Minnesota Nursing Programs

Top Nursing Schools in
Minnesota — 2026

Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in Minnesota. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.

7 programs listed BSN · MSN · ADN Minnesota Board of Nursing Compact legislation pending

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Nursing Programs in Minnesota

BSN · On-Campus
University of Minnesota
BSN Program — Minneapolis

UMN's School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20. Students train at M Health Fairview University Medical Center — a Magnet-designated hospital.

$16,000/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
94%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Winona State University
BSN Program — Winona

WSU's nursing program is one of Minnesota's best values, producing practice-ready nurses for Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin with a long history of exceptional NCLEX pass rates.

$10,500/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
93%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
University of Minnesota
BSN Program — Minneapolis

Premier public nursing school in Minnesota with extensive Twin Cities clinical network

$24,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
93%NCLEX Pass
MSN · On-Campus
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
MSN – NP Program — Rochester

Graduate nursing embedded at Mayo Clinic; unparalleled clinical exposure

$30,000/yrAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
N/ANCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Inver Hills Community College
ADN Program — Inver Grove Heights

Twin Cities suburban ADN with strong Fairview and Allina Health partnerships

$7,500 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
88%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
St. Cloud State University
BSN – Traditional — St. Cloud

Central Minnesota BSN with strong rural health and community focus

$16,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
90%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Winona State University
BSN Program — Winona

Southeastern Minnesota BSN with community health and rural nursing emphasis

$15,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
89%NCLEX Pass

About Nursing Programs in Minnesota

Minnesota is home to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester — consistently ranked among the best hospitals in the world — along with M Health Fairview and Allina Health across the Twin Cities. The combination of a globally renowned destination hospital and strong metro systems makes Minnesota an exceptional place to train and build a nursing career.

Students can pursue affordable community and technical college ADN programs, BSN degrees at the University of Minnesota and other public and private institutions, accelerated second-degree options, and RN-to-BSN bridges plus MSN tracks for advanced practice and leadership. The state's nursing programs are well-regarded and feed directly into top-tier clinical placements.

Licensure is handled by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. An important planning note: Minnesota has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation but has not yet implemented it, so for now Minnesota nurses hold a single-state license, and out-of-state nurses must apply by endorsement. Check with the board for the current implementation status.

Licensing authority: Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not yet. Minnesota has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation but has not completed implementation, so Minnesota nurses currently hold a single-state license. Confirm the latest status with the Minnesota Board of Nursing before relying on multistate privileges.
Complete a Minnesota Board of Nursing-approved ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the board.
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester and major Twin Cities systems offer outstanding clinical placements, new-graduate residencies, and specialty and research opportunities.
Both qualify you for the NCLEX-RN. A community or technical college ADN is an affordable entry point, while a BSN is preferred at larger systems and for advancement.
About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN, with accelerated BSN options finishing in roughly 12 to 18 months for second-degree students.
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