Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Augsburg University and Minnesota State University Moorhead are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,323, College Scorecard. Minnesota State University - Mankato, Concordia University - Saint Paul and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Minnesota: 451, 393 and 363 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 50 Minnesota colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 20,774 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,323 | 32 | 66% | $18,163 | $40,188 |
| 2 | Augsburg University Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,574 | 53 | 52% | $23,585 | $23,441 |
| 3 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,006 | 117 | 57% | — | $30,359 |
| 4 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,639 | 133 | 48% | — | $27,990 |
| 5 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,421 | 122 | 44% | — | $35,762 |
| 6 | St Catherine University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,084 | 214 | 61% | $21,042 | $32,610 |
| 7 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,078 | 27 | 84% | $18,124 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Herzing University - Minneapolis St. Louis Park Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,774 | 99 | 47% | $16,383 | $43,985 |
| 9 | College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,656 | 66 | 77% | $22,583 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,655 | 451 | 54% | — | $25,257 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona Public · Associate degree | $74,091 | 45 | 47% | — | $36,785 |
| 2 | Northwest Technical College Bemidji Public · Associate degree | $72,778 | 102 | 50% | — | $31,053 |
| 3 | Riverland Community College Austin Public · Associate degree | $69,481 | 40 | 52% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd Public · Associate degree | $68,032 | 88 | 53% | — | $28,354 |
| 5 | Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls Public · Associate degree | $67,075 | 55 | 56% | — | $27,250 |
| 6 | Century College White Bear Lake Public · Associate degree | $66,512 | 136 | 31% | — | $25,750 |
| 7 | Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Public · Associate degree | $66,484 | 94 | 30% | — | $28,187 |
| 8 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria Public · Associate degree | $66,448 | 32 | 60% | — | $20,803 |
| 9 | Pine Technical & Community College Pine City Public · Associate degree | $64,961 | 34 | 36% | — | $31,282 |
| 10 | Lake Superior College Duluth Public · Associate degree | $64,846 | 80 | 42% | — | $27,655 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Minnesota
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 451 | $75,655 |
| 2 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 393 | $73,235 |
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 363 | $72,929 |
| 4 | Winona State University Winona Public | 288 | $75,313 |
| 5 | The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth Private not-for-profit | 285 | $75,499 |
| 6 | St Catherine University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 214 | $76,084 |
| 7 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public | 133 | $77,639 |
| 8 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul Public | 122 | $77,421 |
| 9 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public | 117 | $78,006 |
| 10 | Bethel University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 100 | $75,371 |
ShowHide the other 40 Minnesota colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Minnesota State University - Mankato (451 graduates a year), Concordia University - Saint Paul (393 graduates a year) and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (363 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 50 Minnesota colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,323, College Scorecard. Augsburg University and Minnesota State University Moorhead follow. By degrees awarded, Minnesota State University - Mankato is the largest, with 451 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota tops the list at $84,323. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Minnesota is $103,420 (median $101,510), across about 70,110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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