Manitoba has four schools that offer an approved bachelor’s degree for registered nurses, and its tuition is among the lowest in Canada. This guide ranks and reviews all four.
Imagine choosing between studying in Winnipeg, a smaller city like Brandon or in French. Manitoba offers all three, and each school has its own strengths in training, location and community.
How we ranked these schools
Canada has no official national dataset on nursing school outcomes like the US has, so we combined two things. First, schools in Manitoba that appear in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for nursing would be placed at the top, in QS order; none of Manitoba’s schools is in that table this year. Second, we ranked the programmes approved by the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) on the range of degree routes they offer, the strength of the wider university and the clinical training they can provide. Every school on this list leads to a degree that lets you apply to register as a nurse.
Manitoba nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | School | City | Nursing degree options | QS Nursing 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Manitoba | Winnipeg | Four-year BN; joint programme with University College of the North | Not ranked |
| 2 | Brandon University | Brandon | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
| 3 | Red River College Polytechnic | Winnipeg | Nursing baccalaureate; re-entry programme for internationally educated nurses | Not ranked |
| 4 | Université de Saint-Boniface | Winnipeg | French-language nursing baccalaureate | Not ranked |
Top Manitoba nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba’s College of Nursing is part of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, alongside the province’s medical school. Its joint programme with University College of the North trains nurses in northern Manitoba.
- Degree options: Four-year BN; joint programme with University College of the North
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students who want a large research university, or northern students who want to stay close to home
2. Brandon University
Brandon University offers a nursing degree in western Manitoba’s largest city, with a strong focus on rural health care.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students who want a smaller university and rural nursing experience
3. Red River College Polytechnic
Red River College Polytechnic is Manitoba’s largest polytechnic. Its nursing degree has a practical focus, and its re-entry programme helps nurses educated abroad register in Manitoba.
- Degree options: Nursing baccalaureate; re-entry programme for internationally educated nurses
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: hands-on learners, and nurses educated abroad who need a re-entry programme
4. Université de Saint-Boniface
Université de Saint-Boniface is western Canada’s French-language university. Its nursing degree prepares bilingual nurses, who are in demand in French-speaking communities.
- Degree options: French-language nursing baccalaureate
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: French speakers, and students who want to work as bilingual nurses
What does nursing school cost in Manitoba?
Statistics Canada puts average undergraduate tuition in Manitoba at about $5,993 a year for Canadian students in 2025/2026, well below the national average of $7,734. International students pay much more: the national average for international undergraduates is about $41,746 a year.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- Approval: make sure the programme is on the approved list of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM), so you can register as a nurse when you graduate.
- Accreditation: most Canadian nursing degrees are also accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). Ask about the programme’s current status.
- Exam results: registered nurses in Canada (outside Quebec) write the NCLEX-RN. Ask each school for its graduates’ first-time pass rate.
- Admission competition: nursing seats are limited and admission averages are high. Apply to more than one school.
- Clinical placements: where students train, and whether you may be placed far from campus.
Your next step: Shortlist two or three schools from the table, then check each one’s admission requirements and deadlines on its website. Many Canadian nursing programmes close applications early in the year.
Related: Moving to Canada as a nurse: NNAS, NCLEX and immigration steps · Nurse salaries in Canada by province
Sources: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Nursing), the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM), Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, Statistics Canada Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey 2025/2026, school websites. Programmes and fees change; always confirm with the school.
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