Best RN Programs in Minnesota for 2024

Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota.  They offer an ADN program.  While there is not a specific LPN to RN program, LPNs do take a separate transitions course in place of a 9 credit foundations course.  Normandale nursing students can also earn their BSN in conjunction with various partnerships with neighboring colleges.

Rochester Community and Technical College is located in Rochester, Minnesota.  They offer an ADN degree.  There is not a separate LPN to RN program, but LPNs are given advanced placement based on their past education and licensure.

North Hennepin Community College is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.  They offer an ASN and an ASN - Advanced Standing.  The Advanced Standing is their LPN to RN program.  NHCC students may enroll in a partner school with the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education, which would enable them to complete three semesters post-graduation, allowing them to earn their BSN.

Founded in 1966, North Hennepin Community College is a public community college in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It is a proud member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Students will enjoy this charming suburb on the west bank of the Mississippi, upstream from downtown Minneapolis in Hennepin County. The nursing program is at the undergraduate associate degree level. In addition, the NHCC program is a partner in the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) allowing students to earn a BSN. The curriculum is comprehensive with a focus on nursing theory, holistic assessment, and therapeutic interventions. Disease prevention, critical thinking, and team collaboration are hallmarks of the program. The stated mission of the school is safe, caring, competent nursing care across the lifespan and along the wellness continuum is fostered. The institution is approved to offer nursing programs by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Undergraduate programs – the ASN is offered along with the ASN Advanced standing degree, which is an LPN to RN program. the Associate Degree Nursing Program is designed to educate students to begin professional nursing careers as competent, caring members of today's healthcare team. Many NHCC work with MANE to go on for a BSN. Clinical training (135 hours) takes place in a variety of settings including acute, subacute and long-term care facilities, community clinics, schools and home health settings. The school prides itself on superior simulation technology with vocal mannequins that display symptoms. There are specific application deadlines: Fall semester February 1^st and Spring semester June 1^st. Prerequisites include courses in biology, psychology, English, chemistry, communications, and ethics. Students are diversified and receive extensive support from the well regarded faculty.

Inver Hills Community College is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.  They offer an ADN and a BSN degree.  Inver Hills Community College helped to develop the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) curriculum, which "encourages a deep understanding of key nursing concepts while addressing the changing health care environment."

Inver Grover Heights, Minnesota is the home of Inver Hills Community College. This public institution is part of the Minnesota State College and Universities System (MnSCU). Students love to roam the ninety acre campus that houses 4,000 students for all liberal arts majors. The mission of the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) curriculum is to encourage a deep understanding of key nursing concepts while addressing the changing healthcare environment. The consortium has a commitment to excellence and innovation to expand the capacity for baccalaureate prepared nurses in Minnesota. The focus is on evidence based practice, innovative teaching strategies, and role modeling. Health is a dynamic process and vacillates individually and collectively. Thus the mission of MANE is to offer a holistic approach that embraces the dignity and strength of all individuals.

Undergraduate programs – The AS in nursing is the basic or traditional track, entailing three semesters of liberal arts requirements and the nursing course sequence for a total of 75 credits. Clinical hours are done at hospitals and community health care facilities within St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs. The other track is called the “mobility track” and is designed for licensed practical nurses or qualified paramedics. They have the same curriculum. The Nursing Program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and ACEN. The MANE program admits candidates to the both Metropolitan State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Inver Hills A.S. in Nursing programs. The dual admission nursing program with Metropolitan State University allows students to continue the coursework needed complete their four-year bachelor’s degree upon the completion of associate degree requirements. A five-credit nursing certificate rounds out the nursing options. It provides the training required for entry into healthcare as a nursing assistant or home health aide. It entails 24 hours of supervised clinical experience in a long-term care facility.

Alexandria Technical & Community College is in a safe and welcoming community  laden with culture, dining and entertainment venues. On campus there are plenty of organizations, sports, and student activities. The public College's retention, graduation, and career placement is among the highest of all Minnesota’s two-year colleges. The private institution provides a quality  nursing education for new and returning students of any age. Those in the workforce have accelerated options with a short study time. Many graduates with an associate’s degree transfer to a university for a BS.

Undergraduate programs – The AD program is a mobility program for those with a current Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license. Students may begin Phase I (general education requirements) any time according to the college calendar. They are admitted to Phase II (containing all nursing courses) each fall. The nursing program also offers a practical nursing diploma with flexible options. The two-semester track starts in the fall or spring and requires 19 credits of general education and 17 in nursing. Students spend time in the classroom, the lab, in clinical placement for a full week. They can elect to attend for three semesters with 10 credits in general education and 26 in nursing. A longer commitment is needed for the four-semester program done on weekends and evenings. It starts in the fall. General education pre-requisites are available online and on campus followed by the nursing curriculum.

RNs and other healthcare specialists are in high demand. No wonder candidates seek entry to Pine Technical and Community College, formerly Pine Technical College. It is an affordable student-centered public institution in Pine City, Minnesota and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, comprising 31 state universities and community and technical colleges across the state. Now a popular tourist area in the east central portion of the state and a logging community, Pine City was originally a railway town. It is actually on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. Graduates know that placement rates are high with an exceptional salary range. Toward this end, the Nursing Department offers a comprehensive educational opportunity, including general and transfer education, technical program education and lifelong learning. It is overall a very bright outlook for a nursing career. RNs with Associate Degrees are typically employed in hospitals, clinics, hospice care, long-term care, and assisted living facilities. Of note, RNs constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.6 million jobs; about 60% of RN jobs in the U.S. are in hospitals. Graduates are expected to meet the current and future health needs of society.

Undergraduate programs – An AS in nursing provides a solid foundation for a nursing career. At Pine Technical College, the focus is on general healthcare sciences. Graduates will be well-equipped to practice in various settings with a diverse population. They are competent, informed, and responsible and ready to function as practitioners in acute and long-term care, community settings, home care, as well as nontraditional settings. The department is proud to offer advanced teaching methodologies and technology for optimal student development.

A popular option is to train as a nursing assistant to launch a healthcare career or start on the path to become an LPN or RN. This track is in high demand as employment opportunities abound given the world’s aging population. Students learn the activities of daily living such as checking vital signs, feeding, grooming and bathing patients, and assisting with medical equipment. The Practical Nursing Diploma program, on the other hand, offers additional training in nursing skills and problem solving. Graduates can work under the direction of a physician or registered nurse with commitment and responsibility. Areas of study include scope of practice, ethical and legal considerations, communication, interpersonal/team building, and health education/professional growth.