Colorado Mesa University (CMU) offers Master of Science in Nursing degrees in family nurse practitioner (FNP) and adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) tracks. CMU also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice FNP. The CMU graduate nursing program is focused on the care of rural and underserved populations. Courses in our curriculum include primary care across the lifespan, mental and behavior health, and a rural and underserved capstone. CMU boasts relatively small class sizes, allowing students to have meaningful interactions with peers and course faculty. CMU graduates also perform at or above the national average for nurse practitioner certification pass rates. Through mentoring by faculty who are nationally recognized nurse leaders, students can expect a rigorous, yet personalized graduate nursing experience at CMU.
CMU's Graduate Nursing Program invites community members and healthcare leaders to serve on the Graduate Advisory Board (GAB). The GAB meets annually over lunch to discuss issues related to the education of nurses for advanced practice in local, regional, national, and international communities. If you would like to participate on the GAB, please contact the Department of Health Sciences at 970-248-1235.
The baccalaureate, master, and doctoral degree programs in nursing at Colorado Mesa University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. https://www.ccneaccreditation.org.
Professional Standards & Guidelines
The Graduate Nursing Program follows professional standards, national guidelines, and related resources including:
• Standards for the Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (AACN, 2018)
• The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006)
• The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011)
• Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NTF, 2016)
• Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (2011)
Additional professional standards and guidelines are used to inform specific curricular content (e.g., Healthy People, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, etc.). Refer to course syllabi for specific standards and guidelines used to inform course content.
We know that pursuing a graduate education is expensive. Tuition and fees for the Graduate Nursing Program can be accessed at graduate-in-state-spring.pdf (coloradomesa.edu). Note that currently, in-state and out-of-state costs are the same for students in the Graduate Nursing Program. CMU is listed as the 8th most affordable accredited (by AACN) online FNP program in the US.
In an effort to help students with educational costs, scholarships may be available through the CMU Foundation. Please see CMU and Donor Scholarships | Colorado Mesa University to review and apply for these opportunities. Note that some of the listings are limited to undergraduate students.
Students may also seek scholarship opportunities from outside resources. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) lists scholarships for nurses pursuing graduate study. To review and apply for these opportunities, please see Financial Aid & Scholarships (aacnnursing.org).
For nurses already enrolled in the Graduate Nursing Program, Western Colorado Area Health Education Center (AHEC) may have funds available for reduced housing fees for clinical rotations (e.g., rural health rotations). Please see Home (wcahec.org) for more information and to enquire about AHEC funding.
For students interested in working in rural settings, scholarship information can be found at For Providers | Colorado Rural Health Center (coruralhealth.org).
Mission. The CMU graduate nursing program provides learners with an advanced understanding of the concepts, issues, and practices of the domain of nursing. This requires the ability to think independently and generate new knowledge with a respect for the diversity among ideas, programs, and people. Graduates develop expertise in a defined body of knowledge and are prepared to provide ethical leadership in the delivery of health services and education. Graduates, as nursing leaders, serve society while promoting and protecting the health of the individual, family, and public through clinical practice, administration, education, and research.
Philosophy. The graduate nursing programs support the overall mission of CMU. Furthermore, we believe the focus of nursing is defined by connecting science to the experience of human health and caring (Newman, 1991). Recognized ways of knowing in nursing include empirics, esthetics, ethics, and personal knowledge (Carper, 1978). CMU’s graduate nursing programs honor scientific, theoretical, and nursing knowledge to advance the discipline.
Vision. Faculty, students, and alumni value the expansion of nursing science, knowledge, and practice. This entails nursing leadership in the delivery of care for individuals across the life span, communities, and populations.