Trinidad State College

Trinidad State College in Trinidad, Colorado offers two main prelicensure pathways: a Practical Nurse (PN) exit option that allows eligible students to sit for the NCLEX-PN after the first year, and an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) for RN licensure. The nursing program is available on both the Trinidad and Alamosa campuses; on the Trinidad campus, students can choose a traditional schedule or an evening/weekend schedule. There is also an LPN to ADN option that uses a transition course (NUR 1089) before students join the second-level cohort.

Admission is competitive and point-based. Students typically apply in January for an August start and must complete required prerequisites before beginning nursing courses in the fall. Key prerequisites include ENG 1021 (English Composition), PSY 2440 (Human Growth and Development), and BIO 2101 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I), along with HESI admission testing and additional onboarding requirements such as immunizations, CPR, and clinical placement documentation.

Cost: Students should plan for standardized testing (about $500 across two years), a nursing lab kit ($145), malpractice insurance ($16 annually), and an NCLEX-RN testing fee ($200 in the final semester). The program fee is listed at $57.95 per credit hour, plus campus fees ($1.34 per credit), student activity fees ($3.47 per credit), and a registration fee ($12.55). Initial semester supplies commonly include items like a stethoscope ($58), blood pressure cuff ($26), scrubs, and a nursing polo; later terms may require access to an iPad or smartphone.

The ADN curriculum blends nursing coursework with general education and includes progressive medical-surgical content, OB/peds, psychiatric nursing, and a leadership/management course. Progression standards include earning at least a “C” in nursing courses and passing a medication administration proficiency exam each semester at 100% mastery. The program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and aligned with Colorado Community College System requirements.

On licensure outcomes, Trinidad State’s average weighted NCLEX-RN pass rate is 88.1%, compared with the Colorado state average of 93.4%. For NCLEX-PN, the program’s average weighted pass rate is 100.0%, above the state PN average of 83.3%.

The Trinidad campus is located at 600 Prospect Street in Trinidad, in southern Colorado near the New Mexico border, which can be a practical option for students commuting from surrounding rural communities; clinical days may involve early starts and long blocks of time.