2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Minnesota
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools.
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2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Century College earned the #1 spot for value among practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in Minnesota. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $47,502. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in practical nursing & nursing assistants will find it at South Central College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,139. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $46,447. That is a strong return on a $13,139 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Pine Technical College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pine City. In-state tuition and fees average $4,738. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $37,690. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverland Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,356 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $44,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Inver Hills Community College earned it the #5 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,160 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $52,798. That is a strong return on a $20,160 median debt.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned the #6 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $41,300. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $16,466. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $48,923. That is a strong return on a $16,466 median debt.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #8 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,679. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $14,010 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $48,973. That is a strong return on a $14,010 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,946. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $43,009. Set against $13,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Cloud Technical And Community College earned the #10 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $23,836 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $39,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ridgewater College earned the #11 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Students borrow a median of $23,755 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $44,921. That is a strong return on a $23,755 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,908. Students borrow a median of $19,700 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $39,109. Set against $19,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $17,500. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $44,393. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
Anoka Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,267. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Anoka Technical College generally make around $42,648. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Normandale Community College placed #15 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,329. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $20,162. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. That is a strong return on a $20,162 median debt.
Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #16 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. Students from in state pay about $6,249 in tuition and fees. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $18,600 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of $35,623 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,600 median debt.
Northwest Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Bemidji, Northwest Technical College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,254. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $31,053 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Northwest Technical College earn a median of $41,497 early in their careers. Set against $31,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #18 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $20,228. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,200 early in their careers. Set against $20,228 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Community And Technical College earned the #19 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,289. Students borrow a median of $19,131 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Northland Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,017 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,131 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #20 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Students borrow a median of $24,036 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $43,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #21 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,671. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $38,862 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Superior College earned the #22 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,969 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $47,190 early in their careers. Set against $11,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #23 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,199. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $21,274 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $45,271. Set against $21,274 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
