Minnesota Nursing Schools And Programs

Minnesota has more than 40 state-approved ADN and BSN programs, pays RNs above the national average, and keeps a cost of living near the national midpoint. That makes it a practical place to train and work. This guide covers the programs worth your attention and how to earn a Minnesota license.

The Best Nursing Schools in Minnesota

A two-year ADN gets you licensed faster, while a four-year BSN opens more doors and is the better base if you plan to pursue an MSN or higher-level roles. Every program below is accredited.

St. Olaf College offers a BSN with concentrations in promoting health and wellness, preventing illness, restoring health, and care of the dying. Most students start the program as sophomores. Coursework covers holistic health, pharmacology, family health, gerontological nursing, and behavioral health, with local clinical sites including Children's Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and the VA Medical Center.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
• Campus: Northfield, Minnesota
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $52,670 per year
• Admission Requirements: A minimum 2.85 cumulative GPA and prerequisite courses with a minimum 2.70 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities runs one of the state's most prominent nursing schools, founded in 1909, with two training clinics. Students learn in lecture halls, the 11,000-square-foot Bentson Center, and the Health Science Education Center, and choose from a BSN, MSN, Ph.D., or DNP. The university awarded about $2.1 million in nursing aid for the 2021-2022 year.

• Programs: Bachelor of science in nursing, master of science in nursing, Ph.D. in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, healthcare design and innovation post-baccalaureate certificate, leadership in health information technology certificate, and post-graduate certificates
• Campus: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $520 per credit for undergraduates; $1,018 per credit for graduate students
• Admission Requirements: Varies
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.5% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $65,723 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Dakota County Technical College trains future LPNs through lectures, simulated labs, and clinicals near its Rosemount campus. The practical nursing diploma runs 43 credits over two years and prepares students for the NCLEX-PN, covering anatomy and physiology, health career mathematics, lifespan development, and maternal and child health, plus two clinicals and a capstone. DCTC also offers a nursing assistant certificate.

• Programs: Nursing assistant certificate and practical nursing diploma
• Campus: Rosemount, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
• Tuition: $201 for nursing assistant students; $222 for practical nursing students
• Admission Requirements: TEAS scores, a criminal background check, a minimum 2.5 GPA, and prerequisite courses
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 94.5% first-time pass rate

Alexandria Technical & Community College prepares students to become RNs in two semesters through its ADN program. Students complete 64 credits in two phases: first the fundamentals (anatomy and physiology, lifespan psychology, nutrition), then advanced nursing concepts, family nursing, and two clinicals. ATCC charges in-state tuition to online students and also runs a 36-credit practical nursing diploma.

• Programs: Associate degree in nursing and practical nursing diploma
• Campus: Alexandria, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
• Tuition: $176 per credit for onsite tuition; $205 for online tuition
• Admission Requirements: Current LPN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 88% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $54,536 for associate graduates, according to College Scorecard

Ridgewater College runs an ADN-to-BSN dual-enrollment program with Metropolitan State University for LPNs and students new to nursing. Students complete 30-35 nursing and 40 general education credits for the associate, then another 30 nursing and 15 general education credits for the BSN. Coursework covers chronic, palliative, acute, and complex care, plus professionalism, leadership, and clinical reasoning. Current LPNs receive five advanced-standing credits. Ridgewater also offers a 40-credit practical nursing diploma.

• Programs: Associate degree in nursing, bachelor of science in nursing, and practical nursing diploma
• Campus: Willmar, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $197 per credit
• Admission Requirements: Official transcripts, TEAS scores, and a minimum 2.75 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90.9% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $54,109 for associate graduates, according to College Scorecard

Riverland Community College offers evening and daytime formats and a bridge to a BSN through Winona State University. Full-time students take day courses, clinicals, and labs three to four days a week; working students can use the evening program. Coursework covers pharmacology, family nursing, health assessment, and acute care, with clinicals at the Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna campuses. In the final semester, students can study abroad, find mentorships, or take complementary-therapist courses.

• Programs: Associate of science in nursing, practical nursing diploma, and nursing assistant certificate
• Campus: Austin, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $202 per credit for general education courses; $249 per credit for nursing courses
• Admission Requirements: Active CNA registration or current LPN license, prerequisite courses with a minimum 2.75 GPA, and a minimum 58.6% TEAS score
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 83.3% first-time pass rate

Minnesota State University, Mankato places students in rural areas, Rochester, and the Twin Cities. The online RN-to-BSN serves associate-degree RNs, while the prelicensure BSN runs four years for students new to nursing, covering health assessment, nursing procedures, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and leadership. Mankato also offers a DNP.

• Programs: Bachelor of science in nursing, RN-to-BSN, and doctor of nursing practice
• Campus: Mankato, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $355 per credit for online learners; $315 per credit for Mankato campus students
• Admission Requirements: 30 college credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA, core prerequisites with a minimum C grade average, and TEAS scores
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24-48 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90.1% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $67,079 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Minnesota State Community and Technical College offers three nursing pathways. Current LPNs earn an associate by completing 32 credits, including 21 prerequisites and 11 prior-learning credits. M State also offers a 64-credit ADN and a 40-credit practical nursing diploma. The ADN covers medical microbiology, anatomy and physiology, reproductive health, and lifespan development, and both ADN tracks require clinical hours.

• Programs: LPN-to-ADN, associate degree in nursing, and practical nursing diploma
• Campus: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
• Tuition: $218 per credit
• Admission Requirements: ACT/SAT scores, minimum 58.6% TEAS score, minimum 3.0 GPA for ADN applicants and 2.75 GPA for LPN-to-ADN applicants, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91.3% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $55,026 for associate graduates, according to College Scorecard

Winona State University offers a flexible RN-to-BSN that takes one year full time. Students take 30 nursing credits in research and evidence-based practice, holistic assessment, and population-based healthcare, plus 60 clinical hours through WSU partners. Working RNs can finish in one to four years depending on enrollment.

• Programs: Bachelor of science in nursing, RN-to-BSN, two master of science in nursing programs, six doctor of nursing practice programs, and several post-graduate certificates
• Campus: Winona, Minnesota
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $4,050 per year for Minnesota residents; $7,301 per year for non-residents
• Admission Requirements: Associate degree or diploma in nursing for RN-to-BSN applicants, current RN license, and a minimum 2.75 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.0% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $65,101 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota offers an RN-to-BSN grounded in its Lasallian principles. Students study in cohorts of about 40, completing 122 credits across nursing research, pharmacology and applied mathematics, nursing ethics, and community health assessment, plus 585 clinical hours, half in the simulation lab. Admission is rolling, with three start dates a year. Saint Mary's also runs a DNP with a nurse anesthesiology concentration.

• Programs: Bachelor of science in nursing and doctor of nursing practice
• Campus: Winona, Minnesota
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $40,520 per year for undergraduate students; $955 per credit for graduate students
• Admission Requirements: An associate nursing degree, minimum 2.5 GPA, and current RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: No

How to Choose a Nursing Program in Minnesota

Compare tuition and total costs, NCLEX-RN pass rate, program format and length, and where you can secure clinical placement. Accreditation drives the degree's value, so stick with accredited programs.

Why Become a Nurse in Minnesota

Whether you want the Twin Cities or a smaller rural setting, Minnesota offers a strong quality of life. The state doesn't mandate a fixed nurse-to-patient ratio, but it requires each hospital to maintain a core staffing plan overseen by the chief nursing officer or a designee.

Minnesota RNs earn above the national average, and the cost of living sits near the national midpoint, with a cost-of-living index just under 100. Minnesota is not currently an operational Nurse Licensure Compact state; legislation has been introduced but the compact is not in effect. If you trained or hold a license elsewhere, you apply for a Minnesota license by endorsement.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Minnesota

Minnesota RNs earn above the national median of $93,600 a year, and nurse practitioners earn well into the six figures (BLS). Because the cost-of-living index runs near 100, that pay stretches further here than in many higher-cost states.

Demand stays steady. The federal government projects a modest surplus of about 3,100 nurses through 2030, small against the roughly 70,000 nurses already working statewide. Rochester anchors the famous Mayo Clinic, which employs thousands of nurses on its own. Ranked highest to lowest, the top-paying Minnesota metros for RNs are St. Cloud, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Mankato-North Mankato, Rochester, and Duluth (BLS).

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Minnesota

The path mirrors most states: earn a nursing degree, pass the NCLEX-RN, clear a background check, and apply for licensure.

RN Requirements

Graduate from an ADN (about two years) or a BSN (about four years). A BSN gives you an edge as a job seeker and prepares you for an MSN later. Apply to the state board of nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN. Total fees for a new RN license are $138.25; nurses from other states pay a $50 verification fee.

APRN Requirements

Earn an MSN or DNP from an accredited program, pass the board certification exam, clear a background check, and apply to the state board of nursing. To reach full practice authority, you must practice at least 2,080 hours under a collaborative arrangement with a physician.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing in Minnesota

What is the average NCLEX-RN pass rate in Minnesota?

For first-time, U.S.-educated candidates in 2020, the statewide average was 83.8%: 80.3% for ADN graduates and 89.2% for BSN graduates. Individual BSN programs ranged from 62.5% to 100%, and ADN programs from 47.83% to 97.35%.

What is the best degree for nursing students in Minnesota?

More than half of Minnesota nurses hold a BSN, 64% hold a BSN or higher, and 10% hold an MSN or DNP. The right degree depends on your goals. Weigh cost, length, NCLEX-RN pass rate, and fit.

How long does it take to become a nurse in Minnesota?

About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN. The ADN is faster and cheaper; the BSN opens more roles and makes a later MSN easier.

What financial aid programs are available for Minnesota nursing students?

National, state, and local options exist, including service-obligation programs that cover tuition and expenses in exchange for work in an underserved area. Check individual school websites for current offerings.