Compare accredited programs, costs, outcomes, and clinical options near Brooklyn Park
North Memorial Health and Hennepin Healthcare are expanding clinical footprints within a short drive of Brooklyn Park, a shift that has increased demand for BSN-prepared nurses across the northwest Twin Cities metro. The pipeline from classroom to bedside here includes BSN, ADN, and RN-to-BSN options, and a 75-mile radius captures both city-based and suburban nursing schools in MN feeding the same hospital systems. Comparing NCLEX pass rates, net costs, and clinical site quality reveals genuine trade-offs: some programs deliver high first-attempt pass rates at a lower net price, while others offer specialized clinical rotations that influence early-career opportunities. With over a dozen accredited programs in the radius, choosing wisely means looking beyond brand names to the outcomes that shape a first nursing job.
The list below highlights nursing schools within a 75-mile radius of Brooklyn Park, including programs physically located in the city. Rankings are determined by a composite of cost, student outcomes, and program strengths as detailed in the accompanying methodology section.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | $17,000/yr | Research-oriented traditional BSN students | |
Minnesota’s flagship public research university offers a CCNE-accredited BSN with in-state tuition near $17,000 and an institutional graduation rate of 85%. Students benefit from extensive clinical placements across Twin Cities health systems and a small cohort experience backed by Big 10 resources.
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| #2 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN | $18,000/yr | Brooklyn Park working adults seeking hybrid | |
Rasmussen’s Brooklyn Park campus provides a CCNE-accredited hybrid BSN with no prerequisite courses and flexible scheduling. The program is designed for working adults and career changers in the northwest metro, with accelerated and standard tracks available.
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| #3 | University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | $29,000/yr | Faith-centered learners seeking direct-entry MSN | |
A private Catholic university in Saint Paul with CCNE-accredited BSN and direct-entry MSN programs focused on whole-person wellness and health equity. The university reports strong graduate earnings and a net price around $29,000 after aid.
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| #4 | Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN | $14,000/yr (net price) | ||
An affordable public community college ADN program designed exclusively for LPNs. Located in Alexandria, it features a tight 2-semester clinical sequence, high NCLEX pass rates, and strong job placement outcomes.
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| #5 | Riverland Community College | Austin, MN | $7,000/yr (net price) | ||
Riverland Community College in Austin, MN, delivers a low-cost ADN program over 24 months with ACEN accreditation. The blended format includes online coursework, on-campus labs, and clinicals at multiple sites, with transfer pathways to BSN programs.
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| #6 | Saint Johns University | Collegeville, MN | $26,000/yr | ||
Saint John’s University partners with the College of Saint Benedict to offer a BSN grounded in leadership, evidence-based practice, and Catholic Benedictine values. The program features cultural immersion experiences and a 4+1 graduate pathway.
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| #7 | The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth, MN | $28,000/yr (net price) | ||
The College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth offers a traditional BSN known for patient-centered care and hands-on simulation training. Multiple admission pathways and a strong reputation as a top nursing talent provider in Minnesota attract students from across the state.
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| #8 | College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph, MN | $27,000/yr (net price) | ||
A women’s college collaborating with Saint John’s University to deliver a BSN that emphasizes leadership, diversity, and evidence-based practice. Direct admission and a 4+1 nursing option provide clear pathways for high-achieving students.
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| #9 | Bethel University | Saint Paul, MN | $29,000/yr (net price) | ||
Bethel University in Saint Paul integrates Christian faith into a traditional BSN and an accelerated post-baccalaureate program. High NCLEX pass rates, supportive mentorship, and strong Twin Cities clinical connections make it a popular metro choice.
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| #10 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Winona, MN | $12,000/yr (net price) | ||
Saint Mary’s University in Winona offers a BSN that begins nursing courses in the first semester and provides over 500 clinical hours. CCNE-accredited with a holistic, compassionate care focus, it serves students seeking a private Catholic education with a net price around $11,700.
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What metrics actually matter when comparing nursing schools near Brooklyn Park? We built our ranking around the factors that predict a successful nursing career.
To make the list, a school must hold programmatic accreditation (CCNE or ACEN) and report licensure exam results. We then weigh three outcomes:
We search within a 75‑mile radius of Brooklyn Park, which covers the Twin Cities metro and beyond. Both campus‑based and online/hybrid programs are eligible, provided they meet our accreditation threshold.
Every entry is editorially reviewed to ensure data is current and fairly presented. No single metric dominates: our goal is a balanced snapshot that helps you weigh quality, cost, and real-world preparation side by side.
The table below compares tuition, net price after financial aid, and median graduate debt for nursing programs near Brooklyn Park, using the latest available data. Net price represents the institution-wide average cost after grants and scholarships; individual aid packages can vary significantly. Among the most affordable options, Riverland Community College offers the lowest net price at $7,427, while costs range up to $13,975 at Northland Community and Technical College.
| Nursing Program | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverland Community College | $6,297 | $6,297 | $7,427 | $12,000 |
| South Central College | $6,146 | $6,146 | $9,082 | $12,000 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | $6,124 | $6,124 | $9,635 | $12,000 |
| Ridgewater College | $6,121 | $6,121 | $10,046 | $12,000 |
| Minnesota North College | $6,022 | $6,022 | $10,432 | $12,000 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | $6,491 | $6,491 | $11,191 | $10,987 |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | $45,080 | $45,080 | $11,704 | $21,500 |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College | $6,236 | $6,236 | $13,691 | $12,000 |
| Central Lakes College-Brainerd | $6,249 | $6,249 | $13,869 | $11,000 |
| Northland Community and Technical College | $6,289 | $6,289 | $13,975 | $12,000 |
When choosing a nursing program, pass rates and post-graduation earnings are two of the most concrete ways to size up a school’s return on investment. In Brooklyn Park, the latest NCLEX data shows how local programs stack up against state and national benchmarks, and what that means for your career bottom line.
These figures come directly from the Minnesota Board of Nursing’s latest annual report and reflect first-time NCLEX-RN performance.
While direct state-level BSN benchmarks are not reported separately, these numbers give you a clear sense of how Brooklyn Park-area programs perform within the wider landscape.
Federal College Scorecard data does not yet report program-level median earnings for the specific nursing degrees offered in Brooklyn Park. However, broader workforce trends in the Twin Cities metro show that registered nurses command competitive salaries. BSN-prepared nurses in Minnesota routinely out-earn their ADN counterparts, and the region’s robust healthcare systems translate into strong starting wages and rapid salary growth. Checking institutional career placement statistics or contacting the schools directly can provide the most current earnings snapshots.
Where do nursing students in Brooklyn Park complete their clinical rotations? The area’s density of major health systems gives BSN and ADN learners access to a range of inpatient, outpatient, and specialty settings, often within a 30-minute drive.
North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale serves as a key community and trauma site, and its Brooklyn Park clinic on Edinbrook Parkway offers outpatient rotation opportunities. Hennepin Healthcare, a Level I trauma center and county safety-net hospital in downtown Minneapolis, is a teaching institution that actively supports student education. The M Health Fairview network, anchored by the University of Minnesota Medical Center, provides academic hospital exposure, while Children’s Minnesota partners with Allina Health, Hennepin Healthcare, and the U of M for pediatric rotations. Mercy Hospital (part of Allina Health) in nearby Coon Rapids is another frequent clinical site for nursing programs in the northwest metro.
For behavioral health, PrairieCare Brooklyn Park Inpatient Hospital on Zane Avenue focuses on psychiatric care for patients up to age 35, giving students exposure to mental health nursing.
Hands-on hours shape clinical judgment, and the variety of available sites lets you experience medical-surgical units, intensive care, emergency departments, pediatrics, community clinics, and psychiatry. A broad rotation list helps you discover nursing specialties that fit your strengths. Equally important, hospitals often recruit new graduates from their clinical cohorts, a strong placement site can become your first employer.
Specific assignments vary by semester and by school. Some programs guarantee placements within a set geographic radius; others require students to commute or arrange their own preceptors for certain specialties. When you speak with admissions, ask directly: “Are clinical placements guaranteed, or do students compete for spots?” and “Which facilities are most commonly used for adult health, pediatrics, and capstone rotations?” The answers reveal how smoothly you can balance school, travel, and any outside commitments.
Choosing the right nursing program involves many questions about cost, accreditation, and career outcomes. Below we answer the most common queries from prospective nursing students in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Use these insights to guide your search on topnursing.org.
