Minnesota has around 20 colleges producing BSN graduates, from the University of Minnesota to a cluster of strong private liberal arts colleges. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.
Imagine being drawn to a big research university in Minneapolis and a small liberal arts college in Northfield at the same time. Minnesota’s nursing schools offer both. The numbers below compare their outcomes and costs.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Minnesota that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
Minnesota nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis | Public | 85% | 135 | $77,921 | $18,482 |
| 2 | St Olaf College | Northfield | Private nonprofit | 84% | 23 | $84,253 | $62,700 |
| 3 | College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph | Private nonprofit | 80% | 58 | $79,173 | $57,698 |
| 4 | Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter | Private nonprofit | 77% | 31 | $76,826 | $58,024 |
| 5 | Bethel University | Saint Paul | Private nonprofit | 72% | 93 | $81,040 | $26,240 |
| 6 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul | Private nonprofit | 71% | 47 | $78,372 | $38,946 |
| 7 | The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth | Private nonprofit | 69% | 281 | $77,966 | $43,050 |
| 8 | Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead | Private nonprofit | 65% | 31 | $75,283 | $32,480 |
| 9 | St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Private nonprofit | 64% | 156 | $75,642 | $53,214 |
| 10 | Winona State University | Winona | Public | 58% | 219 | $78,991 | $11,232 |
| 11 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead | Public | 55% | 88 | $82,591 | $11,056 |
| 12 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Mankato | Public | 55% | 383 | $77,737 | $10,280 |
| 13 | Augsburg University | Minneapolis | Private nonprofit | 54% | 27 | $85,171 | $46,840 |
| 14 | Bemidji State University | Bemidji | Public | 49% | 131 | $80,430 | $10,868 |
| 15 | Herzing University-Minneapolis | St. Louis Park | Private nonprofit | 49% | 135 | $81,319 | $13,820 |
| 16 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul | Private nonprofit | 48% | 313 | $101,479 | $26,400 |
| 17 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall | Public | 47% | 57 | $86,543 | $10,918 |
| 18 | Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | Public | 45% | 76 | $82,260 | $10,382 |
| 19 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud | Public | 42% | 76 | $80,361 | $10,858 |
Also offering a BSN in Minnesota (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capella University | Minneapolis | Private for-profit | 22% | 7779 | $94,212 | $14,328 |
| Walden University | Minneapolis | Private for-profit | n/a | 437 | $93,886 | $13,140 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Private for-profit | 48% | 123 | $77,969 | $11,843 |
Top Minnesota nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis is the state’s leading public research nursing school and tops our Minnesota list.
- Graduation rate: 85%, number 1 in Minnesota on our list
- Programme size: about 135 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $77,921 one year after graduating
- Cost: $18,482 in-state tuition ($41,368 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 80%
2. St Olaf College
St. Olaf College in Northfield is a selective private liberal arts college with a small, highly regarded nursing programme.
- Graduation rate: 84%, number 2 in Minnesota on our list
- Programme size: about 23 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $84,253 one year after graduating
- Cost: $62,700 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 48%
3. College of Saint Benedict
The College of Saint Benedict in central Minnesota, partnered with Saint John’s University, offers a Catholic liberal arts nursing education.
- Graduation rate: 80%, number 3 in Minnesota on our list
- Programme size: about 58 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $79,173 one year after graduating
- Cost: $57,698 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 92%
4. Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter is a private Lutheran college with a small nursing programme.
- Graduation rate: 77%, number 4 in Minnesota on our list
- Programme size: about 31 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,826 one year after graduating
- Cost: $58,024 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 61%
5. Bethel University
Bethel University in Saint Paul is a Christian university with one of the larger private nursing programmes in the Twin Cities.
- Graduation rate: 72%, number 5 in Minnesota on our list
- Programme size: about 93 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $81,040 one year after graduating
- Cost: $26,240 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 88%
Large public options also include Minnesota State University, Mankato and Winona State University.
Ways to become a registered nurse in Minnesota
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Minnesota offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 22 colleges in Minnesota produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 10,699 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which Minnesota nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 85%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in Minnesota?
Capella University produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 7779 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in Minnesota?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $75,283 to $101,479, with a typical (median) figure of about $80,396. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in Minnesota?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $10,280 to $18,482 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the Minnesota Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the Minnesota Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Minnesota Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
Leave a Reply