Press release
Rasmussen University Expands Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program to St. Cloud Campus
New offering expands access to BSN education for students in St. Cloud and rural communities ST. CLOUD, Minn., Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen

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[{"type":"text","content":"New offering expands access to BSN education for students in St. Cloud and rural communities\nST. CLOUD, Minn., Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen University today announced the expansion of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to the University's St. Cloud campus, with enrollment now open and classes beginning in January 2026.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nThe addition of the CCNE-accredited¹ BSN program in St. Cloud expands access to aspiring nurses across Central Minnesota and more rural communities outside the Twin Cities metro. The program is designed to help meet the growing demand for bachelor's-prepared registered nurses (RNs) in Minnesota, where healthcare systems in both urban and rural areas are facing workforce shortages.\n\"Expanding our BSN program to St. Cloud reflects Rasmussen University's commitment to serving Minnesota communities—both large and small,\" said Mark Arnold, president of Rasmussen University. \"This new offering helps us reach students who may not otherwise have access to a BSN program close to home, and it supports rural hospitals and clinics that are urgently seeking more registered nurses.\"\nAccording to the Bureau of Health Workforce's document Nurse Workforce Projections, 2022-2037, nonmetro areas are expected to outpace metro areas in shortages of RNs in the next three interval years of 2027 (24% vs. 7%), 2032 (19% vs. 6%), and 2037 (13% vs. 5%). Rural communities across the country, including Minnesota also continue to face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals.\n\"Many Rasmussen University Nursing graduates choose to remain and practice in the communities where they are educated, helping to address local workforce needs and strengthen healthcare access in rural areas,\" said Arnold. \"This expansion to St. Cloud is designed to build on that tradition and prepare the next generation of nurses to serve the region.\"\nThis is the third expansion of Rasmussen's Bloomington BSN program over the past two years. The University added the program to its Eagan, Minn. campus in Fall 2023 and to its Hennepin/Anoka campus located in Brooklyn Park, Minn. in Spring 2024.\nRasmussen University offers multiple entry tracks into its BSN program to meet students at various points in their academic and professional journey:\nBSN Standard Degree: For studen...