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Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota

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2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

13 Schools Ranked
$6,537 Avg Tuition & Fees*

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 13 schools in Minnesota to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
60 Total Awards
$5,907 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Century College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Minnesota. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 60 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Century College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Century College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Read full report on Century College

#2

Anoka Technical College

Anoka, Minnesota
129 Total Awards
$6,075 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Anoka Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Minnesota. Located in Anoka, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 129 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka Technical College are $6,075 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Anoka Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Anoka Technical College also took the #2 spot in our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota rankings.

Read full report on Anoka Technical College

#3

Inver Hills Community College

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
112 Total Awards
$5,809 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Inver Hills Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. IHCC is a public institution located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 112 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

IHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,809 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that IHCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

IHCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Full Inver Hills Community College Report

#4

Pine Technical & Community College

Pine City, Minnesota
29 Total Awards
$8,526 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Pine Technical & Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Pine Technical & Community College is a public institution located in Pine City, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pine Technical & Community College are $8,526 a year.

Pine Technical & Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 22% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#5

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, Minnesota
64 Total Awards
$6,052 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Northland Community and Technical College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It awarded 64 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northland Community and Technical College are $6,052 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Northland Community and Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.

Northland Community and Technical College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Read full report on Northland Community and Technical College

#6

Dakota County Technical College

Rosemount, Minnesota
68 Total Awards
$6,208 Average Tuition & Fees

Dakota County Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota ranking. This small public school is located in Rosemount, Minnesota, and it awarded 68 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

DCTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,208 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at DCTC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

DCTC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Read full report on Dakota County Technical College

278 Total Awards
$11,936 Average Tuition & Fees

Minnesota West Community and Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, and it awarded 278 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minnesota West are $11,936 a year.

Minnesota West does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#8

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
165 Total Awards
$6,041 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Paul College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 165 students in 2020-2021.

Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,041 in tuition and fees each year.

Saint Paul College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Saint Paul College

14 Total Awards
$5,372 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Rochester, Minnesota that handed out 14 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Rochester Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,372 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Rochester Community and Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Rochester Community and Technical College Report

#10

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
19 Total Awards
$5,741 Average Tuition & Fees

Hennepin Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,741 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Hennepin Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#11

Lake Superior College

Duluth, Minnesota
36 Total Awards
$5,616 Average Tuition & Fees

Lake Superior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. LSC is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LSC are $5,616 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LSC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 47% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Lake Superior College

141 Total Awards
$5,906 Average Tuition & Fees

Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 141 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $5,906 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Minneapolis Community and Technical College Report

#13

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota
28 Total Awards
$5,789 Average Tuition & Fees

Normandale Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Bloomington, Minnesota that handed out 28 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Normandale Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,789 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that Normandale Community College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Normandale Community College

Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

View Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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