Ridgewater College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in Willmar, MN (2026)
Willmar, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs, with tuition ranging from $6,213 to $18,962 per year for indexed programs. Willmar has a population of about 21,136. Median household income is $63,368 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $266,190 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Willmar
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Willmar. Distances are calculated from Willmar city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Willmar. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
St Cloud Technical and Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Published tuition$6,213 - $18,962
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Willmar
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $101,510 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $63,750 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $266,190 |
| Nurse Midwife | $134,810 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $133,260 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,680 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Willmar at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,136 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,368 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 24.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Willmar-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Saint Cloud, MN – 51.5 mi away (113,649 pop)
- Alexandria, MN – 54.3 mi away (20,814 pop)
- Monticello, MN – 62.4 mi away (26,875 pop)
- Chaska, MN – 73.8 mi away (26,016 pop)
- Elk River, MN – 73.9 mi away (24,364 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Willmar, MN?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Willmar. The closest is Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN (1.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Alexandria Technical & Community College (54.0 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles in Minnesota?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in Minnesota are: Nurse Anesthetist ($266,190), Nurse Midwife ($134,810), Nurse Practitioner ($133,260). Wages for Willmar workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Saint Cloud instead of Willmar?
Saint Cloud, MN is 51.5 miles from Willmar and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Willmar an affordable place to study nursing?
Willmar’s median household income of $63,368 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Willmar while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Minnesota
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Willmar
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Willmar:
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.