Best Online Nursing Programs in Lakewood, CO (2026)
Lakewood, Colorado has a population of about 156,309. The city’s median household income is $85,789 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Lakewood, with tuition ranging from $4,308 to $50,206 per year for indexed programs. In the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $207,120 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Lakewood
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 25 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Lakewood. Distances are calculated from Lakewood city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood, CO | 1.6 mi | $39,266 - $50,206 | – |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood, CO | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 6.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Community College of Denver | Denver, CO | 6.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Denver College of Nursing | Denver, CO | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver, CO | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Regis University | Denver, CO | 7.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton, CO | 8.1 mi | $4,308 - $16,542 | – |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver, CO | 11.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Lakewood
Lakewood is part of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area (BLS area code 19740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Colorado statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $98,500 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $93,100 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $69,570 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $65,756 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $207,120 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $195,766 |
| Nurse Midwife | $132,670 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $125,397 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,630 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $123,469 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,000 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,423 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Lakewood at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 156,309 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $85,789 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 105.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Jefferson County | 9,087 workers, 147 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lakewood-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Wheat Ridge, CO – 5.2 mi away (31,372 pop)
- Golden, CO – 5.9 mi away (20,696 pop)
- Englewood, CO – 7.4 mi away (34,050 pop)
- Littleton, CO – 9.0 mi away (46,333 pop)
- Arvada, CO – 9.5 mi away (117,453 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Lakewood, CO?
Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Lakewood. The closest is Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO (1.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pima Medical Institute-Denver (11.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Lakewood?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Lakewood are: Nurse Anesthetist ($207,120), Nurse Midwife ($132,670), Nurse Practitioner ($130,630). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Colorado statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Wheat Ridge instead of Lakewood?
Wheat Ridge, CO is 5.2 miles from Lakewood and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Lakewood an affordable place to study nursing?
Lakewood’s median household income of $85,789 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lakewood while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.