- 1 In-State School, Mostly Online format
Colorado has one Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program: CU Anschutz. It offers Primary Care and Acute Care tracks that are mostly online, with a few required courses in Aurora.
Because there is only one in-state option, we added two online programs, UT Arlington and Walden University, to every comparison table below.
Colorado PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 1 in-state (CU Anschutz), plus 2 online options compared (UTA, Walden)
- Primary Care: Yes
- Acute Care: Yes
- MSN: Yes, BSN entry only in-state; RN-to-MSN available through the online options
- DNP: Yes, BSN-to-DNP only in-state; MSN-to-DNP available through Walden
- Certificate: Yes, Primary Care and Acute Care
- Format: Mostly Online in-state; both online options are Online
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $16K (Acute Care post-graduate certificate, Colorado resident)
| 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 | BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate | Denver/Aurora RNs who want school-arranged placements |
| UT Arlington (online) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Online | None published for online tracks | $654 | RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, Post-Master’s Certificate | Experienced RNs who want online Acute Care or the lowest MSN tuition |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | Online | None | $785 per quarter credit | RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate | Nurses who need RN-to-MSN or MSN-to-DNP entry with no campus travel |
Colorado eligibility: Walden’s restricted-states list, updated September 2026, places no restriction on Colorado for any PNP pathway. UTA’s NP tracks lead to licensure, so eligibility is set program by program. Colorado applicants must confirm through UTA’s state authorization map or by emailing NursingSOA@uta.edu before applying .
Choosing a PNP Program in Colorado
Best Fit for CU Anschutz: Denver/Aurora-Area Nurses
CU Anschutz arranges clinical placements for metro-area students, with access to Children’s Hospital Colorado and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Neither online option arranges placements; both expect students to find preceptors first. For a metro-area nurse, that support can outweigh a lower price elsewhere.
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. The catch is a firm requirement of two years of pediatric acute care RN experience for Acute Care, which CU does not publish. Colorado applicants must also confirm program eligibility with UTA first.
More Entry Points and No Travel: Walden
Walden accepts 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 costs more than CU for Colorado residents at the MSN level.
Colorado RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No Colorado school offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway, so ADN-prepared nurses must look to online programs. UTA offers RN-to-MSN tracks in both Primary Care and Acute Care. Walden offers a Primary Care RN-to-MSN. Both are designed for associate degree or diploma nurses moving directly into NP preparation.
| 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 it feeds into 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 per year. Walden offers Primary Care only, also with multiple starts. All three require a current RN license.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Primary Care | $39K resident / $63K non-resident | 2.5 years | 540 |
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Acute Care | $41K resident / $67K non-resident | 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 the same rate for Colorado residents as for Texans.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 24 months.
- Campus requirement: only CU requires campus attendance, through two on-campus courses in Aurora.
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 both 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 resident | About 3 years | 1,080 |
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Acute Care | $62K resident | 3 years | 1,125 |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $76K | About 3.25 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate |
- Lowest estimated tuition: CU Anschutz for Colorado residents, about $16K less than Walden.
- Only Acute Care option: CU Anschutz.
- Campus requirement: CU 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 prepares graduates for 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, including verified prior hours |
- Hidden cost risk: applicants with fewer than 600 verified prior clinical hours take up to 8 extra credits, which Walden’s published estimate does not include.
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 final credits and cost set by transcript evaluation and space-available enrollment. UTA offers both populations online, also using a gap analysis. Walden offers a Primary Care certificate open to MSN-prepared nurses without an existing NP credential.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Primary Care | $29K resident | About 1.5 years | 540 base; set by gap analysis |
| CU Anschutz (in-state) | Acute Care | $16K resident | 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, depending on how many core courses the gap analysis adds.
- Acute Care hours: CU’s certificate requires 360 hours, about half of UTA’s estimated 720.
- Acute Care experience gate: UTA 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 offer online Primary Care PNP programs to Colorado nurses. Rasmussen’s program includes a one-weekend residency. Current listings for both appear below.
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 school, 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 degree levels and publishes no pediatric acute care experience prerequisite. UTA offers online Acute Care but requires that experience.
Are any programs fully online?
Not in Colorado. CU Anschutz is mostly online but requires on-campus courses in Aurora; how long each campus session lasts is not clearly stated. Walden and UTA are fully online. Walden enrolls Colorado students; UTA eligibility must be confirmed before applying.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, CU Anschutz’s Acute Care certificate, at about $16K for Colorado residents. Among the online options, UTA’s Primary Care certificate starts at about $13K, and its Primary Care MSN is the lowest-cost MSN at about $27K.
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. Elsewhere in Colorado, and at both online options, students are responsible for finding their own sites, with varying levels of school support.
Can I become a PNP in Colorado without a BSN?
Not through an in-state program. ADN-prepared nurses can use Walden’s online RN-to-MSN, or UTA’s RN-to-MSN tracks if UTA confirms Colorado eligibility.