Minnesota Community Colleges
Nursing Programs
Compare nursing programs across community colleges in this state. ADN, LPN, and pre-nursing pathways with section counts and transfer details.
21 colleges · 394 sections · 177 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Minnesota community colleges are the most popular launchpad into nursing in the state — 21 Minnesota State institutions offer the coursework and clinical hours required for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam, and many graduates step directly into staff-nurse roles at local hospitals without ever attending a four-year school. The associate degree in nursing (ADN) typically takes two years full-time; LPN programs run 12–18 months.
This term, the 394 sections across these 21 colleges span the full nursing pipeline: pre-nursing prerequisites like anatomy and microbiology, the clinical ADN sequence, and bridge-to-BSN pathways for nurses planning to continue toward a bachelor's. Programs vary in clinical site partnerships, NCLEX pass rates, and waitlist length, so it pays to compare each college's awards-per-year and graduate earnings below before choosing where to apply.
Colleges offering Nursing
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Nursing is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Nursing Availability Snapshot
How nursing sections are being offered across 21 colleges in Minnesota this term (394 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person331 (84%)
- hybrid40 (10%)
- online23 (6%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)206
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)111
- Evening (5 PM and after)1
- Asynchronous / TBA76
Start dates
Sections begin on 1 distinct date.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 235 distinct instructors across 21 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Anoka Technical College2 programs
Anoka-Ramsey Community College1 program
Powered by Modern Campus Catalog™.
Plan all required coursesProgram Requirements: 34 Credits
34 creditsSee catalog for course list
Program Requirements - Traditional: 34 Credits
34 credits- NURS 1160Foundations of Professional Nursing1 section+ plan
- NURS 1162Health Promotion and Wellness and the Role of the Professional Nurse1 section+ plan
- NURS 1190Health Promotion, Wellness, and Foundations of Experiential Learning3 sections+ plan
- NURS 1260Health Maintenance: Chronic and Palliative Care1 section+ plan
- NURS 1262Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse I1 section+ plan
- NURS 1290Health Maintenance Experiential Learning2 sections+ plan
- NURS 2360Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2362Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse II1 section+ plan
- NURS 2390Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
- NURS 2460Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2462Nursing Leadership1 section+ plan
- NURS 2490Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
Program Requirements - LPN: 34 Credits
34 credits- ELEC XXXLPN advanced standing credits (split between semesters 2 and 3)not offered+ plan
- NURS 1162Health Promotion and Wellness and the Role of the Professional Nurse1 section+ plan
- NURS 1165LPN Transition to the Role of the Professional Nurse I1 section+ plan
- NURS 1260Health Maintenance: Chronic and Palliative Care1 section+ plan
- NURS 1262Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse I1 section+ plan
- NURS 1265LPN Transition to the Role of the Professional Nurse IInot offered+ plan
- NURS 2360Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2362Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse II1 section+ plan
- NURS 2390Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
- NURS 2460Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2462Nursing Leadership1 section+ plan
- NURS 2490Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
General Education/MnTC Requirements: 30 credits
30 credits- ELEC XXXRequired courses:not offered+ plan
- BIOL 1900Introductory Microbiology6 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2113Human Anatomy and Physiology I11 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2114Human Anatomy and Physiology II6 sections+ plan
- CHEM 1050Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry8 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1130APA Documentation10 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- CMST 1110Introduction to Communication17 sections+ plan
- CMST 2210Intercultural Communication1 section+ plan
- CMST 2220Interpersonal Communication15 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- ENGL 1120Cross-Current College Writing and Critical Reading11 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1121College Writing and Critical Reading59 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- PSYC 1110General Psychology20 sections+ plan
- PSYC 2235Lifespan Development4 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- PHIL 1110Introduction to Ethics7 sections+ plan
- PHIL 1200Medical Ethics7 sections+ plan
Semester One
- BIOL 2113Human Anatomy and Physiology I11 sections+ plan
- CHEM 1050Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry8 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1130APA Documentation10 sections+ plan
- NURS 1160Foundations of Professional Nursing1 section+ plan
- NURS 1162Health Promotion and Wellness and the Role of the Professional Nurse1 section+ plan
- NURS 1190Health Promotion, Wellness, and Foundations of Experiential Learning3 sections+ plan
Total: 16 credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Two
- BIOL 2114Human Anatomy and Physiology II6 sections+ plan
- NURS 1260Health Maintenance: Chronic and Palliative Care1 section+ plan
- NURS 1262Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse I1 section+ plan
- NURS 1290Health Maintenance Experiential Learning2 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- ENGL 1120Cross-Current College Writing and Critical Reading11 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1121College Writing and Critical Reading59 sections+ plan
Total: 17 credits
17 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Three
- BIOL 1900Introductory Microbiology6 sections+ plan
- NURS 2360Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2362Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse II1 section+ plan
- NURS 2390Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
- ELEC XXX(1 Lab, 3 Clinical)not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- PSYC 1110General Psychology20 sections+ plan
- PSYC 2235Lifespan Development4 sections+ plan
Total: 16 credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Four
- NURS 2460Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2462Nursing Leadership1 section+ plan
- NURS 2490Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
- ELEC XXX(3 Clinical)not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- CMST 1110Introduction to Communication17 sections+ plan
- CMST 2210Intercultural Communication1 section+ plan
- CMST 2220Interpersonal Communication15 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- PHIL 1110Introduction to Ethics7 sections+ plan
- PHIL 1200Medical Ethics7 sections+ plan
Total: 15 credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester One
- BIOL 2113Human Anatomy and Physiology I11 sections+ plan
- CHEM 1050Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry8 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1130APA Documentation10 sections+ plan
- NURS 1162Health Promotion and Wellness and the Role of the Professional Nurse1 section+ plan
- NURS 1165LPN Transition to the Role of the Professional Nurse I1 section+ plan
Total: 13 credits + 4 credits of advanced standing
13 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Two
- BIOL 2114Human Anatomy and Physiology II6 sections+ plan
- NURS 1260Health Maintenance: Chronic and Palliative Care1 section+ plan
- NURS 1262Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse I1 section+ plan
- NURS 1265LPN Transition to the Role of the Professional Nurse IInot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- ENGL 1120Cross-Current College Writing and Critical Reading11 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1121College Writing and Critical Reading59 sections+ plan
Total: 16 credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Three
- BIOL 1900Introductory Microbiology6 sections+ plan
- NURS 2360Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2362Pharmacology for the Professional Nurse II1 section+ plan
- NURS 2390Health Restoration: Acute/Simple Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
- ELEC XXX(1 Lab, 3 Clinical)not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- PSYC 1110General Psychology20 sections+ plan
- PSYC 2235Lifespan Development4 sections+ plan
Total: 16 credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Four
- NURS 2460Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations1 section+ plan
- NURS 2462Nursing Leadership1 section+ plan
- NURS 2490Health Restoration: Acute/Complex Alterations Experiential Learning1 section+ plan
- ELEC XXX(3 Clinical)not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- CMST 1110Introduction to Communication17 sections+ plan
- CMST 2210Intercultural Communication1 section+ plan
- CMST 2220Interpersonal Communication15 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXSelect one:not offered+ plan
- PHIL 1110Introduction to Ethics7 sections+ plan
- PHIL 1200Medical Ethics7 sections+ plan
Total: 15 credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Century College2 programs
Dakota County Technical College2 programs
Inver Hills Community College3 programs
Saint Paul College1 program
Common Nursing courses
- NURS 2541Professional Nursing Practicum II(9 sections)
- NURS 2703Nursing Clinical 1(8 sections)
- NURS 2803Clinical II(8 sections)
- NURS 2903Nursing Clinical III(8 sections)
- NURS 2207Maternal Newborn Nursing(7 sections)
- NURS 2208Mental Health Nursing(7 sections)
- ADN 2432Behavioral Health Clinical(7 sections)
- ADN 2472Family Nursing Clinical(7 sections)
- NURS 1410Health Promotion Across the Lifespan I(6 sections)
- NURS 1420Clinical Application I(6 sections)
- NURS 1545Professional Nursing Practicum I(6 sections)
- NURS 2542Advanced Skills for the Professional Nurse(6 sections)
Career outlook for Nursing graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Minnesota’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a registered nurse from a community college?
- Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) from any accredited Minnesota community college qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — the same exam BSN graduates take. ADN-prepared RNs work in the same hospitals and earn the same starting wage as BSN-prepared RNs at most Minnesota employers, though some larger health systems prefer or require a BSN within 5 years of hire.
- How long does the nursing program take?
- The ADN is typically a 2-year full-time program (4 semesters of core nursing courses after prerequisites). Most Minnesota community colleges expect students to complete 1–2 semesters of prerequisites — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English, statistics — before applying to the competitive nursing cohort, so the total time from first enrollment is often 3 years.
- Do nursing credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Yes. Every Minnesota State ADN program has at least one RN-to-BSN bridge partnership with a four-year university — usually the closest state university. ADN graduates can typically complete the BSN online in 12–18 months while continuing to work as an RN, often with their employer covering tuition.
- What's the demand for nurses in Minnesota?
- Strong and growing. BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average occupation — and Minnesota faces the same aging-population pressure driving demand. Most Minnesota ADN graduates have job offers before completing the program; rural hospitals and long-term care facilities offer signing bonuses and tuition forgiveness to recruit RNs.
Compare Nursing programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Minnesota’s nursing programs stack up.
Other programs in Minnesota
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.