Best Online Nursing Programs in Thornton, CO (2026)
Thornton, Colorado has a population of about 142,878. The city’s median household income is $100,985 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Thornton, with tuition ranging from $10,017 to $28,209 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 Thornton
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 25 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Thornton. Distances are calculated from Thornton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | 5.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver, CO | 6.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Regis University | Denver, CO | 10.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Denver College of Nursing | Denver, CO | 11.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver, CO | 12.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 12.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Community College of Denver | Denver, CO | 12.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 13.4 mi | $10,017 - $28,209 | – |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora, CO | 14.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora, CO | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Thornton
Thornton 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.
Thornton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 142,878 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $100,985 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 105.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Adams County | 11,400 workers, 63 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Thornton-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Northglenn, CO – 1.9 mi away (38,982 pop)
- Broomfield, CO – 6.2 mi away (66,529 pop)
- Commerce City, CO – 6.6 mi away (54,869 pop)
- Westminster, CO – 6.8 mi away (113,875 pop)
- Brighton, CO – 8.6 mi away (38,314 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Thornton, CO?
Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Thornton. The closest is Front Range Community College in Westminster, CO (5.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pickens Technical College (15.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Thornton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Thornton 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 Northglenn instead of Thornton?
Northglenn, CO is 1.9 miles from Thornton 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 Thornton an affordable place to study nursing?
Thornton’s median household income of $100,985 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Thornton 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.