5 Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into in Minnesota 2025

Thanks to major medical sites like the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota is a hub for nursing. To become a registered nurse (RN) in the state, you'll need to complete a nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Because nursing is such a common career in Minnesota, programs can be competitive. The easiest nursing schools to get into are usually ones with a low space-to-applicant ratio and those that have a lower threshold for admissions. Keep reading to learn more about the easiest nursing programs to get into in Minnesota.

How Competitive Are Nursing Schools in Minnesota?

The majority of Minnesota nursing schools do not list their acceptance rates. However, many programs state that they are competitive and that not all qualified applicants are guaranteed a place.

This is typically because schools will receive more applications than they have space for. Nursing schools are limited to the number of spaces they can offer based on factors such as staffing, budget, and clinical partnerships. As a result, even easy nursing programs can be competitive.

Many schools use a scoring method to rank students, which often includes factors like GPA, test scores, volunteer work, and previous healthcare certifications. Others are first-come, first-served, and will leave applications open until they fill all their spots.

What Are the Admissions Requirements for Minnesota Nursing Schools?

The admissions requirements for nursing schools vary between institutions and the type of degree you want to earn. For pre-licensure programs, common nursing school requirements in Minnesota include:

• completion of all prerequisite courses
• a minimum GPA, usually between 2.5 and 3.0
• a minimum score on an entrance exam; the most commonly required exams in Minnesota are the Test of Academic Skills (TEAS) and the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT)

Many schools also require students to have taken a nursing assistant course or be a licensed certified nurse assistant (CNA). Other requirements for pre-licensure programs include essays, letters of recommendation, CPR certification, and a licensed practical nurse (LPN) credential.

Nursing Schools With the Highest Acceptance Rates in Minnesota

Most nursing schools in Minnesota do not publish their acceptance rates, and as a result, it's not possible to determine the easiest nursing schools to get into. To create the list below, we instead looked at which schools have the lowest thresholds for admissions, those that offer waitlists, and those with first-come, first-served options.

1. Northwest Technical College

Northwest Technical College is a private community college in Bemidji, MN. It offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) that includes hands-on epractice through a state-of-the-art simulation facility and clinical experiences.

To apply for this program, you'll need to complete all prerequisite courses, including a nursing assistant course, and have a TEAS score of at least 64. Once the application opens, qualified applicants will be accepted until the program is full.

• Estimated tuition cost: $6,254 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 100% (overall acceptance rate)
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

2. Minnesota State College Southeast

At Minnesota State College Southeast, students can earn an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). This program prepares students to pass the NCLEX-RN and become registered nurses.

MSC Southeast, a public community college, is located in Winona, MN. To qualify for admissions, you'll need to have passed the prerequisite courses with a grade of ''C'' or better and taken the TEAS. Acceptance is based on your GPA and TEAS score.

• Estimated tuition cost: $6,432 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 100% (overall acceptance rate)
• Accreditation: HLC and ACEN

3. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College offers a four-semester ADN program. FDLTCC is a public tribal college in Cloquet, MN.

The nursing program requires students to have completed all pre-nursing courses with a GPA of 2.0 or above and take the Health Education Systems, Inc. entrance exam. Applications are open until the cohort is full.

• Estimated tuition cost: $6,006 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 100% (overall acceptance rate)
• Accreditation: HLC and ACEN

4. Minnesota State Community and Technical College

The ADN degree at Minnesota State Community and Technical College trains students to be successful nurses in various healthcare settings. To apply, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all prerequisite courses and a score of at least 70 on the HSRT exam.

M State, based in Fergus Falls, MN, is a public community college. It offers this program on multiple campuses. If there are more applicants than spaces available for this program, the college ranks candidates by their HSRT scores and places the rest on a waitlist.

• Estimated tuition cost: $5,908 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 100% (overall acceptance rate)
• Accreditation: HLC and ACEN

5. Herzing University

Herzing University is a private, nonprofit school based in Milwaukee with several additional campuses across the U.S., including one in Minneapolis, MN. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that includes an option to take all lecture courses online.

Enrollment requirements include a high school diploma or GED, 2.5 minimum GPA, and a minimum TEAS score of 66. The School of Nursing accepts up to 90 transfer credits for this program, but previous coursework is not required. A dual bachelor's-to-master's degree pathway is also available.

• Estimated tuition cost: $13,450 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 94% (overall acceptance rate)
• Accreditation: HLC and Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

How We Rank Schools

To choose best nursing schools above, we focused on pre-licensure associate and bachelor's degrees that do not require a previous nursing certification. Then we looked at:

• Accreditation: All institutions on this list are regionally accredited, and all nursing schools are accredited by either the ACEN or CCNE.
• Admissions requirements: Because acceptance rates are not available, we looked at schools with the easiest admissions requirements.
• Program reputation: To ensure a quality education, all schools we chose are nonprofit, approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing, and have a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over 85%.

What Can I Expect From a Nursing Degree Program?

Nursing degree programs at all levels include core coursework on professional nursing as well as clinical experiences. This blend prepares you to succeed in your healthcare career.

Pre-licensure programs cover foundational nursing concepts and prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN. Both ADN and BSN degrees include hands-on labs and clinical practice opportunities.

RN to BSN programs are for those with an ADN and an RN license who want to complete their baccalaureate degree. Many are offered online; the easiest RN to BSN program online allow you to do your clincials at the site where you work.

Graduate programs, such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, will prepare you to work in advanced nursing roles, including those of a nurse practitioner. These are often available as online programs.

FAQs About the Easiest Nursing Programs To Get Into

Finding the right nursing program can feel a little overwhelming. To help you out, we've answered some frequently asked questions about nursing programs below.

Is Nursing School Hard?

Nursing schools are rigorous and require a lot of focus. Whether or not the coursework itself is ''hard'' depends on your skill set.

Many students find the general education courses and prerequisite requirements to be the hardest nursing classes, especially math courses or courses like organic chemistry. Some schools offer self-paced nursing prerequisites online, which allow you to take your time to really understand the coursework.

Read More: Can I Be a Nurse If I Am Bad at Math?

What College in Minnesota has the Easiest Nursing Program To Get Into?

Because colleges in Minnesota don't generally make their acceptance rates public, it's not possible to determine which is the easiest nursing program to get into. However, all programs above have low thresholds for admissions, and some accept all qualified applicants as long as there's still space in the program.

What Is the Hardest Nursing School To Get Into in Minnesota?

Because schools do not offer their acceptance rates, it's impossible to tell which school specifically is the hardest to get into. One of the only schools that offers this type of information is the University of Minnesota, which has an acceptance rate of roughly 27% for their traditional BSN program.

However, there are several schools, like Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, that require at least a 3.0 GPA.

What Is the Lowest GPA To Get Into Nursing School?

GPA requirements in Minnesota vary by school. However, the lowest required GPA in the state is 2.0. Most programs require between a 2.5 and 3.0.

What Is the Career Outlook for Nurses in Minnesota?

The nursing career outlook in Minnesota is fairly positive. Projections Central expects jobs for registered nurses in Minnesota to increase 5% by 2032.

Nursing employment is highest in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. However, Rochester, MN, home of the Mayo Clinic, also has high nursing employment, as does Duluth, MN.

What GPA Do You Need To Get Into the University of Minnesota Nursing?

The University of Minnesota doesn't have a specific GPA for its pre-licensure nursing programs. However, the average GPA for the School of Nursing is 3.84 to 4.00.

Students who want to apply to the nursing program should choose the nursing option for their major when filling out the university application. They'll then need to answer three supplemental questions about nursing.

Easiest Nursing Schools To Get Into Near You

Find your dream nursing school in Minnesota by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual programs to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.