS WORK IN COLORADO SPRINGS?


Graduates of nurse practitioner programs in Colorado Springs work in a range of healthcare settings throughout Colorado Springs, including medical centers, hospitals, doctors’ practices, schools, ambulatory care clinics, and community care agencies. In Colorado Springs, NPs can also open their own independent practices.

Work Setting
Offices of Physicians
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals
Outpatient Care Centers
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
Home Health Care Services


WHAT IS THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS?


Demand for nurse practitioner services is high in Colorado Springs and expected to increase by 43 percent over the coming decade.

10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030)
+43.00%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS MAKE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO?


WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN COLORADO SPRINGS EXPECT?


Nurse practitioners can expect to make $37.15 at their first job after they’ve passed their NP certifying examination. This works out to $1,486 a week, $6,440 a month, or $77,270 a year.

Hourly$37.15
Weekly$1,486
Monthly$6,440
Annual$77,270
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN COLORADO SPRINGS EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?


The more clinical experience they have, the higher the salary graduates of NP programs in Colorado Springs can expect to make. NPs with one to four years of experience make salaries that are 23 percent higher than the salaries entry-level NPs make. NPs with 10 to 19 years of experience make 61 percent more than NPs who are just starting out and NPs with 20 or more years of experience make 68 percent more.

Level of Experience HourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Entry-Level $37.15$1,486$6,440$77,270
1-4 Years of Experience $45.73$1,829$7,930$95,110
5-9 Years of Experience $48.96$1,958$8,490$101,840
10-19 Years of Experience $59.97$2,399$10,400$124,740
20 Years or More Experience $62.39$2,496$10,810$129,770
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS?


On average, nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs make $51.48 an hour, $2,059 a week, $8,920 a month, or $107,070 a year. They typically reach this benchmark somewhere in their tenth year of practice.

Hourly$51.48
Weekly$2,059
Monthly$8,920
Annual$107,070
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS VS. OTHER SALARIES


NP SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS VS. NP SALARY IN THE NATION


Nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs make 9 percent less on average than the average salary for nurse practitioners throughout all parts of the U.S.

Average Colorado Springs
NP Annual Salary
Average National NP
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$107,070$118,040-$10,970-9.29%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS VS. NP SALARY IN COLORADO


Nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs make 5 percent less than the average salary of NPs throughout all parts of the Centennial State.

Average Colorado Springs
NP Annual Salary
Average Colorado
NP Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$107,070$112,580-$5,510-4.89%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS VS. NP SALARIES IN OTHER COLORADO CITIES


NP salaries in Colorado Springs are on the low side of nurse practitioner salaries when you look at the NP salary ranges for other municipal areas within the Centennial State. Nurse practitioners in Boulder make a full 9 percent more than nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs, and nurse practitioners in Denver make 7 percent more. Only NPs in Greeley make less: NPs in Colorado Springs make nearly 4 percent more than NPs in Greeley.

Metro Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Boulder $118,180 -$11,110 -9.40%
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood $115,560 -$8,490 -7.35%
Pueblo $114,380 -$7,310 -6.39%
Fort Collins $112,680 -$5,610 -4.98%
Grand Junction $110,250 -$3,180 -2.88%
Colorado Springs $107,070 $0 0.00%
Greeley $103,200 +$3,870 +3.75%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN COLORADO SPRINGS


Nurse practitioners are the most highly paid workers in Colorado Springs’s nursing care sector. NPs earn 36 percent more than registered nurses who do not have advanced practice degrees and more than twice as much as nursing assistants.

Type of Nurse Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Nurse Practitioner $107,070 $0 0.00%
Registered Nurse $78,520 +$28,550 +36.36%
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary $62,360 +$44,710 +71.70%
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse $55,160 +$51,910 +94.11%
Nursing Assistant $33,950 +$73,120 +215.38%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN COLORADO SPRINGS VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN COLORADO SPRINGS


Nurse practitioners make 6 percent less than physician assistants in Colorado Springs. (PAs are the healthcare professionals whose scope of practice is most similar to NP scope of practice.) Nurse practitioners make 64 percent less than physicians make but 36 percent more than chiropractors.

Job Title Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Physician $298,720 -$191,650 -64.16%
Dentist $162,050 -$54,980 -33.93%
Pharmacist $125,530 -$18,460 -14.71%
Physician Assistant $113,770 -$6,700 -5.89%
Optometrist $107,590 -$520 -0.48%
Nurse Practitioner $107,070 $0 0.00%
Veterinarian $95,160 +$11,910 +12.52%
Speech-Language Pathologist $90,690 +$16,380 +18.06%
Occupational Therapist $88,150 +$18,920 +21.46%
Physical Therapist $85,970 +$21,100 +24.54%
Audiologist $84,340 +$22,730 +26.95%
Chiropractor $78,630 +$28,440 +36.17%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


1. Who Accredits Nurse Practitioner Programs In Colorado Springs?

Nurse practitioner programs in Colorado Springs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

S.No.Accrediting Agency
1Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
2Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)


2. How Many Accredited Nurse Practitioner Schools Are There In Colorado Springs?

There are two accredited nurse practitioner schools in Colorado Springs: the University of Colorado and Colorado Technical University.

2


3. On Average, How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner In Colorado Springs?

If you don’t have a prior graduate nursing degree, it will take you between 18 and 36 months to become a nurse practitioner in Colorado Springs.


4. On Average, How Much Do NP Programs Cost In Colorado Springs?

The cost of an NP program in Colorado Springs averages $29,700.


5. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour In Colorado Springs?

Nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs earn $51.48 an hour.

$51.48


6. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Month In Colorado Springs?

Nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs earn $8,920 a month.

$8,920


7. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year In Colorado Springs?

Nurse practitioners in Colorado Springs earn $107,070 a year.

$107,070


8. Are Nurse Practitioners In Demand In Colorado Springs?

Yes, nurse practitioners are in high demand in Colorado Springs, and within the next 10 years, their employment opportunities are projected to jump by 43 percent.


9. Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently In Colorado Springs?

Yes, nurse practitioners can practice independently in Colorado Springs because Colorado is a full-practice state where nurse practitioners can perform the full scope of practice they’ve been educated to perform without a supervising or collaborating physician.

Full Practice


10. Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medications In Colorado Springs?

After an initial supervisory period is complete, NPs in Colorado Springs may legally prescribe medications without physician oversight.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.




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