Best ADN Programs in Minnesota, Ranked (2026)

Rasmussen University's Associate Degree in Nursing is a hybrid, ACEN-accredited program that can be completed in as few as 21 months across 13 courses and 102 total credits. The format combines online coursework with required on-campus lab simulations and in-person clinical rotations — this is not a fully online program. Qualified applicants face no waiting list at many campuses and no prerequisite coursework for admission, which removes two of the most common barriers to entry for ADN programs. Licensed Practical Nurses have a dedicated LPN-to-RN Bridge track that compresses the timeline to as few as 18 months. With 25 campuses including locations across Minnesota, the program offers unusual scheduling flexibility: up to 8 start dates per year at most sites.

Tuition runs $10,595 per year — higher than Minnesota public community colleges, reflecting the private for-profit structure. The graduation rate is 53%, which is consistent with the demands of a clinically intensive healthcare program. Admit rate data is not reported in IPEDS for this program. The program prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the same licensure exam taken by BSN graduates — passing it earns a full RN license with no distinction from a four-year degree. The Hakia Score of 88.3 places this program first in this Minnesota ranking, driven by scheduling flexibility and zero-waitlist access. It fits career-changers and working adults who need a fast, flexible path to RN licensure and can absorb the higher private tuition in exchange for faster start dates.

Central Lakes College in Brainerd offers an Associate of Science in Nursing accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). The program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN through a combination of classroom instruction, skills lab, and in-person clinical rotations at regional healthcare settings — clinicals cannot be completed online. CLC highlights the breadth of its regional clinical partnerships as a program strength. A separate Advanced Standing track is available exclusively for currently licensed LPNs; after completing a Role Transition course, those students can earn the RN credential in just two semesters, one of the faster LPN-to-RN pathways in the state.

In-state tuition is $5,424 per year, less than half the cost of the private programs on this list, reflecting CLC's public community college mission. The graduation rate is 53%. Admit rate is not reported for this program in IPEDS. The program does not publish a specific NCLEX pass rate on its admissions page. BLS reports a national median of $97,550 per year for registered nurses. With a Hakia Score of 85.5, CLC ranks second in Minnesota among ADN programs. It is a strong fit for Minnesota residents who want the lowest reasonable path to RN licensure, especially LPNs in the Brainerd Lakes region who can use the Advanced Standing track.

Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls offers a 64-credit Associate of Science in Nursing structured primarily as an LPN-to-RN advancement program. The program targets currently licensed LPNs who want to transition to the registered nurse role, building on their existing clinical foundation with hands-on clinical experiences in real healthcare settings, patient assessment, care planning, and leadership training. Clinicals are in person. Students can choose full-time or part-time schedules, and the program runs on both fall and spring cohort starts — the next application deadline for the Spring 2027 cohort is October 1, 2026. Northland also holds a formal articulation agreement with Bemidji State University, creating a structured RN-to-BS pathway for graduates who later want to complete a bachelor's degree.

In-state tuition is $5,626 per year, keeping the program affordable for working LPNs in northwest Minnesota and the East Grand Forks area, where both campus locations are situated. The graduation rate is 56%, the highest of the four programs in this ranking. Admit rate is not published for this program. The program page does not state a specific NCLEX pass rate, and none is cited here. BLS reports national median RN earnings of $97,550 per year. The Hakia Score of 84 places Northland third on this list. It is the clearest choice for an LPN in northern Minnesota who wants a structured, affordable LPN-to-RN program with a built-in bridge to a BSN.

Ridgewater College offers an ACEN-accredited Associate Degree in Nursing available at two campuses: Hutchinson and Willmar. The 64-credit, two-year program runs in person Monday through Friday, with off-site clinical rotations required — it is full-time only and cannot be completed online. Admission is competitive and holistic: applicants must complete three prerequisite courses (Introduction to Psychology, Survey of Chemistry, and Human Anatomy) with a C or higher and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, then score at least 58.7 on the ATI TEAS Version 7 before being considered under holistic criteria. Classes start in both fall and spring semesters. A separate LPN-to-Associate Degree track is listed among the college's related programs. High-tech simulation centers are used to prepare students for clinical settings including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and specialty practices.

Ridgewater publishes a total program cost of approximately $18,311 for the AS degree, with in-state tuition of $5,473 per year. The graduation rate is 50%. Admit rate data is not published in IPEDS for this program. The school does not report a specific NCLEX pass rate on its public admissions page. BLS reports national median RN earnings of $97,550 per year. With a Hakia Score of 82.5, Ridgewater ranks fourth among Minnesota ADN programs on this list. It fits Minnesota students in the southwest and south-central regions who are prepared for a competitive, structured entry process and want the clinical depth of a simulation-heavy, in-person program at a public college price point.

Alexandria Technical and Community College's Associate Degree in Nursing is a Phase II LPN-to-RN program: admission requires a current Minnesota LPN license and a practical nursing GPA of at least 2.75. Students who qualify enter directly into the nursing-specific coursework, which spans just 2 semesters; general education prerequisites (Phase I) can be completed at any point beforehand. All clinical rotations are conducted in person at area healthcare facilities. The program holds continuing accreditation from the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the same licensure exam taken by BSN graduates, and earn the full registered nurse credential.

ATCC publishes four years of outcome data: first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of 91.67% (2022), 96.30% (2023), 95.83% (2024), and 90.00% through Q2 2025. Phase II completion rates have ranged from 68% to 82% across recent cohorts, and the college has posted 100% related job placement for every graduating class through 2024. In-state tuition is $5,478 per year. Hakia's model scores ATCC at 82.4, the highest of the Minnesota ADN programs ranked here, anchored by consistent NCLEX performance above the national benchmark. Because admission is restricted to licensed LPNs, this program is not a route for students new to nursing; it is purpose-built for working LPNs ready to advance to the RN credential quickly and affordably. The national BLS median for registered nurses is $97,550 per year.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College's Associate Degree Nursing program runs on two campuses, Fergus Falls and Wadena, with 32 seats available on each for each fall cohort. Admission is competitive and merit-based: applicants must pass the HSRT-AD health science reasoning test with a score of 60 or higher (scores of 90-100 earn the maximum 10 points toward selection), complete college-level math and English, and hold a high school diploma or GED before the program starts. A new point-based selection process launched for fall 2026. There is no fully online option; clinical placements are in-person requirements of the degree. The program is open to general applicants, not restricted to licensed LPNs, though prior healthcare experience can earn optional admission points. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the registered nurse credential identical to a four-year BSN graduate.

M State's in-state tuition is $5,424 per year, one of the lowest costs of any ADN program in Minnesota. The program's 60-credit graduation rate stands at 47% in IPEDS data, which reflects the competitive, selective nature of the cohort model rather than program quality alone. No NCLEX pass rate is published on the program's admission page. Hakia's composite score of 81.4 ranks M State sixth among Minnesota ADN programs, accounting for cost, enrollment scale across campuses, and overall outcomes. This program suits applicants who want a low-cost, campus-based path to RN licensure and are prepared to navigate a rigorous competitive admission cycle. After earning the ADN and RN license, graduates can pursue an online RN-to-BSN bridge while working, a common strategy to meet BSN preferences at Magnet hospitals. The national BLS median for registered nurses is $97,550 per year.

Riverland Community College's Associate Degree in Nursing (RN Track) is a 64-credit, 4-semester program designed to be completed in 24 months. Two tracks are available: the traditional ADN track for students without prior nursing licensure, and an LPN-to-ADN advanced-standing track for Licensed Practical Nurses who may receive credit for prior coursework and shorten their remaining program time. All clinical rotations are in person, with placements at local healthcare facilities in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), a nationally recognized standard. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, earning the full RN credential. Riverland has established formal transfer agreements to a BSN at Winona State University and Minnesota State Mankato, giving ADN graduates a mapped route to the four-year degree if needed for Magnet hospital hiring.

In-state tuition at Riverland is $5,585 per year, and the college offers nursing-specific scholarships to help offset cost. The IPEDS graduation rate is 52%. The program's scraped page does not publish a specific NCLEX pass rate; prospective students should request current outcome data directly from the program office before applying. Hakia's composite score of 81.3 places Riverland seventh in Minnesota, reflecting its ACEN accreditation, dual tracks, and regional employer ties including Mayo Clinic Health System and Olmsted Medical Center. This program is the strongest choice in the Austin area for students who want a nationally accredited ADN with a built-in BSN ladder and the option of LPN advanced standing. The national BLS median for registered nurses is $97,550 per year.

Lake Superior College's Professional Nursing program is a 64-credit Associate of Science degree completed entirely on campus in Duluth in 2 years. The program integrates nursing theory, clinical coursework, and laboratory simulation, and all clinical training is in-person at area healthcare facilities. Admission requires both a general college application and a separate program-specific application; the program is described as competitive, with cohort size limited. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn a registered nurse license equivalent in every legal respect to that of a BSN graduate. LSC explicitly notes that after completing the AS and passing NCLEX, graduates may apply to another college to pursue a BSN, the standard RN-to-BSN bridge strategy used by working nurses aiming for Magnet hospital roles.

In-state tuition at LSC is $4,996 per year, the lowest of the four Minnesota programs in this ranking group. The IPEDS graduation rate is 42%, which reflects the program's selective, competitive entry rather than attrition within the cohort. The program page does not publish a specific NCLEX pass rate; request current outcome data from the nursing department directly. Hakia's composite score of 80.0 ranks LSC eighth in Minnesota, weighted by cost, enrollment, and outcomes. LSC is the right pick for Duluth-area students who want the lowest-cost on-campus path to an RN license and are prepared for a competitive application process. The BLS Duluth-area median for registered nurses is $83,000 per year; the national BLS median is $97,550 per year.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College's Nursing A.S. is a LPN-to-RN mobility program — admission requires an active LPN license by July 15 each year. The 64-credit sequence runs across fall and spring semesters plus a Mayterm preceptorship, with clinical rotations in acute care and alternate settings completed in person. Campuses in Granite Falls, Pipestone, and Worthington serve southwestern Minnesota, and a hybrid online option is available; clinicals are hands-on and cannot be skipped. An LPN-to-RN track is the sole entry point: applicants must hold a practical nursing diploma (or equivalent) and a cumulative 3.0 GPA across anatomy, physiology, composition, and developmental psychology. The NLN NACE I Foundations entrance exam is required, with 80% as the target score; candidates may sit up to three times during the application cycle.

At $5,848 per year in-state tuition (the same rate regardless of residency), Minnesota West carries a cost well below most four-year programs. The institution's 52% graduation rate reflects the rigorous LPN prerequisite filter and the demanding two-semester clinical load. No independent NCLEX pass rate is published on the program page. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same RN license as a BSN graduate; they may then articulate to BSN or BAN programs within the Minnesota State system. Hakia ranks this program 79.8 on the basis of cost, outcomes data, and accessibility. It fits working LPNs in rural southwestern Minnesota who want the fastest, lowest-cost path to an RN credential without relocating.

St. Cloud Technical and Community College's LPN to ADN Mobility Associate of Science is a 64-credit program built exclusively for graduates of a practical nursing program who want to advance to RN licensure. The curriculum combines classroom lectures, simulation labs in SCTCC's state-of-the-art facilities, and in-person clinical rotations — a prelicensure program cannot be completed without those hands-on hours. The program is accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing, giving graduates a clear, recognized path to the NCLEX-RN.

The numbers at SCTCC are among the strongest in the state for an LPN-to-RN mobility track. NCLEX-RN pass rates were 95.56% (2022), 92.86% (2023), and 97.44% (2024); program completion rates ran 92%, 83.67%, and 97.92% over the same three years. The institution's overall 45% graduation rate (per IPEDS) reflects the broader student body, while the nursing-specific completion and NCLEX figures show a tightly managed program. In-state tuition is $5,392 per year, flat for in- and out-of-state students. Hakia scores this program 77.9. Two articulation agreements extend the investment: all 64 credits transfer to MSU-Moorhead's online BSN (bypassing the standard application), and 60 credits count toward St. Cloud State's RN-BSN completion program — giving graduates a clear, low-cost route to a bachelor's degree while working as an RN. National BLS median RN wage is $97,550/yr.