RN to MSN Programs in Minnesota

Online RN to MSN Programs in Minnesota

We found two universities that are willing to offer online RN to MSN programs in Minnesota. Bethel’s pathway is purely devoted to nurse-midwifery, but Capella offers a number of concentrations in non NP-specialties. Each program has its own quirks, so have a look at our school listings for full details. Here are a few main points to keep in mind:

• Bethel University: Bethel’s ACME-accredited program is primarily online, but there are 3 mandatory on-campus intensives in St. Paul (around 1 week per year). Students can study full-time or part-time and there are no courses in the summer. Keep in mind that Bethel is a Christian school, so coursework is taught with a faith-based perspective. This program fulfills licensure requirements in the state of Minnesota. Out-of-state students will need to check with their own Board of Nursing.
• Capella University: Capella is a for-profit university, but it is CCNE-accredited. (See the profile for thoughts on for-profit programs.) It also offers two pathways for online study. Students in the GuidedPath are on the quarter system and complete weekly assignments, activities, and course discussions. Students in the FlexPath can set their own deadlines. That means there are no course discussion or group assignments in the FlexPath.

Cheapest RN to MSN Programs in Minnesota

This ranking of the most affordable Minnesota RN to MSN programs is based on one data point: the per credit graduate tuition rate. But please use it only as a ballpark figure! You’ll need to factor in the total number of credits, any additional fees, and tuition rates for undergraduate coursework (they may be different). Remember, too, that you may be able to transfer credits or ask for a portfolio review on selected courses.

1. Capella University: View Tuition Rates
2. Winona State University: View Tuition Rates
3. Bethel University: View Tuition Rates

Despite the fact that WSU is a public university, the tuition rate for graduate nursing programs is the same for in-state and out-of-state students.

Minnesota’s Healthcare Landscape

In the Twin Cities and Rochester, the presence of big hospitals and medical centers has led to an excellent standard of care for Minnesotans. According to America’s Health Rankings and the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the state has a great track record in a number of areas, including a low percentage of uninsured residents.

Even Minnesota’s 60 rural counties can boast of achievements. In the 2018 U.S. Rural Health Report Card, Minnesota received an A+ for its rural healthcare efforts, including an A+ for rural health access and outcomes. Minnesota has 78 hospitals designated as Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), the third highest number in the nation. And in 2015, the state government passed a Minnesota Telemedicine Act to improve access to care.

Where Minnesota has been struggling is the opioid crisis. From 2008-2018, drug deaths in the state increased 100%. The Minnesota Department of Health even has an Opioid Dashboard to keep track of the issue. Numbers reached a peak in 2017, when there were 733 deaths, before dropping some in 2018. Nevertheless, residents in northern counties and Minneapolis are still feeling the effects.

Rural Minnesotans in the northeast, in particular, lack access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) centers, mental health experts, and plain-old primary care providers. According to an MDH Workforce Report, in 2018 there were 277 people for every APRN in urban areas of Minnesota, compared to almost 7 times that many people in the most rural areas of the state. If you’re interested in rural service, you’ll be very welcome!

Jobs for Minnesota RN to MSN Graduates

Career Outlook for RN to MSN Graduates

You’ll find a treasure trove of job information about Minnesota APRNs in three places:

• The Minnesota Board of Nursing publishes Nursing Workforce Data, including an Annual Education Report that contains certification pass rates for each university.
• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) occasionally issues detailed Nursing Workforce Reports on APRNs.
• And the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks job & wage data for Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary. The state-by-state maps are always enlightening.

All of these sources agree that the major hotspots for Minnesota APRNs and NPs are the Twin Cities metropolitan area and Rochester.

• The Twin Cities area alone employs around 62% of the state’s nurse practitioners. These folks are working in many of the Best Hospitals in Minnesota, as well as Magnet Facilities such as Abbott Northwestern and Children’s Minnesota.
• Thanks to the clout of universities such as UM, the Twin Cities area has one of the highest employment levels of nursing instructors in the country.
• Because of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester NPs are extremely well-paid, earning some of the best mean wages in the U.S.

Minnesota APRNs also have a great deal of autonomy. After 2,080 hours within the context of a collaborative agreement with a physician, they can earn full independent practice authority. NPs are recognized as primary care providers and may independently prescribe prescription drugs. Complete rules on the scope of practice are laid out by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

This means you’ll find plenty of MSN and DNP graduates who can provide advice on the pros & cons of private practice. According to a recent MDH workforce report, 75% of APRNs who owned or co-owned an individual or group private practice were working in urban areas and 25% were in rural Minnesota. The majority of these owners were CRNAs (e.g. 56%), but NPs weren’t far behind (e.g. 33%).

Note: If you’d like to join the ranks of advanced practice nurses who are serving in rural or underserved areas, check out Minnesota Health Care Loan Forgiveness Programs.

Career Resources for Future APRNs

Minnesota Nursing Job Boards

• Minnesota APRN Coalition Career Center: Job openings for Minnesota NPs & APRNs
• MNNP Career Center: Job openings for Minnesota RNs, NPs, nurse educators, and nurse leaders
• MOLN Career Center: Job listings for Minnesota nurse leaders & executives
• MN Hospital Jobs: Openings for healthcare professionals in MHA hospitals & healthcare systems

Minnesota APRN Salary & Wage Data

• Annual Mean Wages for Minnesota Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations: Categories can include “Nurse Practitioners,” “Nurse Midwives,” and “Nurse Anesthetists”
• Annual Mean Wages for Minnesota Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary
• AANP National Compensation Survey: Available to AANP members

Minnesota Nursing Organizations

State Board of Nursing

• Minnesota Board of Nursing

Minnesota Nursing Associations & Coalitions

• Minnesota APRN Coalition
• Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA)
• Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA)
• Minnesota Nurse Practitioners (MNNP)
• National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): Minnesota Chapter

Minnesota Nursing Specialty Organizations

• American College of Nurse-Midwives – Minnesota Affiliate (Minnesota ACNM)
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association – Minnesota Chapter (APNA Minnesota)
• Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses – Minnesota (AWHONN Minnesota)
• Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MNANA)
• Minnesota Association of Occupational Health Nurses (MAOHN)
• Minnesota-Dakota Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (MNDAKSPAN)
• Minnesota Emergency Nurses Association (Minnesota ENA)
• Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (MOLN)
• School Nurse Organization of Minnesota (SNOM)