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 accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer nursing programs near Willmar, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Willmar city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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.

#1

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN 1.4 miles from Willmar BOC Score 68.7
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,827
Avg net price $10,046/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota nursing page.


Nursing Wages Near Willmar

OccupationMedian 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

MetricValueSource
Population21,136Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$63,368Census 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


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Willmar, MN?

Accredited schools offering nursing programs near Willmar are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

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

Other Programs Available in Willmar

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Willmar:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.