Denver College of Nursing

What Is It Known For?

Professional Education Corporation established the Denver School of Nursing on July 1, 2003, with the first students graduating in 2005 and 2006.

Education Affiliates, Inc. acquired the school in July 2007, and the institution adopted its current name, Denver College of Nursing, in July 2017. Today, DCN serves over 1,000 students through on-ground and online nursing programs in its Denver and Houston campuses.

Degrees & Certifications

Your educational pathways at Denver College of Nursing include associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels that prepare you for national nursing licensing examinations.

The programs offered include:

Houston’s Texas campus exclusively offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Class Schedules

The on-campus and online programs at Denver College of Nursing focus entirely on nursing education. Your training includes laboratory sessions and externships/clinical hours in healthcare settings where you apply theoretical knowledge through supervised patient care.

On-campus classes run from Monday to Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Denver), and between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Houston). There are no evening or weekend classes.

Is It a Good School?

Yes. Denver College of Nursing receives regional institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, which oversees educational quality and institutional integrity.

Both the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing provide program-specific accreditation for DCN’s nursing curricula.

Acceptance Rate

Denver College of Nursing’s acceptance rates are unpublished. However, there are specific admission requirements before you’re accepted into the school, including an entrance exam for on-campus applicants without prior bachelor’s degrees.

How Much Does Tuition Cost?

Here are the tuition costs at Denver College of Nursing, excluding associated fees.

  • On-Campus Associate Degree in Nursing: $38,872
  • On-Campus Bachelor of Science in Nursing: $52,863
  • Online RN to BSN: $14,466.60
  • Online Master of Science in Nursing: $17,797.92
  • General Education (Prerequisite Courses): $200 per quarter credit hour.

You can use the school’s net price calculator to get a personalized estimate of your attendance cost.

Programs & Courses

Healthcare

  • Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Master of Science in Nursing

Campus Locations

Denver 1401 19th Street, Denver, CO 80202

Houston 1155 Dairy Ashford, Houston TX 77079

Reviews

Based on local Google reviews, Denver College of Nursing (DCN) is a private institution that provides an accelerated path to a BSN degree and is highly praised for its dedicated faculty and close-knit community. However, it faces significant and consistent criticism regarding its high cost, administrative indifference, and struggles with securing clinical placements.

Overall Score: 3.4/5 Stars

Common Praises

Dedicated and Caring Faculty: Instructors and professors are overwhelmingly described as “incredible,” “knowledgeable,” and genuinely “care about student success above anything else.” Many students explicitly state that the quality of the teachers is what makes the demanding program worthwhile.

Supportive Community and Staff: The smaller school size allows for “closer relationships” with the cohort and more “thorough feedback” from instructors. The general support staff are praised for being “approachable” and committed to helping students re-enter the program or navigate challenges.

Accelerated Path to BSN: The program’s quick pace is a major draw, allowing students to earn their BSN in “a little less than 2 years.” Graduates express excitement and confidence in their education, recommending the school for those who want to be a “competent nurse.”

Positive Campus Updates: Recent reviews mention that the school has undergone a “new face-lift” with new floors and new scrubs, suggesting continued investment in the physical environment.

Common Criticisms

Extremely High Cost/For-Profit Model: The most frequent and intense criticism is the cost. Reviewers state the school is “very very expensive” and a “huge waste of money,” labeling it a “typical for profit school” where the focus is “all about money.”

Administrative Indifference (“Just Deal With It” Mentality): Students report a significant change after enrollment, where the initial “warm friendly feel” gives way to a “just deal with it” mentality. Higher-up faculty are accused of being “arrogant” and blowing off student concerns, making it difficult to get help if a student is struggling or needs a “higher up” individual.

Clinical Placement Problems: A critical and recent concern is the school’s reported struggle with securing adequate clinical placements, with one review stating that graduation was “delayed” because the school “could not find clinical placements” as hospitals were allegedly reluctant to partner with the institution.

Impractical for Working Students: The schedule is described as being managed entirely by the school, making it “not a good fit for working parents” or students who need to work.

Momentum

The momentum for the Denver College of Nursing is stalled and faces significant headwinds. While the quality of its instructors and the accelerated academic model remains a strong internal asset, this success is constantly undermined by external factors like its high cost, a perceived transactional administrative culture, and, most critically, recent reports of failure to provide the promised clinical placements, which are essential for graduation and licensure. Addressing the financial and placement issues is critical for DCN to restore positive momentum and validate its premium tuition structure.