Best value colleges for Nursing in Minnesota.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Nursing program in Minnesota means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 27 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Bethany Lutheran College leads on selectivity (51% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Minnesota's Nursing programs, the typical in-state price is $27,560 and the average graduation rate is 60%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $46,530 within one year of completing their degree.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 52% | 84% | $15,236 | $76,078 | 12:1 | 36 | 3,049 |
| 2 | Excellent· 44 | 77% | 85% | $10,861 | $72,929 | 16:1 | 119 | 30,469 | |
| 3 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | Great· 41 | 62% | 76% | $17,611 | $71,294 | 11:1 | 38 | 1,930 |
| 4 | Great· 41 | 70% | 62% | $5,967 | $38,659 | 9:1 | 36 | 980 | |
| 5 | College of Saint BenedictPrivate | Great· 39 | 91% | 83% | $22,544 | $75,656 | 11:1 | 36 | 1,392 |
| 6 | Strong· 37 | 63% | 72% | $21,948 | $73,174 | 12:1 | 47 | 1,721 | |
| 7 | Bethany Lutheran CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 51% | 60% | $16,099 | $37,463 | 12:1 | 30 | 682 |
| 8 | Saint Johns UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 90% | 76% | $17,390 | $48,669 | 12:1 | 37 | 1,468 |
| 9 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 91% | 75% | $22,279 | $75,371 | 12:1 | 53 | 2,012 |
| 10 | Strong· 35 | 89% | 68% | $14,418 | $84,323 | 18:1 | 70 | 1,061 | |
| 11 | Strong· 35 | 94% | 63% | $18,824 | $75,499 | 10:1 | 39 | 1,725 | |
| 12 | Winona State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 69% | 61% | $15,495 | $75,313 | 15:1 | 52 | 5,088 |
| 13 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 71% | 53% | $13,262 | $77,639 | 16:1 | 46 | 3,120 |
| 14 | Strong· 34 | 75% | 59% | $15,449 | $73,235 | 15:1 | 42 | 2,786 | |
| 15 | Strong· 34 | 53% | 55% | $14,544 | $78,006 | 17:1 | 61 | 3,120 | |
| 16 | Strong· 34 | 69% | 44% | $12,810 | $71,933 | 16:1 | 42 | 2,045 | |
| 17 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 94% | 65% | $19,862 | $76,084 | 10:1 | 53 | 2,393 |
| 18 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 77% | 52% | $20,478 | $80,574 | 13:1 | 55 | 2,429 |
| 19 | Good· 31 | 95% | 47% | $13,125 | $74,111 | 17:1 | 74 | 5,181 | |
| 20 | Good· 31 | 92% | 68% | $20,077 | $75,121 | 15:1 | 46 | 1,495 | |
| 21 | Average· 29 | 94% | 74% | $12,787 | $75,774 | 14:1 | 9 | 747 | |
| 22 | Average· 29 | 96% | 38% | $18,128 | $77,421 | 14:1 | 46 | 4,998 | |
| 23 | Crown CollegePrivate | Average· 28 | 63% | 64% | $26,296 | $63,539 | 22:1 | 29 | 789 |
| 24 | Average· 28 | 91% | 54% | $15,200 | $75,655 | 21:1 | 78 | 11,325 | |
| 25 | Walden UniversityPrivate | Fair· 23 | — | 0% | $12,498 | $88,877 | 30:1 | 20 | 7,337 |
| 26 | Fair· 22 | — | 53% | $19,319 | $74,861 | 14:1 | 21 | 8,033 | |
| 27 | Capella UniversityPrivate | Weak· 19 | — | 33% | $20,489 | $85,426 | 36:1 | 24 | 16,173 |