Private nursing schools provide a high-quality education in a stimulating learning environment. Knowing the advantages of a private-school nursing education is essential for students looking to begin their nursing career successfully.

Private nursing schools in Minnesota
Best known for their high-quality education, private nursing schools in Minnesota are the top option for prospective nursing students. Private nursing education offers several advantages including small class sizes, increased student-to-student interaction, and more opportunities for experiments and fieldwork. Private colleges and universities help each student achieve her potential by offering an attractive faculty-to-student ratio. Discussion and collaboration are also frequently encouraged, helping prospective nurses develop critical communication skills. Undergraduates are eligible for various scholarships and federal financial aid, which help reduce tuition costs by thousands of dollars each year.

Private schools offer a wide selection of programs accommodating all career paths. Employers typically prefer graduates who have earned a four-year or advanced degree, such as a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or a master of science in nursing (MSN). Training differs greatly by program but centers primarily on advanced nursing science and healthcare management.

Training and career prospects
For two-year degree seekers, American Indian OIC is a top option, producing highly qualified licensed practical nurses and registered nurses with an associate’s degree (ADN). Four-year students can choose from well-known programs at Saint Olaf College, Augsburg College, and Mayo University of Health Sciences. Upon graduation and successful passing of the national licensure exam, students can seek employment at one of Minnesota’s many healthcare facilities, hospitals, or clinics.

If attending a private nursing school is the best choice for you, consult our attached list of private nursing programs in Minnesota.

Twin Cities metro area

American Indian OIC
  • Nursing Assistant Certificate
Augsburg University
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Bethel University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Administration
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Capella University
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Graduate Certificate: Care Coordination
  • Graduate Certificate: Nursing Informatics
  • Graduate Certificate: Nursing Leadership
  • MSN: Care Coordination
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Informatics
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Concordia University, St. Paul
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Crown College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Herzing University - Minneapolis
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
Rasmussen University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Executive Leadership
  • DNP: Public Health and Policy
  • MSN: Healthcare Technology, Simulation and Informatics
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Rasmussen University - Brooklyn Park / Maple Grove
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Rasmussen University - Eagan
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
St. Catherine University - Minneapolis
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
St. Catherine University - St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Northwestern
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Walden University
  • DNP-to-PhD Bridge Option
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Executive Leadership
  • DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Executive
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Informatics
  • MSN: Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Public Health Nursing
  • PhD: Nursing Education
  • PhD: Nursing Healthcare Administration
  • PhD: Nursing Interdisciplinary Health
  • PhD: Nursing Leadership
  • PhD: Nursing Population Health
  • Post-Baccalaureate PhD
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Executive
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Informatics
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • RN-to-BSN Accelerate into Master's Program
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
School City Programs offered
American Indian OIC Minneapolis
  • Nursing Assistant Certificate
Augsburg University Minneapolis
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Bethel University Saint Paul
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Administration
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Capella University Minneapolis
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Graduate Certificate: Care Coordination
  • Graduate Certificate: Nursing Informatics
  • Graduate Certificate: Nursing Leadership
  • MSN: Care Coordination
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Informatics
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Concordia University, St. Paul Saint Paul
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Crown College Saint Bonifacius
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Herzing University - Minneapolis Minneapolis
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
Rasmussen University Bloomington
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Executive Leadership
  • DNP: Public Health and Policy
  • MSN: Healthcare Technology, Simulation and Informatics
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Rasmussen University - Brooklyn Park / Maple Grove Brooklyn Park
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Rasmussen University - Eagan Eagan
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
St. Catherine University - Minneapolis Minneapolis
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
St. Catherine University - St. Paul Saint Paul
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Northwestern Saint Paul
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Walden University Minneapolis
  • DNP-to-PhD Bridge Option
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Executive Leadership
  • DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Executive
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Informatics
  • MSN: Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Public Health Nursing
  • PhD: Nursing Education
  • PhD: Nursing Healthcare Administration
  • PhD: Nursing Interdisciplinary Health
  • PhD: Nursing Leadership
  • PhD: Nursing Population Health
  • Post-Baccalaureate PhD
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Executive
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Informatics
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • RN-to-BSN Accelerate into Master's Program
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion

Other Minnesota cities

Bethany Lutheran College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
College of St. Scholastica
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Concordia College
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
  • Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
  • Fellowship in Perioperative Nursing
  • Master of Nurse Anesthesia
Presentation College - Fairmont
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Rasmussen University - Mankato
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Rasmussen University - Moorhead
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Rasmussen University - St. Cloud
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
St. Olaf College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
School City Programs offered
Bethany Lutheran College Mankato
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University Saint Joseph
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
College of St. Scholastica Duluth
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Concordia College Moorhead
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Rochester
  • Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
  • Fellowship in Perioperative Nursing
  • Master of Nurse Anesthesia
Presentation College - Fairmont Fairmont
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Rasmussen University - Mankato Mankato
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Rasmussen University - Moorhead Moorhead
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Rasmussen University - St. Cloud Saint Cloud
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona
  • Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
St. Olaf College Northfield
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Category: 
Minnesota