Best MSN Programs in Minnesota for Working RNs (2026)

Walden's CCNE-accredited online MSN offers five nurse practitioner specializations (Family, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Pediatric Primary Care, and Psychiatric-Mental Health) plus four specialty practice tracks covering nursing education, nurse executive, nursing informatics, and public health nursing. All coursework is delivered 100% online with practicum hours arranged near the student. Every NP specialization includes no-cost board exam prep bundled into the curriculum, so you are not paying separately for review courses after graduation. Select specializations are available through Tempo Learning, a competency-based format that lets you accelerate through content you already know.

At $10,542 per year in tuition, Walden sits well below most private-sector MSN programs. A working RN earning the BLS national median of $97,550 who completes the accelerated Tempo path in 14 months loses minimal time from the workforce while positioning for advanced-practice roles where BLS reports a national median of $123,860; at that delta, the additional $26,310 in annual earnings covers a $13,000 accelerated-track tuition bill in under eight months of pay difference. The Believe and Achieve Scholarship offers additional savings of up to $6,200. Accreditation is CCNE at the program level, which is the credential most state boards and certification bodies require. With a Hakia Score of 93, Walden ranks first among Minnesota MSN programs in this analysis, driven by its combination of program breadth, online accessibility, and cost efficiency.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Master of Nursing (MN) is a 16-month, full-time, on-campus pre-licensure program designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing and want to enter the profession. It is not a post-BSN advanced-practice MSN; it is an entry point into nursing. The program requires four consecutive semesters including a summer term and is offered exclusively as a day-schedule, on-campus program. Clinical practicum hours total approximately 500 and take place at hospitals, specialty clinics, and community sites across the Twin Cities region, with shift assignments spanning days, evenings, nights, and weekends. Graduates are eligible to sit for NCLEX-RN and to pursue certification in public health nursing in Minnesota.

In-state tuition is $15,148 per year, and the school's graduate rate of 85% reflects a program that finishes what it starts with a competitive applicant pool (80% admit rate from 192 applications in the tracked cycle, with an average incoming GPA of 3.59). The 98% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2024 is the strongest outcomes signal on the scraped page. Because this is a pre-licensure program rather than an advanced-practice MSN, working RNs already holding an active license should confirm with the school whether this credential meets their specific advancement goals before applying. Hakia Score of 88.4 places it second in this Minnesota ranking.

The University of St. Thomas MSN at the Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing is a direct-entry, pre-licensure program for students who hold a bachelor's degree in a field outside of nursing. It is not a post-BSN advanced-practice MSN. The 56-credit curriculum prepares graduates to sit for NCLEX-RN and focuses on whole-person care, social determinants of health, interprofessional collaboration, and health equity. Two completion pathways exist: a 21-month accelerated track with primarily in-person daytime courses (8 to 13 credits per semester), and a three-year hybrid option with in-person and online evening classes at 6 to 7 credits per term, designed for working adults managing other commitments. Both paths follow the same curriculum and award the same MSN degree.

Tuition is $52,820 per year, which is the highest in this Minnesota ranking. A student completing the 21-month track at that rate would spend approximately $92,000 in tuition before accounting for fees or living costs. Working RNs should note that this program is built for career changers, not for nurses seeking advanced-practice credentials; the scraped page states graduates are educated as generalists and may transition to some roles such as nursing leadership without returning for a graduate degree, but it does not offer NP or CRNA specialization tracks. The 76% graduation rate and 85% admit rate reflect a small-cohort program (Hakia Score 81.3, third in this ranking). Applicants should verify current accreditation status directly with the school, as the scraped page does not specify CCNE or ACEN program-level accreditation.

Minnesota State Moorhead's MSN is built explicitly for registered nurses advancing into healthcare leadership, education, or clinical practice roles, making it the program in this ranking most directly aligned with a working BSN-prepared RN. All orientation and coursework are available online; select courses use a hybrid format with monthly synchronous sessions via virtual platform. Practicum and experiential hours can be completed in the student's home area when appropriate. The program supports multiple pathways including graduate certificates that stack toward the MSN, and individualized progression plans accommodate students who need to adjust pace. Minnesota State Moorhead's program holds initial accreditation from the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), and was named a top online nursing program by Princeton Review.

At $8,838 per year with no out-of-state premium, Moorhead is the most affordable option in this ranking. A working RN completing this MSN and moving into an advanced-practice or leadership role that approaches the BLS national median of $123,860 for master's-prepared nurses (versus $97,550 for staff RNs) gains $26,310 per year in earnings; at that gap, total tuition costs are recovered in well under two years of the pay difference. The 57% graduation rate is lower than peers in this ranking, and the 59% admit rate signals a selective-enough process that completion commitment matters. Hakia Score of 78.1 places this program fourth, with cost and online flexibility as its strongest differentiators.

Rasmussen's online MSN is built around a working nurse's schedule: all didactic coursework is delivered online through its Empowered Learning model, with local practicum experiences arranged in your own community. The standard MSN (48 credits) offers three leadership tracks: Nursing Leadership and Administration, Nursing Education, and Healthcare Technology, Simulation and Informatics. The MSN-NP track (69 credits) adds four clinical specializations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Family NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP. Four start dates per year and no GRE requirement lower the barrier to entry; a clinical practicum coordinator helps secure placement sites.

The MSN leadership path starts at $17,320 total estimated tuition and can be completed in as few as 18 months. At the BLS median of $123,860 for master-prepared nurses in advanced roles versus $97,550 for a staff RN, the $26,310 annual pay gap covers the entire MSN cost in under 10 months of incremental earnings. The MSN-NP path runs approximately $50,680 total; at the same $26,310 annual pay difference, payback comes in roughly 2.3 years. Rasmussen holds CCNE accreditation, a non-negotiable for NP certification eligibility in most states. The program earned a Hakia Score of 71.2, the highest among ranked Minnesota MSN programs, on a 53% graduation rate. It fits nurses who need maximum scheduling flexibility and want a direct path to NP licensure without relocating.

St. Catherine University's MSN program in this ranking is an entry-level pathway for applicants who hold a bachelor's degree outside nursing and want to enter the profession at the graduate level. It is not an advancement program for licensed RNs. The 49-credit curriculum runs 23 months on a primarily in-person schedule at the Saint Paul campus, with some online coursework, and leads to a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) credential. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and the national CNL certification examination. The program includes sequenced clinical experiences across three semesters plus two preceptorship terms, with a dedicated clinical placement coordinator managing site assignments for all students.

Total tuition is $48,755 at the 2025-26 rate of $995 per credit. A working RN with a BSN who is evaluating this program should understand the fit clearly: it does not build on an existing RN license or lead directly to NP prescriptive authority. Its value is in CNL role preparation and leadership-track positioning within health systems. St. Kate's posts a 92% admit rate and a 61% graduation rate; the Hakia Score of 66.1 reflects that selectivity and outcome profile. The program is accredited through the university's nursing accreditation portfolio (details on the St. Kate's Nursing Accreditation page). Fit: career changers entering nursing at the master's level, or nurses seeking CNL credentials who prefer an in-person cohort environment in the Twin Cities.

Metropolitan State University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers both an Entry-Level MSN and a Doctor of Nursing Practice program focused on Family Nurse Practitioner preparation, all based at the Saint Paul campus. The college's scraped page does not publish per-credit or total-program MSN tuition separately from the institutional rate, but Metro State's in-state tuition of $8,571 makes it the most affordable public option in this Minnesota ranking. Clinical placement draws on Metro State's deep partnerships with local, regional, and statewide healthcare providers, an advantage in a market where securing practicum sites can be competitive. Faculty are described as active practitioners, not solely academics.

Metro State carries a 99% admit rate, signaling an open-access mission that prioritizes community access over selectivity. The 44% graduation rate is the lowest among the three programs profiled here, a figure prospective students should weigh against the cost advantage. The Hakia Score of 60 reflects that outcome. The college's accredited programs serve underserved and diverse populations, a stated institutional priority. For a Minnesota RN who wants DNP-level FNP training at the lowest possible tuition and can commit to the Saint Paul campus, Metro State is the access-focused public option; those who need a defined completion timeline or NP specialization beyond FNP should compare carefully against Rasmussen's online NP tracks. BLS projects 38% employment growth for NPs through 2033, making FNP the most in-demand specialization in the state.