Best Nursing Colleges in Minnesota2026 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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| # | 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 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesPublic | 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 | University of Minnesota-MorrisPublic | 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 | Concordia College at MoorheadPrivate | Strong· 37 | 63% | 72% | $21,948 | $73,174 | 12:1 | 47 | 1,721 |
| 7 | Saint Johns UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 90% | 76% | $17,390 | $48,669 | 12:1 | 37 | 1,468 |
| 8 | Bethany Lutheran CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 51% | 60% | $16,099 | $37,463 | 12:1 | 30 | 682 |
| 9 | The College of Saint ScholasticaPrivate | Strong· 35 | 94% | 63% | $18,824 | $75,499 | 10:1 | 39 | 1,725 |
| 10 | Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaPrivate | Strong· 35 | 89% | 68% | $14,418 | $84,323 | 18:1 | 70 | 1,061 |
| 11 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 91% | 75% | $22,279 | $75,371 | 12:1 | 53 | 2,012 |
| 12 | Winona State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 69% | 61% | $15,495 | $75,313 | 15:1 | 52 | 5,088 |
| 13 | Concordia University-Saint PaulPrivate | Strong· 34 | 75% | 59% | $15,449 | $73,235 | 15:1 | 42 | 2,786 |
| 14 | Minnesota State University MoorheadPublic | Strong· 34 | 53% | 55% | $14,544 | $78,006 | 17:1 | 61 | 3,120 |
| 15 | Southwest Minnesota State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 69% | 44% | $12,810 | $71,933 | 16:1 | 42 | 2,045 |
| 16 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 71% | 53% | $13,262 | $77,639 | 16:1 | 46 | 3,120 |
| 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 | University of Northwestern-St PaulPrivate | Good· 31 | 92% | 68% | $20,077 | $75,121 | 15:1 | 46 | 1,495 |
| 20 | Saint Cloud State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 95% | 47% | $13,125 | $74,111 | 17:1 | 74 | 5,181 |
| 21 | Herzing University-MinneapolisPrivate | Average· 29 | 94% | 74% | $12,787 | $75,774 | 14:1 | 9 | 747 |
| 22 | Metropolitan State UniversityPublic | 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 | Minnesota State University-MankatoPublic | 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 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaPrivate | 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 |