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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Johns University | Collegeville, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | — |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Winona, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CRNA | CCNE |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | ACEN |
| South Central College | North Mankato, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall, MN | Public | BSN | ACEN |
| St Catherine University | Saint Paul, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | ACEN |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| St Olaf College | Northfield, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | Public | BSN, MSN, DNP-Leadership, PhD-Leadership | CCNE |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | Private nonprofit | MSN | — |
| Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-Leadership, Post-Master's-PMHNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Winona State University | Winona, MN | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-Leadership, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-FNP, Grad Cert-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-Leadership, DNP-PMHNP | 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.