Top Nursing Schools in Minnesota
This page lists 54 schools in Minnesota that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 20 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 23 associate degree (ADN), 26 bachelor's (BSN), 12 master's and 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 34 public, 17 private nonprofit and 3 private for-profit. 43 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Saint Paul (7), Minneapolis (5), Winona (3) and Bemidji (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (54)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior College | Duluth, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Rochester, MN | Private nonprofit | Grad Cert, Doctorate-CRNA | — |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CRNA, DNP | CCNE |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis, MN | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead, MN | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-Leadership | — |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | Mankato, MN | Public | BSN, DNP | CCNE, ACEN |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Normandale Community College | Bloomington, MN | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park, MN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Pine Technical & Community College | Pine City, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, RN Diploma, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Riverland Community College | Austin, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN | Public | BSN | CCNE |
Before you apply in Minnesota
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Minnesota. See online coursework and clinical requirements.