Colorado · Practical Nursing

Best Practical Nursing institutions in Colorado, ranked by earnings

The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…

Institutions
22
offering CIP 51.39
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,502
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$42,451
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
12
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,506
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Nursing Assistants
$45,480
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Otero College
La Junta Public · Certificate degree
$74,4055138%$24,150
2Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan Public · Certificate degree
$64,0668545%$11,750
3Concorde Career College - Aurora
Aurora Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$57,3399864%$18,015$17,268
4Pima Medical Institute - Aurora
Aurora Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$54,0213672%$20,506$11,597
5Pickens Technical College
Aurora Public · Certificate degree
$53,3602576%$11,000
6Technical College of the Rockies
Delta Public · Certificate degree
$42,4516095%$22,133
7Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver Public · Certificate degree
$37,74421697%$13,267
8Arapahoe Community College
Littleton Public · Certificate degree
$36,23427329%$13,750
9Front Range Community College
Westminster Public · Certificate degree
$29,02119335%$13,107
10Pima Medical Institute - Denver
Denver Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$28,8347073%$23,429$8,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~204,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$39,530
typically Postsecondary nondegree award

Top skills

Active ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Nursing Assistants earn in Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
20,880
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$45,480
median $44,950
Best-paying metro
$49,140
Boulder, CO

Related careers

Nursing Assistants
$45,480 avg · 20,880 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$68,570 avg · 5,030 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Colorado.

Which Practical Nursing program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Otero College tops the list at $74,405. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Colorado?+

The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Colorado is $45,480 (median $44,950), across about 20,880 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+

The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+

The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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