Last Updated: October 3, 2026
Minnesota offers four accelerated BSN programs, and each serves a different type of career changer.
The College of St. Scholastica is the fastest, completing the ABSN in just 12 months while offering two Minnesota campuses, rural clinical experiences, and a public health nurse certification pathway.
Herzing University uses tiered admissions and embeds 12 graduate credits in its BSN curriculum. Tuition varies by campus and approved transfer credits; compare the current tuition and required-fee estimates below.
Concordia University, St. Paul accepts applicants with as few as 54 non-nursing college credits, offers three annual start dates, and does not require a completed bachelor’s degree.
Bethel University is the only program that lets students choose between an accelerated 15-month track and a lighter 20-month option within the same curriculum.
Your decision will usually come down to admissions flexibility, program length, learning format, and whether you need a bachelor’s degree before applying.
Minnesota ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Location(s) | Est. Cost | Duration | Min. GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Minneapolis (St. Louis Park) | $63,750 | 20 months | – 2.50+ (TEAS 66+); – 3.0–3.49 (3.0 sci GPA); – 3.50+ (no TEAS) | |
St. Paul (blended) | $44K–$58K (confirm rate) | 15 months (summer) or 20 months (fall) | – 2.85 cumulative; – 3.0 prereq GPA | |
Duluth, St. Cloud | $49K | 12 months | – 3.0 | |
St. Paul MN | $64K | 16 months | – 3.0 cumulative + – 3.0 science GPA; – TEAS 65% |
Comparing ABSN Programs in Minnesota
Best Minnesota ABSN Programs by Goal
- Fastest finish: College of St. Scholastica — 12 months across three semesters
- Herzing tuition: Herzing University estimates $63,750 before fees for Minneapolis, assuming 85 remaining credits after the automatic prior-degree block transfer. Additional approved transfers can reduce billed credits.
- Most flexible admissions: Herzing University — tiered GPA system:
- 3.50+ cumulative requires no science GPA or TEAS
- 3.00–3.49 requires 3.0 science GPA
- 2.50+ requires TEAS composite of 66+
- No bachelor’s degree required: Concordia University St. Paul — 54 non-nursing college credits satisfy the threshold
- Graduate credits embedded: Herzing University — 12 MSN graduate credits included in the BSN curriculum
- Best for rural nursing: College of St. Scholastica
- Most scheduling flexibility (3 annual starts):
- Concordia University St. Paul — three cohorts per year at both the St. Paul and Portland sites.
- College of St. Scholastica — Fall, Spring, and Summer
CNA/NA-R Requirement — Plan Ahead
Bethel University and The College of St. Scholastica require current CNA or NA-R certification before students begin the ABSN process (St. Scholastica requires it at application; Bethel after admission). If you don’t already hold this credential, plan an additional 4-8 weeks to complete a CNA program before applying.
Best Minnesota ABSN Programs by Student Type
You want to become an RN as quickly as possible
The College of St. Scholastica
At 12 months, St. Scholastica is the fastest accelerated BSN in Minnesota. Two campus options, rural clinical placements, and a public health nurse certification pathway make it an excellent choice for students planning to practice throughout Minnesota.
You want the lowest estimated tuition
Herzing University
Herzing estimates $63,750 in Minneapolis tuition for 85 remaining credits after the automatic prior-degree block, before $6,030 in six-semester fees. Additional approved transfers can reduce costs; rolling admission and embedded graduate credits remain features of the program.
You don’t have a completed bachelor’s degree
Concordia University, St. Paul
Concordia admits applicants with 54 non-nursing college credits, making it the only Minnesota ABSN that doesn’t require a completed bachelor’s degree.
You want the easiest admissions process
Herzing University
Herzing’s tiered GPA system allows applicants to qualify through cumulative GPA, science GPA, or TEAS performance, creating the most flexible admissions pathway in the state.
You want to continue into graduate school
Herzing University
The curriculum includes 12 MSN graduate credits, allowing students to begin advanced nursing coursework while completing their BSN.
You want the most scheduling flexibility
Concordia University, St. Paul or Bethel University
Choose Concordia for three annual start dates.
Choose Bethel if you’d rather choose between a fast 15-month pace or a lighter 20-month schedule.
You plan to work in rural Minnesota
The College of St. Scholastica
Structured rural clinical rotations and an optional public health nurse certification pathway make St. Scholastica the strongest choice for students planning to practice outside the Twin Cities.
You prefer a faith-based nursing program
Choose the environment that best fits your goals:
- Bethel University — evangelical Christian, whole-person care.
- College of St. Scholastica — Benedictine Catholic tradition.
- Concordia University, St. Paul — Lutheran university.
Which Program Length Is Right for You?
Need the fastest finish?
- College of St. Scholastica — 12 months; Duluth or St. Cloud; Fall, Spring, or Summer start; rural + acute clinical access; CNA required at application
Want 15–16 months?
- Bethel University (Summer cohort) — 15 months; St. Paul skills intensives; Christian blended format; CNA required post-acceptance; 2.85 GPA
- Concordia University St. Paul — 16 months; St. Paul or Portland; 3 starts/year; 54 credits accepted; TEAS 65%; Lutheran
Need more time or have prerequisites to complete?
- Bethel University (Fall cohort) — 20 months; same curriculum as the 15-month track, distributed across a longer timeline
- Herzing University — 20 months (or 24 if completing science prerequisites); rolling admissions; no fixed deadlines; 12 embedded MSN credits; tiered GPA admission
Cost Comparison
Herzing University — $63,750 estimated tuition: The official tuition estimator for Minneapolis uses $750 per credit across 85 remaining credits after the automatic 35-credit prior-degree transfer. Six semesters of $450 program and $555 learner-resource fees add $6,030, for $69,780 combined; additional approved transfers can lower costs. Confirm the selected campus and individual plan.
Bethel University — ~$43,707–$57,120: Bethel’s program copy lists two different per-credit rates for the same 51-credit curriculum: $857/credit (“at a glance” rate, totaling ~$43,707) and $1,120/credit (tuition-page rate, totaling ~$57,120). The $13,000 difference is material.
College of St. Scholastica — ~$48,552: Three semesters at $14,784 each total $44,352 in tuition. An additional ~$4,200 covers the NCLEX prep subscription, exam security software, clinical compliance subscription, and lab supplies.
Concordia University St. Paul — ~$63,484 effective for MN students: CSP bills $1,050/credit for 61 nursing credits ($64,050), plus a $3,284 ATI fee and $150 lab fee — totaling ~$67,484. St. Paul students receive a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000/term across four semesters), reducing effective nursing tuition to approximately $63,484.
Compare tuition and required fees using the same transfer and course-load assumptions. Herzing’s current Minneapolis estimate is $63,750 before fees, with additional approved transfers potentially reducing the bill. Obtain a written campus and cohort estimate before making a final decision.
Prerequisite Course Patterns
All four programs require Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, and a psychology or developmental psychology course. Nutrition appears on three of four checklists. Key differences:
Bethel includes Statistics inside its curriculum (PSYC335) rather than requiring it as a prerequisite — a meaningful planning advantage for students who haven’t completed statistics. Bethel requires four of six prerequisites complete by the application deadline; all six must be done before the program starts.
St. Scholastica requires a pathopharmacology option — either a standalone pathopharmacology course or pathophysiology plus pharmacology — the most distinctive prerequisite requirement in the group. The pathopharmacology grade requirement is higher when the course is taken outside St. Scholastica. All prerequisites must be complete before the program start; four prerequisites (including three sciences) are recommended by application time for competitive consideration.
Concordia requires a Quantitative Reasoning for Healthcare Professionals course rather than general statistics, which may or may not transfer from a prior statistics course — verify with CSP. All science and math prerequisites must be within 7 years; Lifespan Development within 10 years. No science prerequisite may be retaken more than twice total (withdrawals count). TEAS at 65% overall is required.
Herzing’s science GPA calculation draws on A&P I and II, Biology, Chemistry, and Microbiology using at least two of those courses — applicants with gaps can still qualify depending on which courses they’ve completed. A grade of B or better is required for A&P transfer credit to be awarded toward the program.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
| School | Campus(es) | Start Date(s) | Application Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Duluth, St. Cloud | Fall (Sept), Spring (Jan), Summer (May — St. Cloud only) | Fall: priority Mar 15, final Jul 10 | Spring: priority Jul 15, final Oct 25 | Summer: priority Nov 15, final Mar 7 | NursingCAS; CNA/NA-R required at application; $750 deposit; 12 months | |
St. Paul MN, Portland OR | 3 per year at both sites | Contact admissions; rolling | 54 credits accepted; TEAS 65%; $4K St. Paul scholarship; confirm accreditation with CSP; 16 months | |
St. Paul | Summer (15 mo): early Oct 1, regular Jan 15 | Fall (20 mo): early Jan 15, regular May 15 | After deadlines: space-available review | CNA/NA-R required post-acceptance; $250 deposit; confirm tuition rate ($857 vs. $1,120/credit) before enrolling | |
Minneapolis (St. Louis Park) | Rolling | No fixed deadlines | Tiered GPA admission; 12 embedded MSN credits; 20 months; no CNA required; multiple scholarships |
CNA planning window: Bethel and St. Scholastica both require CNA/NA-R certification. If you don’t hold it, factor in 4–8 weeks for a CNA program before your target application or enrollment date. St. Scholastica requires it at application — not just before enrollment — which moves the timeline earlier.
Concordia’s missed deadline cost: Three annual starts at both locations mean a missed cohort costs weeks rather than a full year. An applicant denied twice may not reapply to Concordia; a third application is not reviewed.
Herzing’s rolling advantage: No fixed intake window means students finishing prerequisites on unconventional timelines — mid-semester completions, non-standard science course schedules — can apply when ready rather than waiting for the next annual cycle.
Clinical Training Structure
Rural clinical access: College of St. Scholastica is the only Minnesota ABSN that explicitly structures rural clinical placements into the rotation sequence. Some rotations require travel or overnight stays. The Duluth campus uses Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital as primary sites; the St. Cloud campus uses CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital and Twin Cities-area agencies. This rural exposure is directly relevant for students intending to practice in outstate Minnesota communities after graduation.
Published clinical hours: Herzing University publishes 630 clinical contact hours across nursing courses, plus 210 laboratory hours — a total of approximately 840 combined learning hours. Bethel University reports 500+ clinical hours across seven practicum courses. Concordia and St. Scholastica do not publish specific clinical hour totals in available program copy; confirm directly.
Skills intensives vs. continuous on-campus sessions: Bethel’s blended model structures on-campus time as seven intensives of two to three days each in St. Paul — discrete, scheduled blocks rather than weekly campus visits. This is well-suited to students who live outside the Twin Cities but can travel periodically. Herzing’s core nursing classes meet on campus in Minneapolis, paired with online coursework — a more traditional campus-plus-online hybrid rather than an intensive model.
Simulation: All four programs integrate simulation. St. Scholastica uses modern simulation labs at both Duluth and St. Cloud with varied manikins, skills stations, and structured debriefing. Concordia’s St. Paul and Portland sites both have human patient simulators that react to clinical decisions in real time — scenarios include managing childbirth, responding to unresponsive patients, and other high-acuity situations. Herzing logs 210 laboratory hours, including science and nursing skills labs alongside the 630 clinical hours. Bethel integrates simulation in on-campus skills labs and clinical experiences.
Public health certification (St. Scholastica only): Students at St. Scholastica can complete the Population Based Healthcare sequence (NSG 4860 and NSG 4865) to fulfill requirements for public health nurse certification in Minnesota — a credential that expands practice scope and is directly applicable to community and population health roles in outstate communities.
List of ABSN Programs in MN
Bethel University ABSN Program
St Paul | $44,000 | 15 Months
Bethel University offers a blended Post-Baccalaureate BSN in St. Paul for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. Over half of coursework is online, paired with in-person skills intensives, a cohort model, and a faith-based, whole-person approach.
Highlights
- Blended format: mostly online plus seven St. Paul skills intensives
- Choice of a 15-month summer cohort or 20-month fall cohort
- Faith-based, whole-person curriculum; 500+ clinical hours in the Twin Cities
College of St. Scholastica ABSN Program
Duluth | $46,000 | 12 Months
The College of St. Scholastica offers a 12-month Post-Baccalaureate BSN at two Minnesota campuses (Duluth and St. Cloud) for students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree. It blends online coursework with in-person labs and rural clinical placements, grounded in Benedictine values.
Highlights
- Two Minnesota locations (Duluth and St. Cloud) with rural clinical exposure
- Blended format: online coursework and synchronous webinars plus in-person labs
- Benedictine, holistic curriculum with a public health nurse certification path
Concordia University St. Paul ABSN Program
Portland, OR & St Paul MN | $64,050 | 16 Months
Concordia University St. Paul offers a 16-month blended ABSN at its St. Paul site for students with 54+ non-nursing college credits. Ranked #1 in Minnesota for nursing by Niche, it separates online theory from in-person labs and clinicals across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro.
Highlights
- Ranked #1 in Minnesota for nursing (Niche); $4,000 St. Paul scholarship (~$60,050 effective tuition)
- Blended format with three start dates a year (January, May, September)
- No bachelor's required — 54 non-nursing credits (associate or equivalent) plus TEAS
Herzing University ABSN Program
Minneapolis | $63,750 | 20-24 Months
Herzing University built its Minneapolis-area ABSN, in St. Louis Park, specifically for people who already hold a bachelor's or master's in another field. The admissions design reflects that, with three tiered tracks that let applicants qualify by cumulative GPA, science GPA, or TEAS score — plus 12 graduate credits embedded toward a Herzing MSN.
Why Herzing University Stands Out
- Tiered admission meets career changers where they are: cumulative GPA, science GPA, or TEAS can each qualify.
- 12 graduate credits are built into the curriculum, earning dual credit toward a Herzing MSN.
- As few as 20 months (24 if completing science prerequisites), with rolling admission and no fixed deadlines.
- Up to 90 transfer credits accepted; 630 clinical contact hours plus 210 laboratory hours.
- CCNE-accredited baccalaureate nursing program at an HLC-accredited institution; Tuition varies by campus and approved transfers; see the profile for current estimates.