Nursing Programs in Rochester, MN

2027 Best Nursing Schools in Rochester

Rankings help prospective nurses evaluate programs based on objective outcomes. Registerednursing.org has compiled the Best Nursing Schools in Rochester, using NCLEX pass rates as the sole ranking criterion. These rankings provide a clear, data-driven snapshot to aid your decision. For methodology, https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/

#1

Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN - Public 2-Year - rctc.edu

Associate - Associate Degree Nursing Program

Campus Based - Visit Website

Rochester Community and Technical College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program that prepares students for professional nursing practice. The curriculum integrates key concepts like professionalism, critical thinking, caring, collaboration, and nursing interventions through classroom, lab, and clinical experiences. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN for registered nurse licensure. Career paths include hospitals, clinics, home health, and nursing homes. The program features both a four-semester generic track and an accelerated three-semester LPN Mobility track for licensed practical nurses, who can receive credit for prior education. With start dates each fall and spring, students can begin their nursing education flexibly. The program's hands-on approach and focus on collaboration ensure graduates are well-prepared for the demands of modern nursing.

• 4-Semester program
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Credit for prior LPN education

Associate - LPN Mobility track

Campus Based - Visit Website

Rochester Community and Technical College offers an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program with an LPN Mobility track designed for licensed practical nurses. This advanced placement option recognizes prior education, awarding six nursing credits and allowing students to complete the degree in just three semesters. The curriculum integrates professionalism, critical thinking, caring, collaboration, and nursing interventions through classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences. Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN exam and pursue careers in hospitals, clinics, home health care, and nursing homes. The program starts each fall and spring, providing flexibility for working LPNs. With a focus on real-world skills and patient-centered care, RCTC's LPN Mobility track offers a streamlined path to becoming a registered nurse.

• 2 concentration options
• 3-Semester program
• Complete in complete the program in three semesters
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Advanced placement for licensed practical nurses
• Six nursing credits awarded for LPN education
• Clinical experiences in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes

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*Source: IPEDS 2025 survey results, NCES, U.S. Department of Education.

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Rochester, MN

Helping patients on the road to health and recovery is all part of what nurses do. If you would like to step into or advance in this stable and reliable profession, LPN to RN, ADN and BSN options in Rochester, Minnesota make it simple for you. With few hurdles to entry-level programs, many institutions offer year-round enrollment, flexible schedules, and even distance learning options.

LPN to RN Programs

Reassuring patients, checking wounds, and taking temperatures are all a part of a day’s work for Licensed Practical Nurses. Healthcare professionals can provide patients with next-level treatments when they have an RN license and ADN training. Riverland Community College outside of Rochester, MN has partnered with Winona State University as part of the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE). The alliance reduces enrollment barriers for would-be nursing students and enables them to seamlessly advance from LPN to ADN. The bridge path makes the most of previously earned credit hours, so students spend less time and money on their nursing education.

ADN Programs

Nurses treat patients with both acute and chronic illnesses as well as educate them on how to care for themselves upon being discharged. To enter this stable field, students can pursue their Associate of Science in Nursing from Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota. The comprehensive, clinical-focused, accredited program prides itself on readying students for nursing from all perspectives so that they are ready to succeed in a real-world setting. Students must sit for and pass the NCLEX exam upon graduation to receive their RN license.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

Bachelor’s prepared nurses produce fewer on the job errors and better health outcomes for patients, which is why they are preferred candidates by top hospitals in and around Rochester, MN. In partnership with the University of Twin Cities (UTC), the University of Minnesota Rochester offers a unique program where students begin their bachelor’s education in the health sciences program. After successfully completing their first year with a 3.0 GPA, they then seamlessly transition to the BSN program at UTC. The small, competitive-entry program offers practicums that are completed at the coveted Mayo Clinic giving students exposure to top-rated clinicals and medical technologies.

Find out more about Minnesota Accelerated BSN Programs

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Rochester, MN

Catch hiring managers’ attention when you have a BSN or MSN tied to your current Registered Nursing license. In Rochester, Minnesota working nurses can make the most of online or blended online and on-ground bridge RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs. It is likely that the financial investment in your education will pay for itself in no time.

RN to BSN Programs

Registered Nurses can become even more sought after by top hospitals and medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic when they obtain their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Thanks to technical advances in the digital delivery of coursework, nursing students no longer have to take a break from work to complete their degree. Winona State University in Rochester, MN offers hybrid and on-campus nursing courses so students can finish their degree in about two years. The state school is known for its quality as well as affordability.

Find out more about Minnesota RN to BSN Programs

RN to MSN Programs

Those looking to enter the high ranks of graduate nursing may wish to pursue an RN to MSN bridge program. In addition to its RN to BSN offering, Winona State University also offers an RN to Graduate Nursing pathway for nurses who hold an associate's or diploma in nursing, have experience working as an RN, and who intend to earn a graduate degree in nursing. This program works in conjunction with WSU's RN to BSN program to help students reach their professional goals.

Find out more about Minnesota RN to MSN Programs

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Rochester, MN

Nurses with advanced degrees can oftentimes serve as the primary healthcare provider that patients routinely see for wellness checks and physical exams. APRNs can earn top salaries in Rochester, MN and perform job duties such as diagnosing illness and devising treatment plans. With distance learning formats and flexible course schedules, MSN programs today are designed for working professionals.

MSN Programs

More than treating and caring for patients, nurses are stepping into community leadership and activist roles advocating for quality community healthcare. Augsburg University in Rochester, MN offers two community-focused Master of Arts in Nursing tracks for nurses who want to have a greater impact on healthcare policy. The Transcultural Nursing and the Transformational Leadership tracks focus on cross-discipline collaboration, policy development and creating meaningful change across communities. Quality patient care remains the center focus point of the education program.

Find out more about Minnesota Nurse Practitioner Programs

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Put your application to the tip-top of the pile when you add a post-grad certificate from one of the top clinical schools in the country. The ultra-competitive entry Nurse Practitioner Fellowship from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences is a 12-month intensive that educates current nurse practitioners (NPs) on efficient yet holistic clinical best practices. Teaching includes varied didactic instruction as well as rigorous clinical experiences in state-of-the-art facilities. The unique no-cost program, which only accepts a small number of elite students a year, includes a cost of living stipend and other benefits. Graduates are awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Find out more about Minnesota Post-Master's Certificate Programs

DNP Programs

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who want to impact and influence community health and healthcare policy at the administration level can pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of Minnesota. With this terminal degree, nurses are readied to influence larger healthcare systems. This mostly online nursing program, which can be completed in a year, does require on-campus visits once a semester.

Find out more about Minnesota DNP Programs