Nursing Schools in Minnesota: All 105 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Minnesota has 54 schools running 105 board-approved nursing programs — 67 RN-track and 38 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Minnesota programs is 82.6%, 3.9 points below the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
105
Approved programs
54
Schools
82.6%
Avg RN pass rate (2025)
86.5%
National RN average
Best Nursing Schools in Minnesota by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankato · Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)
- 2100%Concordia College Nursing ProgramMoorhead · Baccalaureate Degree (no program name printed; listed under 'Licensure-preparing Programs Leading to a Baccalaureate Degree')
- 3100%Crown CollegeSt Bonifacius · Baccalaureate Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)
- 4100%Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona · Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)
- 596.7%Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeCoon Rapids · Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)
- 695.8%South Central CollegeNorth Mankato · Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)
- 795.8%South Central CollegeFaribault · Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)
- 893.7%University of Minnesota School of NursingMinneapolis · Master of Nursing (MN) Program (Entry Level Masters Degree section)
- 993.1%Bethel UniversitySt. Paul · Nursing Department (Baccalaureate Degree section)
- 1092.8%Minnesota State University, MankatoMankato · School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)
Every Approved Nursing Program in Minnesota
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
105 of 105 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| Alexandria Technical College | Alexandria | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 90.6% |
| Alexandria Technical College | Alexandria | Program of Practical NursingPN | 89.6% |
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 84.3% |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Coon Rapids | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 96.7% |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji | Baccalaureate Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 89.7% |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 100% |
| Bethel University | St. Paul | Nursing Department (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 93.1% |
| Capella University | Minneapolis | School of Nursing and Health Sciences (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | — |
| Central Lakes College | Brainerd | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 87.9% |
| Central Lakes College | Brainerd | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 83.3% |
| Century College | White Bear Lake | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 81.2% |
| College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University | St. Joseph | Department of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 90.8% |
| College of St. Scholastica | Duluth | School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 76.5% |
| College of St. Scholastica | Sartell | School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 76.5% |
| Concordia College Nursing Program | Moorhead | Baccalaureate Degree (no program name printed; listed under 'Licensure-preparing Programs Leading to a Baccalaureate Degree')RN | 100% |
| Concordia University St. Paul | St. Paul | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 86.9% |
| Crown College | St Bonifacius | Baccalaureate Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 100% |
| Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 92.9% |
| Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College | Cloquet | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 57.1% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | St. Peter | Baccalaureate Degree (no program name printed; listed under 'Licensure-preparing Programs Leading to a Baccalaureate Degree')RN | 90.3% |
| Hennepin Technical College | Eden Prairie | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 92.3% |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 92.3% |
| Herzing University | St. Louis Park | Baccalaureate Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 79.1% |
| Herzing University, Minneapolis | St. Louis Park | Diploma in Practical Nursing ProgramPN | — |
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 70.3% |
| Lake Superior College | Duluth | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 89.9% |
| Lake Superior College | Duluth | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 71% |
| Metropolitan State University | St. Paul | Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing Program (Entry Level Masters Degree section)RN | 85.7% |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 85.4% |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 75.5% |
| Minnesota North College | Grand Rapids | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 75.5% |
| Minnesota North College | Eveleth | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 75.5% |
| Minnesota North College | International Falls | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 75.5% |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Minnesota North College | Grand Rapids | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Minnesota North College | Eveleth | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Minnesota North College | International Falls | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 87.2% |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Red Wing | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 87.2% |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 90.9% |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Red Wing | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 90.9% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Detroit Lakes | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 80.3% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 80.3% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Wadena | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 80.3% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Detroit Lakes | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 80.4% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 80.4% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Moorhead | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 80.4% |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Wadena | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 80.4% |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato | Mankato | School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 92.8% |
| Minnesota State University, Moorhead | Moorhead | Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 73.5% |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Worthington | Associate Degree Nursing (Associate Degree section)RN | 87.5% |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Worthington | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 97% |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Pipestone | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 97% |
| Normandale Community College | Bloomington | Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 89.5% |
| North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park | Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 86.9% |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Associate in Science Degree - Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 79% |
| Northland Community and Technical College | East Grand Forks | Associate in Science Degree - Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 79% |
| Northland Community and Technical College | East Grand Forks | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 92.8% |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 92.8% |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Roseau | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 92.8% |
| Northwest Technical College-Bemidji | Bemidji | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 61.1% |
| Northwest Technical College, Bemidji | Bemidji | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 69.8% |
| Pine Technical and Community College | Pine City | Associate Degree Nursing Mobility Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 80.6% |
| Pine Technical and Community College | Pine City | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Rasmussen University | Bloomington | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 83.5% |
| Rasmussen University | Eagan | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 83.5% |
| Rasmussen University | Brooklyn Park | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 83.5% |
| Rasmussen University | Mankato | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 83.5% |
| Rasmussen University | Mankato | Nursing Program- MankatoPN | 93.8% |
| Rasmussen University | Moorhead | Nursing Program- MoorheadPN | 85% |
| Rasmussen University | St. Cloud | Nursing Program- St. CloudPN | 100% |
| Rasmussen University | Eagan | Practical Nursing Program- EaganPN | 85.5% |
| Rasmussen University | Mankato | Professional Nursing Program- Mankato (Associate Degree section)RN | 78.4% |
| Rasmussen University | Moorhead | Professional Nursing Program- Moorhead (Associate Degree section)RN | 69.2% |
| Rasmussen University | St. Cloud | Professional Nursing Program- St. Cloud (Associate Degree section)RN | 71% |
| Rasmussen University – Brooklyn Park | Brooklyn Park | Practical Nursing (per BON NCLEX-PN rate report)PN | — |
| Rasmussen University –Bloomington | Bloomington | Associate Degree Nursing (per BON NCLEX-RN rate report) (Associate Degree section)RN | 0% |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 84.7% |
| Ridgewater College | Hutchinson | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 84.7% |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 87% |
| Ridgewater College | Hutchinson | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 87% |
| Riverland Community College | Austin | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 85% |
| Riverland Community College | Austin | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 77.4% |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 85% |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 85% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Winona | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 100% |
| Saint Paul College | St. Paul | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 73.7% |
| South Central College | North Mankato | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 95.8% |
| South Central College | Faribault | Associate Degree Nursing Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 95.8% |
| South Central College | North Mankato | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 96.6% |
| South Central College | Faribault | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 96.6% |
| St. Catherine University | St. Paul | School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 84.4% |
| St. Catherine University | St. Paul | School of Nursing, Masters Entry Program (Entry Level Masters Degree section)RN | 77.8% |
| St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud | Department of Nursing Science (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 76.9% |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St. Cloud | Associate Degree in Nursing Mobility Program (Associate Degree section)RN | 83.7% |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St. Cloud | Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 75.5% |
| St. Olaf College | Northfield | Baccalaureate Degree (no program name printed; listed under 'Licensure-preparing Programs Leading to a Baccalaureate Degree')RN | 81.5% |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis | School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 84.4% |
| University of Minnesota | Rochester | School of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 84.4% |
| University of Minnesota School of Nursing | Minneapolis | Master of Nursing (MN) Program (Entry Level Masters Degree section)RN | 93.7% |
| University of Northwestern - St. Paul | St. Paul | Baccalaureate Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 88.6% |
| University of St. Thomas | St. Paul | Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | — |
| University of St. Thomas | St. Paul | Master of Science in Nursing Program (Entry Level Masters Degree section)RN | 91.1% |
| Winona State University | Winona | College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing (Baccalaureate Degree section)RN | 87.2% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Minnesota by NCLEX pass rate?
4 RN programs in Minnesota tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Minnesota?
Minnesota has 54 schools offering 105 board-approved nursing programs: 67 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 38 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Minnesota?
Across Minnesota RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 82.6% — 3.9 points below the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Minnesota board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
Nursing schools in other states
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