The Centennial State of Colorado has several colleges and universities that offer Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs. Such a degree can assist you in achieving career goals such as becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a Nurse Leader/Administrator, or a Nurse Educator. We have compiled a list below of the nationally accredited MSN programs in Colorado for your convenience.
American Sentinel University Nursing Program
American Sentinel University offers Registered Nurses (RNs) two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway as well as a traditional MSN pathway. All programs are delivered online.
The RN to MSN program is designed for Registered Nurses with a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. Students in the program complete 18 credit hours of undergraduate nursing coursework and transfer in or complete an additional 30 credit hours of undergraduate general education coursework.
MSN programs are offered to prepare RNs for a variety of roles and specializations including the following:
- Case Management
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Informatics
- Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership
Applicants to the RN to MSN program are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution. They must hold an active unencumbered license as an RN in the U.S.
Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited college or university with a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher on a 4.0 scale. They must hold an active unencumbered U.S. license to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
2260 South Xanadu Way
Suite 310
Aurora, CO 80014
(866) 922-5690
Aspen University Nursing Department
The Nursing Department at Aspen University offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree: an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN Bridge program is designed for diploma or Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses. RNs take seven undergraduate nursing bridge courses before progressing to the MSN core and specialization coursework. Bridge courses include Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing, Concepts and Theories in Nursing, Community Health Nursing I & II, Essentials of Nursing Research, Health Assessment, and Nursing Leadership and Management.
MSN programs are offered in the following specialty areas:
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Administration and Management
Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC/ACEN accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must already have completed 50 semester hours of prerequisite liberal arts education coursework. Students must have a current license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. or Canada with at least one year of experience as an RN within the past five years.
Those entering via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE or NLNAC/ACEN accredited nursing program with at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0. They must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. or Canada. Candidates should have at least one year of nursing experience in the last five years.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
720 South Colorado Boulevard
Suite 1150N
Denver, CO 80246
(800) 373-7814
Regis University Loretto Heights School of Nursing
The Loretto Heights School of Nursing at Regis University offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
Diploma and Associate’s prepared Nurses can enter via the RN to MSN program. The program combines the RN to BSN Completion and MSN programs into one curriculum. It allows students to take three graduate courses in the BSN portion of the curriculum accelerating the time it takes for them to earn both a BSN and MSN degree. Students in the RN to MSN program can choose from the following roles/specializations:
- Leadership in Health Care Systems: Education Focus
- Leadership in Health Care Systems: Management Focus
Students entering via the BSN to MSN pathway can choose from the following specialty areas:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Leadership in Health Care Systems: Education Focus
- Leadership in Health Care Systems: Management Focus
Applicants seeking entry to the RN to MSN programs are required to have a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those with lower GPAs will be considered on an individual basis. They must have completed courses in Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology and should have no more than 36 outstanding non-nursing semester hours. They must hold a current unrestricted RN license in the state where they will complete the clinical practicum. Those who completed their nursing program more than three years prior to admission may be required to have at least 1000 hours of experience as an RN or to have completed a Colorado Council on Nursing Education approved refresher course (or a refresher course in their state of practice).
Applicants to the BSN to MSN programs are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program at a regionally accredited college or university. They must have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale with a grade of “C” or better in all undergraduate nursing courses. Students must have completed a Statistics course with a grade of “C” or better. Candidates must hold a current and valid license as an RN in the U.S. They should have two years of clinical practice experience as an RN.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
3333 Regis Boulevard
Mail Code G-8
Denver, CO 80221
(800) 388-2366
University of Colorado College of Nursing
University of Colorado’s College of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing programs in the following roles and specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Health Care Informatics
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Nursing Leadership and Health Care Systems
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nursing Leadership and Special Needs
- Special Studies
- Women’s Health
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited program. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in Nursing Research and Statistics with a grade of “C” or better. Candidates must hold a current and unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Colorado or the state where clinical experiences are to occur.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
13120 East 19th Avenue
Mail Stop C288
Aurora, CO 80045
(303) 724-8503
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
The Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree in three specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
Applicants to the MSN programs are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited nursing program with at least an overall GPA of 3.0 for all undergraduate coursework. Students must have successfully completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health Assessment. They must hold a current unrestricted RN license in the state where they intend to practice during clinical practicum rotations.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Mail Stop UH-1
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
(719) 255-4411
University of Northern Colorado School of Nursing
University of Northern Colorado’s School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree. MSN programs are available to prepare Registered Nurses as either a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Clinical Nurse Leader.
Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program. Students are required to have at least a 3.0 GPA at the Bachelor’s level. They should hold a current Registered Nurse license in Colorado or be eligible for Colorado licensure as an RN.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
501 20th Street
Campus Box 125
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-2293