Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) provide various care for patients of all ages, from infants to teens to seniors. They work in various facilities, from hospitals to clinics to doctor’s offices. Colorado is one of fifteen states that grants nurse practitioners full practice authority. After obtaining prescriptive authority, NPs can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for common conditions without a physician’s supervision after completing the process of obtaining prescriptive authority.
Nurses wishing to pursue a degree as an FNP in Colorado have several options. Here are some programs to consider.
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BSN to FNP Programs
Nurses who have completed a BSN degree have a few options for FNP programs in Colorado. Many schools listed below offer DNP options for nurses who wish to pursue their education further.
Colorado Mesa University
- Grand Junction, CO
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus intensives and in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 47
Clinical Hours: 700
Tuition: $662 per credit hour + fees for residents; $1,007.53 per credit hour + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
Colorado Mesa University’s MSN FNP program focuses on primary care across the lifespan and includes the care of vulnerable and rural populations. This program is provided in an online format, making it flexible enough for nurses to attend classes while working. Students are required to be on campus throughout the program for in-person intensives. Colorado Mesa University also offers a DNP option, which requires 78 credit hours and a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours, of which 80% are completed in primary care settings. Students in this program may complete most clinical hours at sites close to their homes but may need to travel for specialized clinical experiences.
Colorado State University-Pueblo
- Pueblo, Colorado
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On-campus with in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 74-80
Clinical Hours: 1170
Tuition: $396.38 per credit hour for residents + fees; $750 to $915 per credit hour for non-residents + fees
Program Overview:
What’s unique about this FNP program at Colorado State University-Pueblo is that it prepares students for both the FNP certification exam and the adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGNP) certification exam. Because of this, it is more extensive than some of the other programs in the state, with 1170 required clinical hours and as many as 80 credits. Students can complete this program in as little as 2.5 years full-time; part-time options are available, but students must satisfy all graduation requirements within six years.
Colorado Technical University
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus intensives and in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 68
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $540 per credit hour + fees
Program Overview:
This FNP program from Colorado Technical University offers online classes but requires students to visit the Denver campus twice during the program for labs and intensives. The first intensive weekend occurs before students begin practicums to ensure students are adequately prepared to interact with patients, and the second is at the end of the program to help students prepare for independent practice. Students are required to complete 630 clinical hours, and the school’s clinical coordinators can help students identify appropriate facilities in their home communities.
Regis University
- Denver, Colorado
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: On-campus with in-person clinicals; online option also available
Credit Hours: 48
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $965 per credit hour + fees
Program Overview:
Regis University offers a few FNP options for nurses hoping to pursue this career. For those who wish to attend class in person, Regis University offers a program at its Northwest Denver, with classes held once a week from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. This program is designed to be completed in six semesters of continuous study over two years. Clinical experiences take place in the last three semesters of the program and are equally distributed across pediatrics, adult, women’s, and family health.
This university also offers a Remote Family Nurse Practitioner program designed for students outside the Front Range region or the state. This program features online synchronous classes that meet once a week, from 8 am to 5 pm. Like the on-campus program, clinical hours occur in the last three semesters and are equally spread among various patient populations. They can be completed in the students’ home areas. This program is also designed to be completed in six continuous semesters.
A third FNP option offered by Regis University is a BSN to DNP program that features both on-campus and online classes. This program is between 74 and 79 credits and requires 1000 clinical hours in total. Master’s level classes cost $965 per credit, while doctoral courses cost $1,018.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- Aurora, Colorado
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus intensives and in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 56
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $770 per credit hour + fees for residents; $1,248 per credit hour + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
Nurses interested in pursuing an FNP program have two options at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The MSN option is for BSN-prepared nurses. It features online coursework with on-campus intensives and operates in a cohort model, so students go through the program from start to finish in groups. Full-time students can complete this program in eight consecutive semesters over 2.5 years.
A second option is a BSN to DNP program that can be completed in a little over four years. Students are awarded an MSN after eight semesters, at which point they are eligible to sit for the national certification. This program has 82 credits with 1170 clinical hours. Many classes are online, but students must come to the Aurora campus for in-person intensives a few times throughout the program.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 47
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $846 per credit hour + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN program from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is unique because classes are completed entirely online, and campus visits are not required. Clinicals are primary-care-based, and students must find their own clinical sites where they reside. An important thing to note about this program is that, due to individual state regulations, it only accepts students from some states: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and Alaska.
University of Northern Colorado
- Loveland, Colorado
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 58
Clinical Hours: 765
Tuition: $706 per credit hour + fees
Program Overview:
This part-time graduate program is designed to fit into the schedules of working BSN-prepared nurses. Classes are hybrid. Some of the courses are completed completely online, but students are required to come to campus one day a week, usually Thursdays, for additional in-person time for clinical and practicums. The University of Northern Colorado’s program also features clinical simulations and labs as well as 765 clinical hours to give patients hands-on experience and prepare them for their future careers.
The University of Northern Colorado also offers a BSN to DNP option, which is 84 credits and 1,125 clinical/simulation/lab/practicum hours. Classes are delivered the same way as the MSN program, primarily online with in-person classes, labs, and simulations meeting once a week. The DNP program takes five years to complete.
Online FNP Programs
The University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Remote Family Nurse Practitioner from Regis University, Colorado Technical University, and Colorado Mesa University programs all offer a majority of the coursework online, but they each have some in-person requirements.
If you’re looking for an online program, the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, is likely the most convenient option. This FNP option doesn’t require on-campus visits, and students can arrange their clinical sites close to their homes, making it the most flexible option in the state.
Note that, due to the nature of the nursing field, all FNP programs have an in-person clinical requirement.
Best FNP Programs in Colorado
The best FNP programs in the state highly depend on what you are looking for. As mentioned, if you’re looking for convenience, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs program does not require any on-campus visits. That said, if you prefer to learn in person, Colorado State University-Pueblo’s program is only offered on campus. Regis University also offers an on-campus-only option.
The University of Northern Colorado is also another great option as it offers an on-campus nursing simulation center and labs that can help students prepare for their clinicals and future careers.
MSN to FNP Post-Graduate Certificate
MSN to FNP programs give nurses with a master’s degree in other areas, like education or informatics, a convenient way to expand their skills and work as FNPs. For many of these programs, the school will evaluate the student’s past education and experience upon admission to determine the coursework required to complete the program.
Colorado Technical University
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus intensives and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 52
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $540 per credit hour + fees
Program Overview:
Colorado Technical University’s post-graduate certificate offers much of its coursework online, but students may have to visit the Colorado Springs campus during the programs for intensives and labs. Students must also complete various demonstrations when on campus, including head-to-toe assessments, suturing, and reading EKGs.
Regis University
- Denver, Colorado
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: 30 to 35
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $965 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis University’s post-graduate certificate is web-based, with online classes that meet once a week from 8 am to 5 pm. Courses include advanced physiology and pathology, advanced health assessment of the family, women’s health, and pediatrics. Applicants must have an MSN from an accredited program and two years of work experience to apply.
Colorado’s Most Affordable FNP Programs
For residents, the most affordable FNP program in Colorado is from Colorado State University-Pueblo at only around $396 per credit for residents, although this program is between $750 and $915 per credit for those who are from out of state.
The second most affordable option (and most affordable for non-residents) is Colorado Technical University. This program is $540 per credit for both residents and non-residents.
Note that these costs are only the amount per credit. Every school has its own fee structure, which will affect the overall cost.