Accredited nursing programs in Minnesota
46 schools in Minnesota have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 25 BSN, 16 ADN, 12 LPN, 9 MSN programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 23 of 25 listings are CCNE and 2 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 25
- 2 ACEN, 23 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 16
- 16 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 12
- 12 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 9
- 1 ACEN, 8 CCNE
Accredited schools in Minnesota
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Public | – | – | ACEN | – |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Coon Rapids | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Bethel University | Saint Paul | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Capella University | Minneapolis | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Century College | White Bear Lake | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Crown College | Saint Bonifacius | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College | Cloquet | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Public | – | – | ACEN | – |
| Herzing University-Minneapolis | St. Louis Park | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Lake Superior College | Duluth | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | Mankato | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Normandale Community College | Bloomington | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Northwest Technical College | Bemidji | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Riverland Community College | Austin | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Saint Johns University | Collegeville | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Winona | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Public | – | – | ACEN | – |
| South Central College | North Mankato | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall | Public | ACEN | – | – | – |
| St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Private | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud | Public | – | – | ACEN | – |
| St Olaf College | Northfield | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul | Private | – | – | – | CCNE |
| Walden University | Minneapolis | For-profit | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Winona State University | Winona | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College, ADN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Lake Superior College, ADN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Lake Superior College, LPN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College, ADN: Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in Minnesota
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The Minnesota board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 25. For bachelor’s degrees, 25 of 26 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (96%). Compare Minnesota BSN programs by NCLEX pass rate, cost and pay.
Common questions
How many nursing schools in Minnesota are accredited?
We matched 46 Minnesota schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 25 BSN, 16 ADN, 12 LPN, 9 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in Minnesota?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all Minnesota bachelor’s programs accredited?
25 of the 26 Minnesota schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.