If you would like to start a nursing career in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area, you will need a degree or certificate from an accredited nursing school. Fortunately, the metro area of more than 230,000 residents is home to several accredited schools with highly regarded nursing programs. North Dakota State University in Fargo offers bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree programs. The university also has a BSN track for existing registered nurses (RNs), called an RN-to-BSN completion program. Across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota State University offers an RN-to-BSN pathway, and Concordia College has an accelerated nursing major that may be completed in just 16 months of fulltime study.
Like the country as a whole, most nurses in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area are either registered nurses, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The region has approximately 3,000 RNs, 1,000 LPNs, and 1,800 CNAs, respectively. These healthcare professionals work at major local hospitals and healthcare centers like Sanford Medical Center, Essentia Health-Fargo, Sanford Children’s Hospital, and Vibra Hospital of Fargo.
The area’s nursing salaries are competitive. Local RNs earn almost $60,000 annually on average. Top performers, including those who hold a BSN or DNP degree, can earn more than $76,000 per year. Fargo-Moorhead LPNs are paid just under $40,000 on average and well over $48,000 on the high end. CNAs earn $28,000 per year on average, $35,000 or more in the top decile.
Start earning the skills you need to secure a nursing position in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. We’ve compiled below a list of accredited local schools that offer nursing programs at several degree and certificate levels.