Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall registered nursing education in Minnesota.
Top Schools in Registered Nursing
Our analysis ranked University Of St Thomas Minnesota the best school in the country for a degree in registered nursing. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 36 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #2. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 196 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $87,395 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Winona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 213 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $101,220 early in their careers. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $26,252 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Winona State University
Capella University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. About 7,779 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Capella University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $107,183 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,826.
Get the full registered nursing details for Capella University
Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #5. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 383 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $90,983 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
The College Of Saint Scholastica earned the #6 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. The College Of Saint Scholastica awarded about 281 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $94,855 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at The College Of Saint Scholastica
Rochester Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for registered nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rochester. About 109 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $70,020. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Rochester Community And Technical College
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #8 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 313 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $73,235. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates carry a median of $36,940 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Concordia University Saint Paul
Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. About 452 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $77,596. Students borrow a median of $34,866 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Rasmussen College Minnesota
Walden University placed #10 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 4,132 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Walden University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Walden University earn a median of $107,541 early in their careers. Walden University graduates carry a median of $32,800 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Walden University
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #11 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 89 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $80,805 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Cloud State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $74,111. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000.
Get the full registered nursing details for Saint Cloud State University
St Olaf College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 23 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $76,078 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from St Olaf College
St Catherine University placed #14 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. St Catherine University awarded about 219 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from St Catherine University earn around $89,336 in the first couple years of their career. St Catherine University graduates carry a median of $32,610 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for St Catherine University
Bemidji State University landed the #15 spot for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Bemidji. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 131 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Bemidji State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $77,639 early in their careers. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $27,990 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Bemidji State University
Century College came in at #16 for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. Century College awarded about 104 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Century College earn around $66,512 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750.
Get the full registered nursing details for Century College
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #17 among the best registered nursing schools. Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Concordia College At Moorhead in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $73,174 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Concordia College At Moorhead
Ridgewater College earned the #18 position for registered nursing this year. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. About 76 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Ridgewater College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $59,082 in their early career. Ridgewater College graduates carry a median of $23,062 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Ridgewater College
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #19 spot for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Paul. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 47 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Northwestern College Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $75,121 in their early career. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for Northwestern College Minnesota
College Of Saint Benedict ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 registered nursing degrees were awarded at College Of Saint Benedict in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from College Of Saint Benedict generally make around $75,656. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from College Of Saint Benedict
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. About 57% of students finish within six years. Minnesota State University Moorhead awarded about 103 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $85,972 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,359.
Get the full registered nursing details for Minnesota State University Moorhead
Central Lakes College Brainerd came in at #22 for registered nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Brainerd. About 82 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Central Lakes College Brainerd in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Central Lakes College Brainerd earn around $68,032 in the first couple years of their career. Central Lakes College Brainerd graduates carry a median of $28,354 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Central Lakes College Brainerd
Northwest Technical College earned the #23 position for registered nursing this year. Northwest Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Bemidji. There were roughly 94 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $72,778 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,053.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Northwest Technical College
Metropolitan State University earned the #24 position for registered nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Metropolitan State University awarded about 99 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $84,529 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $35,762.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Metropolitan State University
Herzing University Minneapolis landed the #25 spot for registered nursing this year. Herzing University Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of St. Louis Park. About 36% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 135 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Herzing University Minneapolis in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Herzing University Minneapolis earn a median of $75,774 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $43,985.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Herzing University Minneapolis
Rest of the Top 44 Registered Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong registered nursing education:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 49 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
