Nursing Programs in Madison, WI

2027 Best Nursing Schools in Madison

Rankings help prospective nursing students evaluate program quality and make informed decisions. In this assessment, Registerednursing.org ranks the Best Nursing Schools in Madison based solely on NCLEX pass rates, a key indicator of exam readiness and program effectiveness. For a complete explanation of our methodology, visit https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/.

#1

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, WI - Public 2-Year - madisoncollege.edu

Associate - Associate Degree in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Madison Area Technical College (Madison College) offers a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program that equips graduates for the NCLEX-RN. The curriculum covers fundamentals, pharmacology, and lifespan clinical care, supplemented by state-of-the-art simulation labs and hospital clinical placements. The program is ACEN-accredited and requires the HESI or ACT for admission. Full-time and part-time tracks are available across Madison, Reedsburg, and Watertown campuses, with seamless BSN transfer options. Graduates earn an average starting salary of $76,140, with a 93% job placement rate and 100% employment reported for 2025 graduates. The NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024 was 98.36% (183 students). A free application and financial aid make this an accessible entry into nursing.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: HESI, ACT
• 2-Year program
• 65 total credit hours
• Full-time and part-time options
• Starts fall/spring
• 93% job placement rate
• average starting salary of $76,140
• Prerequisite courses required

#2

Edgewood University

Madison, WI - Private 4-year - edgewood.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Edgewood University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a CCNE-accredited, campus-based program in Madison, WI, blending liberal arts with rigorous nursing coursework. Students benefit from small cohorts of 42, a 7:1 clinical faculty-to-student ratio, and hands-on training at over 80 clinical sites, plus a state-of-the-art simulation center with high-fidelity mannequins. The 120-credit curriculum covers health promotion, pharmacology, and perinatal care, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN. Recent NCLEX first-time pass rates were 96.24% in 2022 and 95.88% in 2024 (among 97 test-takers). Admission may require ACT or SAT scores; check with admissions for policies. The program features rolling admissions, scholarships, and a Guaranteed Admission Program for high-achieving freshmen, with a Roman Catholic affiliation and military-friendly status.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 120 total credit hours
• Rolling admissions
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 2.8 GPA minimum
• $93,600 average annual salary for registered nurses with a BSN
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN

*Source: NCES, IPEDS 2025 data collection. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Entry-Level ADN BSN Programs in Madison, WI

Few vocations offer the stability and constancy of nursing. It is a job that will be around for the foreseeable future and though it changes all the time, it won’t be outsourced overseas or replaced by advanced technologies anytime soon. If you have ever considered entering this in-demand profession, nursing schools in Madison, Wisconsin offer a range of LPN to RN, ADN, and BSN programs.

LPN to RN Programs

Armed with stellar communications skills and bedside manners, Licensed Practical Nurses or LPNs tend to be the ones who comfort patients and offer assistance after difficult surgeries or procedures. LPNs who want to provide evidence-based patient care can leverage their LPN experience to earn their Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and become an RN. Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in Wisconsin offers a flexible LPN to RN option with evening, online and weekend classes.

ADN Programs

Help hospitals provide quality patient care by becoming a registered nurse. Learn nursing fundamentals and gain clinical knowledge by attending classes at publicly supported Blackhawk Technical College, located about 50 minutes south of Madison, Wisconsin. Recognized as offering one of the best ASN nursing programs in the state, graduates are prepared to test for the NCLEX exam. In fact, program graduates have a 98% pass rate, higher than average.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

Healthcare experts recognize that patients receive higher quality of care when treated by a Registered Nurse possessing a bachelor’s degree. As such, more top-tier hospitals and medical centers are requiring that their nurses hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Edgewood College, a liberal arts school, offers a traditional BSN program. Students complete their hands-on clinicals at Madison-area partner hospitals and benefit from one of the lowest instructor-to-student ratios around.  The accredited school primes graduates to take the NCLEX.

Find out more about Wisconsin Accelerated BSN Programs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Madison, WI

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Madison, WI

The call to lead for some can be as great as the call to serve. As nursing administrators or advanced practice nurses in Madison, WI, you can set the example for other nurses to follow as well as provide elevated patient care. RNs who wish to lead either by entering management or by specializing can find numerous options available to them in master’s degree programs, post-grad certificates or doctorate options.

MSN Programs

Before leading others, experienced nursing professionals must first become proficient in their line of work from performing health assessments to educating patients recovering from surgeries. RNs in good standing who think they are ready to take charge can increase their chances of success by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing. Cardinal Stritch University located an hour plus outside of Madison, WI offers flexible MSN curriculum face to face and online.

Find out more about Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Programs.

Post-Master's Certificate Programs

Post-graduate certificates allow nurses to specialize in the field of work they are most passionate and excited about. The well-regarded University of Wisconsin at Madison offers four certs in Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, Psychiatric Mental Health, and School Nursing so nurses with a master’s degree can specialize in months instead of years.

Find out more about Wisconsin Post-Master's Certificate Programs.

DNP Programs

Taking care of and treating patients provides advanced practice nurses with a sense of pride and accomplishment. However, after years of working in hospitals, these knowledgeable professionals may want to address healthcare-sector issues at the policy level. University of Wisconsin at Madison offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a focus on leadership and policy as well as nursing practice evaluation.

Find out more about Wisconsin DNP Programs.