Compare 19 Nursing Science. programs in Minnesota. Average earnings: $74,582.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Nursing Science tells a different story. Across 19 programs, earnings range from $61,352 to $104,496—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Saint Mary's University Of Minnesota's Nursing Science program leads with graduates earning $104,496, well above the $74,582 state average. This smaller program (21 graduates) outperforms larger counterparts like St Catherine University ($79,667 with 148 graduates), proving that cohort size doesn't determine outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Saint Mary's graduates borrow $21,500 and face just a 3.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21.
Highest program earnings: $104,496
Strong outcomes with 89% acceptance
3.6% payment burden | Excellent
6.4% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $104,496 | 21 | $21,500 | Excellent | $14,676 | Excellent | |
| #2 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | $79,667 | 148 | $24,181 | Excellent | $21,883 | Good |
| #3 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | $77,817 | 52 | $25,347 | Excellent | $17,901 | Good |
| #4 | $76,288 | 76 | $20,000 | Excellent | $10,000 | Good | |
| #5 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $75,417 | 143 | $21,500 | Excellent | $24,157 | Manageable |
| #6 | $75,350 | 312 | $20,000 | Excellent | $16,000 | Good | |
| #7 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | $74,858 | 32 | $26,774 | Excellent | $34,265 | Manageable |
| #8 | $74,652 | 121 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $74,157 | 99 | $21,058 | Excellent | $11,598 | Good | |
| #10 | $73,888 | 229 | $21,106 | Excellent | $13,695 | Good | |
| #11 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $73,830 | 22 | $26,000 | Excellent | $40,568 | Challenging |
| #12 | $73,235 | 68 | $17,832 | Excellent | $15,277 | Good | |
| #13 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $72,474 | 248 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,316 | Manageable |
| #14 | $71,933 | 43 | $20,500 | Excellent | $11,750 | Good | |
| #15 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | $71,027 | 150 | $19,750 | Excellent | $12,173 | Good |
| #16 | $69,540 | 70 | $21,325 | Excellent | $28,694 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $68,975 | 28 | $26,847 | Excellent | $29,471 | Manageable | |
| #18 | College Of Saint BenedictPrivate | $68,110 | 52 | $26,944 | Good | $15,778 | Manageable |
| #19 | Crown CollegePrivate | $61,352 | 18 | $22,500 | Excellent | $17,533 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
