- 1 In-State School, Mostly Online format, plus 2 online options compared
Colorado has one Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program, at CU Anschutz. It offers Primary Care and Acute Care in a Mostly Online format, with a few required courses on the Aurora campus.
Because Colorado has only one program, this guide adds two online programs, UT Arlington and Walden University, to every comparison table below.
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Anschutz Aurora | Primary Care + Acute Care | Mostly Online | 1–3 on-campus courses | $820 | MSN, DNP, Certificate | Denver/Aurora RNs who want arranged placements and a choice of population |
| UT Arlington (online) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Online | None | $654 | MSN, Certificate | Experienced RNs who want online Acute Care or the lowest MSN tuition |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | Online | None | $785 per quarter credit (NP coursework) | MSN, DNP, Certificate | ADN or diploma RNs, and MSN nurses seeking a DNP, with no travel |
Colorado eligibility: Walden’s restricted-states list places no restriction on Colorado for any PNP pathway. UTA’s state authorization map lists Colorado as eligible for its online NP master’s and post-master’s certificate tracks.
Colorado PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 1 in-state, plus 2 online options compared
- Primary Care: Yes, at CU Anschutz; also online at UTA and Walden
- Acute Care: Yes, at CU Anschutz (MSN, DNP, and certificate); also online at UTA (MSN and certificate)
- MSN: In-state for BSN-prepared nurses; RN-to-MSN online only (UTA and Walden)
- DNP: In-state BSN-to-DNP; MSN-to-DNP online only (Walden)
- Certificate: In-state in both populations; also online at UTA and Walden
- Format: CU Anschutz is Mostly Online with on-campus courses; online options require no campus visits
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $16K for CU Anschutz’s Acute Care certificate (resident rate)
Choosing a PNP Program in Colorado
Arranged Placements and Population Choice: CU Anschutz
CU Anschutz is the only school here offering both populations at the MSN, DNP, and certificate levels. It arranges placements for Denver/Aurora students, with partners including Children’s Hospital Colorado. It publishes no pediatric acute care experience requirement. Admission is fall only, and students outside the metro area find their own preceptors.
Lower Tuition and Online Acute Care: UTA
UTA’s online Primary Care MSN costs about $12K less than CU’s resident rate, and its Acute Care tracks run fully online with several starts a year. The trade-offs: every MSN track requires two years of RN experience, Acute Care requires two years in pediatric acute care, and students find their own preceptors.
More Entry Points and No Travel: Walden
Walden admits diploma and ADN-prepared RNs and offers an MSN-to-DNP, two routes CU does not. It requires no campus visits and publishes no RN experience minimum. It offers Primary Care only, and its placement team steps in only after students document unsuccessful preceptor searches.
Colorado RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No Colorado school offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway. Both online options do. UTA offers RN-to-MSN tracks in Primary Care and Acute Care, and Walden offers Primary Care. Both admit associate degree nurses and move them directly into NP coursework without a separate BSN application.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care | $35K (nursing courses only) | 42+ months | About 720 (est.) |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Acute Care | $38K (nursing courses only) | 42+ months | About 720 (est.) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $57K (after scholarship) | About 28 months | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UTA, though its totals exclude any general education still owed.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 28 months.
- Only Acute Care option: UTA. The Acute Care MSN phase requires two years of pediatric acute care RN experience.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN PNP programs
Colorado BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
CU Anschutz is Colorado’s only BSN-to-MSN PNP option, with separate Primary Care and Acute Care tracks and a fall-only start. UTA offers both populations online with multiple starts a year. Walden offers Primary Care only, also with multiple starts.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Primary Care | $39K | 2.5 years | 540 |
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Acute Care | $41K | 3 years | 585 |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care | $27K | 29–33 months | About 720 (est.) |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Acute Care | $29K | 31–33 months | About 720 (est.) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $45K (after scholarship) | About 24 months | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UTA’s Primary Care MSN, at $27K.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 24 months.
- Experience requirement: UTA requires two years of RN experience; CU Anschutz and Walden publish no minimum.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
Colorado BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
CU Anschutz offers Colorado’s only BSN-to-DNP PNP pathways, in Primary Care and Acute Care. Students apply once and earn both an MSN and a DNP. Among the online options, only Walden offers a BSN-to-DNP, in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP doctorate.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Primary Care | $60K | About 3 years | 1,080 |
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Acute Care | $62K | 3 years | 1,125 |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | About 3.25 years | 1,000 minimum (post-baccalaureate) |
- Lowest estimated tuition: CU Anschutz’s Primary Care DNP, at $60K for Colorado residents.
- Only Acute Care option: CU Anschutz.
- Campus requirement: CU Anschutz adds an on-campus DNP Project Prep course; Walden requires no campus visits.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Colorado MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
No Colorado school offers an MSN-to-DNP PNP pathway, and UTA does not offer one either. Walden’s online MSN-to-DNP is the only option in this comparison. It leads to Primary Care certification and builds the DNP project into coursework from the first term.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $71K (after scholarship) | About 3 years | 1,000 minimum (post-baccalaureate) |
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Colorado Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
CU Anschutz offers post-graduate certificates in Primary Care and Acute Care, with space-available enrollment and final credits set by transcript evaluation. UTA offers both populations online, also using a gap analysis. Walden offers a Primary Care certificate open to MSN-prepared nurses without an NP credential.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Primary Care | $29K | About 1.5 years | Set by gap analysis (540 base) |
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Acute Care | $16K | 1.5 years (3 terms) | 360 |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care | $13K–$21K | About 12 months (est.) | About 720 (est.) |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Acute Care | $16K–$24K | About 14 months (est.) | About 720 (est.) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $33K | About 5–7 quarters | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UTA’s Primary Care certificate, at $13K–$21K depending on the gap analysis.
- Acute Care hours: CU Anschutz requires 360 clinical hours, about half of UTA’s estimated 720.
- Experience requirement: UTA’s Acute Care certificate requires two years of high-acuity direct patient care within the last five years.
Compare more programs: See all Post-Master’s Certificate PNP programs
Other Online PNP Programs for Colorado Nurses
Maryville University and Rasmussen University also appear in the Colorado directory below, alongside Walden. Confirm each school’s Colorado enrollment status before applying.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
For Colorado nurses, Maryville University offers a fully online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathway that prepares graduates to care for infants, children, and adolescents in primary care settings. Colorado students can arrange clinical experiences in their own communities, so they do not need to travel to campus for hands-on learning. With several degree-entry options and six start dates per year, the program is built for flexibility and career advancement.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $925 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Colorado nurses can pursue Rasmussen University’s Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner programs through fully online, competency-based study with local clinical placements. The MSN-NP option is intended for BSN-prepared RNs, and the Post-Graduate Certificate is for nurses who already hold graduate nursing degrees and want to add a pediatric specialty. Each track includes supervised pediatric practicums, a clinical practicum coordinator, and a one-weekend residency to support hands-on skill development.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN
For Colorado residents, Walden’s online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care pathways include DNP, MSN, and post-master’s options featuring advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and pediatric-specific practicums completed locally. Colorado nurses appreciate the program’s flexible duration of 1.5 to 3.25 years full-time, plus dedicated support for securing preceptors through Practicum Pledge®. The CCNE-accredited curriculum ensures Colorado students meet certification standards with tuition starting at around $35,690 for certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Colorado?
One. CU Anschutz offers six PNP tracks: Primary Care and Acute Care at the MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate levels.
Does Colorado offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes. CU Anschutz offers Acute Care at all three levels and publishes no pediatric acute care experience requirement. UTA offers online Acute Care but requires two years of that experience.
Are any programs fully online?
Not in-state. CU Anschutz requires one to three on-campus courses in Aurora, depending on the pathway. UTA and Walden require no campus visits.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, CU Anschutz’s Acute Care certificate is lowest at $16K for residents, and its $39K Primary Care MSN is the lowest-cost in-state degree. Among the online options, UTA’s Primary Care certificate starts at $13K, and its $27K Primary Care MSN is the lowest-cost degree.
Which schools offer a DNP?
CU Anschutz offers BSN-to-DNP in Primary Care and Acute Care. Walden offers BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP doctorate.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
CU Anschutz arranges placements for Denver/Aurora students; students elsewhere in Colorado find their own sites with program support. UTA and Walden students complete clinicals near home but find their own preceptors first.
Can I become a PNP in Colorado without a BSN?
Not through a Colorado school. ADN-prepared nurses can use UTA’s online RN-to-MSN in either population, or Walden’s Primary Care RN-to-MSN, which also admits diploma RNs.