Best Colleges for Nursing in Minnesota
The best colleges for a Nursing degree in Minnesota, led by University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of St Thomas and University of Minnesota-Crookston. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Nursing programs side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college for Nursing in Minnesota?
Based on our rankings, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the top-ranked college for Nursing in Minnesota. Other top choices include University of St Thomas, University of Minnesota-Crookston, Winona State University.
What are the best Nursing schools?
The best Nursing schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of St Thomas, University of Minnesota-Crookston. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.
How much does it cost to study Nursing?
The average out-of-state tuition among top Nursing programs is approximately $26,203 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.
How long does it take to get a Nursing degree?
A bachelor's degree in Nursing typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.
How are these Nursing rankings determined?
Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.
Career outcomes for Nursing graduates
Among the top 10 ranked Nursing programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $60,978 per year. Below are the highest-paying Nursing programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.
- University of St Thomas — Saint Paul, MN · $73,739/yr (rank #1)
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Minneapolis, MN · $69,020/yr (rank #2)
- Gustavus Adolphus College — Saint Peter, MN · $65,607/yr (rank #3)
- Bethel University — Saint Paul, MN · $63,764/yr (rank #4)
- Concordia University-Saint Paul — Saint Paul, MN · $59,871/yr (rank #5)
- 1. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Minneapolis, MN · 79.8% acceptance · SAT 1,362 · $38,362 tuition · 85% grad rate
- 2. University of St Thomas — Saint Paul, MN · 85.4% acceptance · SAT 1,296 · $54,398 tuition · 76% grad rate
- 3. University of Minnesota-Crookston — Crookston, MN · 87.9% acceptance · $13,288 tuition · 50% grad rate
- 4. Winona State University — Winona, MN · 75.5% acceptance · $17,308 tuition · 57% grad rate
- 5. Bethel University — Saint Paul, MN · 87.8% acceptance · SAT 1,249 · $44,226 tuition · 71% grad rate
- 6. Southwest Minnesota State University — Marshall, MN · 62.2% acceptance · SAT 1,050 · $10,361 tuition · 45% grad rate
- 7. Concordia College at Moorhead — Moorhead, MN · 62.7% acceptance · SAT 1,190 · $31,170 tuition · 61% grad rate
- 8. Minnesota State University Moorhead — Moorhead, MN · 58.8% acceptance · SAT 1,090 · $10,428 tuition · 57% grad rate
- 9. Gustavus Adolphus College — Saint Peter, MN · 61% acceptance · SAT 1,290 · $56,076 tuition · 77% grad rate
- 10. Concordia University-Saint Paul — Saint Paul, MN · 78.9% acceptance · $25,600 tuition · 52% grad rate
- 11. Bemidji State University — Bemidji, MN · 56% acceptance · SAT 1,090 · $10,237 tuition · 48% grad rate
- 12. Minnesota State University-Mankato — Mankato, MN · 88.4% acceptance · SAT 1,150 · $18,942 tuition · 54% grad rate
- 13. Saint Cloud State University — Saint Cloud, MN · 94.8% acceptance · SAT 1,092 · $10,245 tuition · 40% grad rate
Best Colleges for Nursing in Minnesota on PickACampus
