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LPN programs in Colorado

4 LPN (licensed practical nurse) programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these practical nursing programs, and Colorado has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs) give basic medical care to patients who are ill, injured or recovering. Most finish a state-approved certificate or diploma program that takes about a year, then pass an exam to become licensed.1 The exam is the NCLEX-PN from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, which the nursing boards of every state, DC and four US territories use in deciding who gets a license.2

In Colorado, 1 of the 4 programs takes students without a high school diploma, 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent, 1 asks for earlier courses first and 1 asks for a bachelor's degree.

All 4 are the same kind of program: practical nursing (LPN).

See the 4 programs

How much do LPN programs cost in Colorado?

$7,408 to $46,258

is what the 4 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Colorado may also offer LPN programs. How these figures are made

Are there free LPN programs in Colorado?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 4 LPN programs in Colorado approved for WIOA funding

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4 programs

  • Practical nursing (LPN)In personEducation and courses

    Lpn-Bsn

    Western Colorado Community College

    Grand Junction

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Western Colorado Community College, Grand JunctionPractical nursing (LPN) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$50,700
    Price if you pay yourself$46,258
    School website, Lpn-Bsn at Western Colorado Community College
    More details about Lpn-Bsn at Western Colorado Community College
    Finished
    72%
    Working at 6 months
    77%
    Earned in a quarter
    $12,681
    Length
    6 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    249
    Earned a year, estimated
    $50,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $46,258
    School website, Lpn-Bsn at Western Colorado Community College

  • Practical nursing (LPN)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Practical Nursing

    Concorde Career College

    Aurora

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Concorde Career College, AuroraPractical nursing (LPN) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$27,406
    Program website, Practical Nursing at Concorde Career College
    More details about Practical Nursing at Concorde Career College
    Finished
    67%
    Working at 6 months
    75%
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Left out
    Cost of supplies
    $2,289
    Students counted
    247
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $27,406
    Program website, Practical Nursing at Concorde Career College

  • Practical nursing (LPN)HybridBachelor's degree

    Practical Nursing

    Western Colorado Community College

    Grand Junction

    Accredited school

    Bachelor's degree

    Western Colorado Community College, Grand JunctionPractical nursing (LPN) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Bachelor's degree

    Earned a year, estimated$53,600
    Price if you pay yourself$15,284
    School website, Practical Nursing at Western Colorado Community College
    More details about Practical Nursing at Western Colorado Community College
    Finished
    46%
    Working at 6 months
    67%
    Earned in a quarter
    $13,408
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $1,150
    Students counted
    222
    Earned a year, estimated
    $53,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $15,284
    School website, Practical Nursing at Western Colorado Community College

  • Practical nursing (LPN)HybridNo diploma needed

    Practical Nursing

    Otero Junior College

    La Junta

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Otero Junior College, La JuntaPractical nursing (LPN) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$34,500
    Price if you pay yourself$7,408
    Program website, Practical Nursing at Otero Junior College
    More details about Practical Nursing at Otero Junior College
    Finished
    74%
    Working at 6 months
    63%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,632
    Length
    Left out
    Cost of supplies
    $2,300
    Students counted
    76
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,408
    Program website, Practical Nursing at Otero Junior College

How to pay for LPN programs in Colorado

WIOA funding can pay for LPN programs in Colorado

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for LPN programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for LPN programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

LPN or RN in Colorado?

The programs Colorado approved for workforce funding in each, side by side. The figures are the typical program's, as on the two pages.

LPNthis pageRN
Programs4 at 3 schools17 at 7 schools
Most cost, if you pay yourselfNot enough data$11,050 to $33,930
LengthLeft outLeft out
Finished the programNot enough data75%
Working 6 months laterNot enough data67%
Earned a year, estimatedNot enough dataabout $83,700
Trained with WIOA fundingNot reportedNot reported

Already working as an LPN? 1 of the 17 RN programs in Colorado are LPN-to-RN bridge programs, which lead to a two-year degree.

LPN vs RN nationwide: what each job does, the license exams and how to get from one to the other

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024. Earnings are the second quarter after leaving the program, times four.

LPN programs in Grand Junction, Denver and other Colorado cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Colorado

How LPN programs compare with the rest of nursing and patient care: Nursing and patient care programs in Colorado

Where the Colorado practical nursing program numbers come from

Which Colorado practical nursing programs are on this list?

These are the practical nursing programs Colorado approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Colorado offers.

How the prices and results of Colorado practical nursing programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Colorado figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Colorado among the states with "known data quality concerns".11 The figures here are shown as the state reported them; check them with the school before you enroll.

Sources for the facts about LPN programs in Colorado

Show the 11 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
  2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing: U.S. Members
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List
  11. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: search page, note on states with known data quality concerns