2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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 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 48 schools in Minnesota to see which ones offered the best value 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.
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Top Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Rochester Community and Technical College to be the best value school for nursing students in Minnesota. Rochester Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Rochester, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 148 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,298 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Rochester Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $41,604 annually.
Out of the 48 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Technical College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the very small public school awarded 86 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
NTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,380 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,786 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, NTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,103 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 84 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ATCC are $5,910 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,948 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, ATCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,141 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 48 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, North Hennepin Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. North Hennepin Community College is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,533 in student loans. During the early years of their career, North Hennepin Community College graduates make an average of $42,370 annually.
Out of the 48 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Pine Technical & Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Pine Technical & Community College is a small public school located in Pine City, Minnesota that handed out 109 degrees in 2020-2021.
Pine Technical & Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,526 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $20,179 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Pine Technical & Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,593 during the early years of their career.
Anoka Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Anoka Technical College is located in Anoka, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 171 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Anoka Technical College are $6,075 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,588 in student loans.After graduating from Anoka Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,893 during the early years of their career.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a medium-sized public school situated in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. It awarded 151 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,515 a year. On average, students take out $23,645 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus graduates make an average of $43,464 annually.
Inver Hills Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. IHCC is a small public school situated in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. It awarded 201 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at IHCC are $5,809 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,661 in student loans.After graduating from IHCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,023 during the early years of their career.
Northland Community and Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota that handed out 239 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Northland Community and Technical College are $6,052 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,224 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Northland Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,428 during the early year of their career.
Century College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 168 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,112 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Century College graduates make an average of $40,997 annually.
Hennepin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 95 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,741 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,708 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Hennepin Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,797 during the early year of their career.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. This small public school is located in Rosemount, Minnesota, and it awarded 114 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DCTC are $6,208 per year. On average, students take out $18,397 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from DCTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,125 during the early years of their career.
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 127 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $5,874 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,381 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, St Cloud Technical and Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,365 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on St Cloud Technical and Community College
Hibbing Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. This very small public school is located in Hibbing, Minnesota, and it awarded 49 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hibbing Community College are $7,071 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,637 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Hibbing Community College graduates make an average of $44,154 annually.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 366 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Minnesota West are $11,936 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,553 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Minnesota West graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,213 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Ridgewater College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Willmar, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 128 degrees in 2020-2021.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,601 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Ridgewater College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,961 during the early year of their career.
Saint Paul College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 233 degrees in 2020-2021.
Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,041 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $20,623 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Saint Paul College graduates make an average of $36,206 annually.
South Central College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. South Central College is a small public school situated in North Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 72 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Central College are $5,966 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,542 in student loans.After graduating from South Central College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,588 during the early years of their career.
Lake Superior College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 169 degrees in 2020-2021.
LSC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,616 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $20,849 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, LSC graduates make an average of $37,585 annually.
Minnesota State College Southeast came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota ranking. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MSC Southeast are $6,562 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,477 in student loans.After graduating from MSC Southeast, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,491 during the early years of their career.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 130 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at M State are $5,862 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,353 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, M State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,038 during the early year of their career.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. Central Lakes College - Brainerd is a small public school located in Brainerd, Minnesota that handed out 96 degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Lakes College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,954 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,546 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Central Lakes College graduates make an average of $41,724 annually.
Bemidji State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 156 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Bemidji State University are $9,806 a year. On average, students take out $25,667 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Bemidji State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,896 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Bemidji State University is ranked #3 for overall quality in Minnesota.
Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 80 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Minnesota State University are $9,482 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,598 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,918 during the early year of their career.
Southwest Minnesota State University also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools in Minnesota list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 231 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $5,906 a year. On average, students take out $25,516 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Minneapolis Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $42,845 annually.
Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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