6 Schools • 1 Online • 3 Mostly Online• 2 Hybrid
Colorado has 6 schools offering online or partially online Family Nurse Practitioner programs across MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, delivered in fully online, mostly online, and hybrid formats. In-state tuition for degree programs runs roughly $27K to $86K, with certificates starting near $10K, and completion times range from under 2 years to 5 years.
Highlights include:
- UCCS is the state’s only program with zero campus attendance, though it admits from just 14 states
- CU Anschutz arranges every clinical placement within Colorado
- Colorado Mesa is the low-cost public option
- and CTU finishes fastest
Compare Colorado FNP Programs
Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Colorado Mesa University | Mostly Online | periodic in-person intensives | $556 cpc | MSN, DNP | Rural and underserved primary care emphasis |
| Colorado Technical University | Mostly Online | some weekend labs | $540 (quarter credit) + $265/term tech fee | MSN, Certificate | Accelerated five-week course pacing |
| Regis University | Online or Hybrid | one day per week or live via video | $1,055 master’s / $1,108 doctoral | MS, BS-DNP, Certificate | Structured one-day-a-week cohort schedule |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Online | none | $868–$900 cpc | MSN, BSN-DNP, Certificate | No campus attendance at all |
| University of Colorado Anschutz | Mostly Online | several 1–2 day skills sessions | $801 cpc | MS, BS-DNP, Certificate | College-arranged clinical placements |
| University of Northern Colorado | Hybrid | in person one day a week | $802 cpc | BSN-DNP, Certificate | Flat per-credit rate regardless of residency |
How We Classify Program Formats
To make comparing schools easier, we classify every program based on the actual student experience, not the school’s marketing language.
- Online: No required campus attendance. Clinical rotations completed locally are not considered campus requirements.
- Mostly Online: Coursework is primarily online, but students must attend one or more required campus visits, such as orientations, skills labs, or intensives.
- Hybrid: Online coursework combined with recurring scheduled on-campus classes or labs throughout the program.
- Campus: Most coursework is completed in person.
Our classifications are based on published attendance requirements and may differ from how a university markets its program.
Choosing the Right Colorado FNP Program
Best Overall Value
At $27K for the MSN and $41K for the DNP in-state, Colorado Mesa University undercuts every other Colorado FNP program at both degree levels.
Fastest Completion
Nine terms of back-to-back five-week courses let Colorado Technical University graduates finish the MSN-FNP in roughly 1.75 years.
Best Fully Online
University of Colorado Colorado Springs is the only Colorado FNP program with no campus requirement of any kind, at the master’s, doctoral, and certificate levels alike.
Strongest DNP
As the birthplace of the nurse practitioner role and a top-ranked college of nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz pairs doctoral prestige with fully arranged clinical placements.
Best Live-Online Format
The synchronous remote pathway at Regis University delivers a real one-day-a-week class schedule by video, so distance students get campus-style cohort structure without travel.
Lowest-Cost Certificate Entry
A gap analysis at University of Northern Colorado can trim the post-master’s FNP certificate to as few as 12 credits, bringing tuition down to about $10K.
Colorado DNP FNP Programs
Five Colorado schools take nurses from BSN to doctorate as FNPs, and their structures differ sharply. Regis and CU Anschutz confer the master’s en route, letting students pause for board certification before doctoral work; UCCS awards no MSN along the way but finishes in as few as three years. Colorado Mesa runs the least expensive doctoral path, while UNC’s part-time hybrid plan spreads 84 credits over five years.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Colorado Mesa University | BSN-to-DNP (74 credits) | $41K in-state | 5 years | 1,000 |
| Regis University | Post-BSN to DNP, MS conferred (74–79 credits) | $80K–$86K | 4–5 years | 1,000 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | BSN-to-DNP, no MSN conferred (70 credits) | $63K in-state / $68K out-of-state | 3 years | 1,170 |
| University of Colorado Anschutz | BS-to-DNP, MS conferred (82 credits) | $66K resident / $106K nonresident | 4 years (12–13 semesters) | 1,170 |
| University of Northern Colorado | BSN-to-DNP (84 credits) | $67K flat rate | 5 years part-time | 1,125 applied hours minimum (765 clinical, 90 sim/lab, 270 DNP project) |
- Lowest doctoral cost: Colorado Mesa University — $41K, though the $556/credit figure is the in-state rate.
- Fastest doctorate: University of Colorado Colorado Springs — as few as 3 years.
- Heaviest clinical load: UCCS and CU Anschutz — 1,170 hours each
- Fully online doctoral coursework: Regis University — the DNP-portion courses carry no campus or synchronous requirement after the MS phase.
Colorado MSN FNP Programs
All five master’s programs prepare graduates for AANP or ANCC certification, but pacing and structure vary widely: 47 to 68 credits, under 2 years to 3 years. CTU compresses coursework into five-week sessions for working nurses, Regis builds everything around a single weekly class day, and Anschutz front-loads didactic work before four Colorado-placed practicums. Every program except Colorado Mesa specifies 630 clinical hours.
| School | Credits | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Colorado Mesa University | 49 credits | $27K in-state | 3 years | Not clearly stated |
| Colorado Technical University | 68 credits | $39K | ~1.75 years | 630 |
| Regis University | 48 credits | $51K | 2 years | 630 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 47 credits | $41K in-state | 3 years | 630 |
| University of Colorado Anschutz | 56 credits | $45K resident | 2.5 years | 630 |
- Quarter-credit caution: Colorado Technical University — 68 quarter credits at $540 each; totals aren’t directly comparable to semester-credit schools.
- ADN entry point: UCCS — an RN-to-MSN bridge (53–55 total credits) admits associate-degree nurses without a BSN.
- Late clinical start: Regis University — all 630 hours fall in the final three semesters, keeping year one coursework-only.
Colorado Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Programs
Five schools let MSN-prepared nurses add the FNP specialty without a second degree, and every one sizes the plan individually — transcript review or gap analysis sets the final credit count, so quoted costs are ranges, not guarantees. Current APRNs in a non-family focus get the deepest transfer credit at CTU, while Anschutz runs the most predictable fixed 33-credit plan.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Colorado Technical University | 26–52 quarter credits | $15K–$30K | ~3–7 terms | 630 |
| Regis University | 21–36 credits | $22K–$38K | Varies by review | 630 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 25–34 credits | $23K–$31K in-state | 2.5 years | 630 |
| University of Colorado Anschutz | 33 credits | $26K | 1.5 years | 630 |
| University of Northern Colorado | 12–33 credits | $10K–$26K | Varies by gap analysis | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest possible cost: University of Northern Colorado — from about $10K at 12 credits.
- Biggest APRN transfer: Colorado Technical University — nurses already in a non-family APRN role can drop to 26 quarter credits.
Colorado FNP School Summaries
Colorado Mesa University FNP Programs
Grand Junction | $556 cpc | MSN / DNP | Mostly Online
Colorado Mesa runs its MSN and DNP tracks online with periodic in-person intensive sessions (GPSIs) and semester OSCEs, delivered in person and virtually. What sets it apart is its mission: the curriculum threads rural and underserved primary care through dedicated courses and a capstone practicum, and clinical placements land in the student's home community, with some travel for specialized rural experiences. Admissions run once a year (April 15 for fall) through NursingCAS, and CCNE accreditation supports AANP or ANCC certification eligibility. Out-of-state applicants should verify licensure eligibility on CMU's state-by-state list. Best for nurses in rural or underserved Colorado communities who want to train — and stay — where they live...read more.
Colorado Technical University FNP Programs
Colorado Springs | $540 cpc | Certificate / MSN | Mostly Online
CTU's virtual campus delivers everything in five-week courses, with the only travel being hands-on weekend labs in Colorado at the start and end of the program, plus a face-to-face competency verification with faculty. That cadence suits working nurses who want momentum: nine terms to the MSN, or a certificate sized by prior coursework. Both tracks carry 630 direct-care clinical hours, and one year of recent direct-care experience is required to apply. The trade-offs are quarter-credit billing, per-term technology fees, and licensure exclusions in several states. Best for working RNs who prioritize speed and bite-sized coursework over a traditional semester rhythm...read more.
Regis University FNP Programs
Denver | $1,055 cpc | Certificate / MSN / BSN-DNP / DNP | Mostly Online
Regis, a Jesuit school through its Loretto Heights School of Nursing, builds all three FNP tracks around one class day per week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — attended either at the Northwest Denver campus or live by synchronous video. Students arrange their own clinicals with faculty and Clinical Support Unit help, in urban and rural settings, generally on weekdays. The post-BSN to DNP confers the MS en route and shifts to fully online doctoral coursework, with an option to pause for board certification between degrees. Best for nurses who want a predictable weekly cohort structure with a genuine choice between campus and live-online attendance...read more.
UCCS FNP Programs
Colorado Springs | $868 cpc | Certificate / MSN / BSN-DNP | Online
UCCS is Colorado’s one true no-campus option: MSN, BSN-DNP, and certificate all run fully online through the Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing, with students identifying preceptors in their own area under UCCS oversight capped at six students per faculty member. An RN-to-MSN bridge opens the door to ADN-prepared nurses, rolling admission offers three starts per year, and the certificate posts a recent FNP certification pass rate above 90%. The constraint is geography in reverse: only 14 states are eligible for admission, so confirming your state comes first. Best for self-directed nurses in eligible states who want FNP training with zero travel...read more.
University of Colorado (Anschutz) FNP Programs
Anschutz | $801 cpc | Certificate / MSN / BSN-DNP / DNP | Mostly Online
CU Anschutz — where the nurse practitioner role was created — delivers its MS, BS-DNP, and certificate mostly online, with limited on-campus days in Aurora: two-day foundational and advanced clinical skills sessions, a one-day diagnosis-and-management session, and advanced assessment. Its standout operational advantage is placement: the college arranges all clinical rotations within Colorado, removing the preceptor hunt — though that model matters for distance students. Admissions are more selective, with an Interview Day and undergraduate research and statistics prerequisites. Best for nurses who want a top-ranked, prestige credential and would rather have clinicals handled for them than shop for preceptors...read more.
University of Northern Colorado FNP Programs
Greeley | $802 cpc | Certificate / BSN-DNP / DNP | Hybrid
UNC takes a different posture from the rest of the state: a genuine hybrid, mostly online but in person every Thursday at Greeley (some sessions at the Loveland/Centerra center). The BSN-to-DNP runs part-time by design over five years, with a Clinical Placement Coordinator supporting preceptor searches and a curriculum that adds genomics and healthcare finance to the FNP core. Its flat $802 per credit applies to every student regardless of residency — unusual among Colorado publics — though weekly attendance makes it practical mainly for Front Range and northern Colorado nurses. Certificate spots are limited each year. Best for Colorado nurses within driving distance of Greeley who want face-to-face faculty contact while working...read more.
National Online FNP Options
Colorado’s programs leave real gaps for some nurses. National providers such as Walden University and Purdue Global fill those gaps with broad state authorization and, in some cases, clinical placement support that self-found-preceptor programs don’t match. Nurses outside the state — or Coloradans who can’t commit to campus dates — should weigh these alongside the in-state options.
Chamberlain University Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Addison | $760 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Mostly Online
Chamberlain University delivers a comprehensive Family Nurse Practitioner education to registered nurses across Colorado through flexible, 2 to 2.5-year online tracks. The program eliminates clinical placement anxiety by providing dedicated clinical support that guarantees a local preceptor alternative if standard networking attempts are unsuccessful. Armed with this placement backup, Colorado students can seamlessly manage their online studies, 25 lab hours, and local lifespan-specific primary care rotations.
Purdue Global Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
West Lafayette | $420 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Online
Through a blend of online competency coursework and local rotations, Purdue Global helps Colorado nursing professionals transition smoothly into primary care roles. Students are backed by structured clinical support, receiving dedicated faculty guidance to help vet and approve local preceptors within their immediate geographic area. Additionally, Colorado students are advised to work closely with their advisors to see if regional APRN licensing regulations will require any supplemental clinical hours beyond the standard curriculum.
Rasmussen University Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
UPDATE | $915 cpc | Certificate / MSN | Mostly Online
Through its competency-based online structure, Rasmussen University helps Colorado nursing professionals transition seamlessly into the role of a Family Nurse Practitioner. Colorado students benefit from a high level of clinical support, leveraging a university-assigned clinical coordinator who assumes the responsibility of finding and establishing local practicum sites. This CCNE-accredited program accommodates both MSN and post-master's tracks, requiring a college-level statistics course and a single weekend of on-campus residency.
Regis University FNP Programs
Denver | $1,055 cpc | Certificate / MSN / BSN-DNP / DNP | Mostly Online
Regis, a Jesuit school through its Loretto Heights School of Nursing, builds all three FNP tracks around one class day per week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — attended either at the Northwest Denver campus or live by synchronous video. Students arrange their own clinicals with faculty and Clinical Support Unit help, in urban and rural settings, generally on weekdays. The post-BSN to DNP confers the MS en route and shifts to fully online doctoral coursework, with an option to pause for board certification between degrees. Best for nurses who want a predictable weekly cohort structure with a genuine choice between campus and live-online attendance...read more.
Walden University Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 - $960 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP | Online
Walden University delivers tailored FNP tracks starting July 6, 2026, offering a direct academic path for Colorado nurses with diverse undergraduate backgrounds. The program emphasizes proactive student success by wrapping its curriculum in comprehensive clinical support, guaranteeing a fallback preceptor matching service via the Practicum Pledge® if independent outreach fails. Armed with this placement safety net, Colorado students can safely focus on mastering advanced pharmacology and pathophysiology before their final role transitions.
FAQ
How many online FNP programs are in Colorado?
Six schools offer FNP programs with substantial online delivery: Colorado Mesa, Colorado Technical, Regis, UCCS, CU Anschutz, and Northern Colorado. Five offer master’s tracks, five offer doctoral tracks, and five offer post-graduate certificates.
Which Colorado FNP programs are fully online?
Only UCCS requires no campus attendance across all three of its tracks. Regis’s synchronous remote pathway is also travel-free, though it requires live weekly video attendance, and the doctoral portion of the Regis BS-DNP is 100% online.
Which Colorado FNP program has the lowest tuition?
Colorado Mesa’s MSN is the least expensive degree at about $27K in-state. Among certificates, UNC can drop to roughly $10K if a gap analysis reduces the plan to 12 credits.
Which Colorado schools offer a DNP FNP?
Five: Colorado Mesa, Regis, UCCS, CU Anschutz, and Northern Colorado. Regis and Anschutz confer the master’s on the way to the doctorate; UCCS does not.
Do any programs require campus visits?
Most do. Colorado Mesa holds periodic intensives, CTU requires weekend labs at the program’s start and end, Anschutz schedules several one- to two-day sessions in Aurora, UNC meets every Thursday, and Regis’s campus pathway meets weekly in Denver. UCCS requires none.
Can I complete clinical hours near home?
Usually. Colorado Mesa places students in their home communities, UCCS and Regis students identify local preceptors with school support, and UNC provides a placement coordinator. The exception is CU Anschutz, which arranges all placements within Colorado — a benefit for residents, a constraint for distance students.
Do Western-state residents get discounted tuition in Colorado?
It depends on the school. UCCS extends its in-state rate to WRGP/WICHE Western states, and UNC charges a flat $802 per credit to everyone. CU Anschutz excludes the FNP specialty from its WRGP discount, so Western-state residents pay the full nonresident rate there.