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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | ACEN |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Coon Rapids, MN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN | Public | BSN | CCNE |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Bethel University | Saint Paul, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNM | — |
| Capella University | Minneapolis, MN | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-Leadership, Grad Cert-CNL, Grad Cert-Leadership, PhD | CCNE |
| Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Brainerd, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Crown College | Saint Bonifacius, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College | Cloquet, MN | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park, MN | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | ACEN |
| Herzing University-Minneapolis | St. Louis Park, MN | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
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.