PNP Programs in Colorado

Jennifer Trimbee

Written by Jennifer Trimbee

BA Duquesne University, Nursing Diploma UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing

Updated & Fact Checked: 09.30.2024

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) treat children of all ages, from birth to adolescence and even into young adulthood. Generally, those wishing to pursue a PNP degree specialize in either primary or acute care. Acute PNPs generally work within a hospital setting, while primary care PNPs work in outpatient facilities, like doctors’ offices or clinics.

Nurses who want to pursue a PNP degree don’t have many options in Colorado, but one well-respected program is at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

BSN to PNP Programs

BSN-prepared nurses can pursue a PNP degree at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The university has two options available.

Modality: Online with on-campus intensives and in-person clinicals

Credit Hours: Varies

Clinical Hours: Varies

Tuition: $770 per credit hour + fees for residents; $1,248 per credit hour + fees for non-residents

Program Overview:
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus offers two PNP options: acute care and primary care. Both of these specialties also offer DNP options. 

The acute care PNP MSN track is 50 credits with 595 clinical hours and takes three years to complete, while the BSN to DNP program is 76 credits with 1125 clinical hours and takes 4.5 years. All of the courses for these programs are completed online, with the exception of two class seminars for each didactic course and a monthly clinical conference.

The primary care program is completed in eight semesters, which takes about two years and eight months. It is 47 credits with 540 clinical hours. The BSN to DNP option is 73 credits with 1080 clinical hours and can be completed in four years. The classes for these programs are also completed mostly online, but students attend some on-campus sessions throughout the program.

More Details

Online PNP Programs

Unfortunately, the options for this specialty are somewhat limited. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus offers the only PNP programs in the state. That said, it does offer plenty of options. All of the PNP programs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have classes offered online, but students must come to campus throughout the program.

Best PNP Programs in Colorado

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus offers the only PNP program in the state, but they offer multiple pathways.

MSN to PNP Post-Graduate Certificate

Credit Hours: Varies

Clinical Hours: Varies

Tuition: $770 per credit hour + fees for residents; $1,248 per credit hour + fees for non-residents

Program Overview:
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus offers two postgraduate certificate programs, one in acute care and one in primary care.

Courses in the acute care program are completed online, with the exception of two class seminars for each didactic course and a monthly clinical conference. It consists of 19 credits and 360 clinical hours. 

The primary care program also offers most classes online, but students must come to campus several times during the program. This primary care route is 24 credits and 540 clinical hours.

More Details

State Most Affordable PNP Programs

Again, there aren’t many options for this specialty in Colorado. Tuition at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is $770 per credit hour plus fees for residents and $1,248 per credit hour plus fees for non-residents.