An RN to BSN program is a degree-completion track: nurses who already hold an active license and an associate degree or diploma finish the bachelor's without repeating basic nursing coursework. For Wisconsin ADN and diploma nurses, the reasons to go back are practical. Employers increasingly favor BSN-prepared candidates for promotion, Magnet-designated hospitals expect a bachelor's-prepared workforce, and graduate nursing programs require the degree for admission.
Every program listed here runs 100% online. Hybrid options that require campus visits are excluded, so working nurses can finish without leaving their shifts. Average net price among schools reporting it runs from $13,369 at UW-Green Bay to $37,408 at Bellin College.
That gap of roughly $24,000 is the real decision point: the same credential carries very different price tags.
What Do Wisconsin's Fully Online RN to BSN Programs Look Like by the Numbers?
These figures summarize the programs ranked below, not any single school. Graduation rates are institution-wide, not specific to the RN to BSN track, and net price is the federal average a student pays after grants and scholarships, not a tuition quote. The University of Wisconsin campuses cluster at the low end of the cost range, while private nonprofit colleges fill out the middle and upper end.
The 10 Top 100% Online RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin
Every school below lets a Wisconsin RN finish the bachelor's degree entirely online, with no hybrid or on-campus classroom requirement. Programs that mix online coursework with required campus visits were left off, and the fully online programs that remain are ordered by a blended quality score, strongest outcomes first.
How we ranked these
- Earnings ten years after entry
- Institutional graduation rates
- Online delivery and program fit
- Net price after aid
- Student support and advising
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Bellin College
#1Green Bay, WI · ~$37,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Green Bay-area nurses juggling full-time shifts
Bellin College is a private health sciences college in Green Bay, where the average student pays about $37,408 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 63 percent. Its online RN to BSN takes roughly two years of asynchronous coursework with a January start, and every course is built around practicing registered nurses.
- CCNE accredited RN to BSN
- Two-year completion time
- Asynchronous online classes
- January entry start
- Open to practicing registered nurses
Herzing University-Kenosha
#2Kenosha, WI · ~$23,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Transfer-heavy students avoiding traditional clinicals
Herzing University's Kenosha campus is a private institution where the average student pays about $23,066 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 72 percent. The online RN to BSN covers 120 credits, swaps traditional clinicals for a 45-hour community project, and lets nurses transfer up to 70 nursing credits before closing with a capstone.
- 120 total credit hours, 26 of them in nursing
- 45-hour community project replaces traditional clinicals
- Transfer up to 70 nursing credits, 90 overall
- Up to 9 graduate credits carry into the MSN and DNP
- Capstone project closes the program
- Each course includes continuing education hours for license renewal
Viterbo University
#3La Crosse, WI · ~$21,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Accelerated learners who prefer short terms
Viterbo University is a private university in La Crosse, with an average net price after aid of about $21,260 and a school-wide graduation rate of 68 percent. Its RN to BSN is 43 credits at $480 per credit, taught in seven-week sessions, and can be finished in a year, 18 months, or three years with clinical placements arranged near the student's home.
- $480 per credit with no additional fees
- 43 total credit hours
- Finish in one year, 18 months, or three years
- Seven-week course sessions
- Transfer up to 70+ credits
- Clinical placements arranged near the student's home
- No application fee; 2.3 GPA minimum
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin
#4Green Bay, WI
Rasmussen University's Wisconsin campus is a for-profit institution in Green Bay, and the school's overall graduation rate is 57 percent. The online RN to BSN requires 70 credits across 17 courses and can be finished in 12 to 18 months, with eight start dates a year, up to 134 transfer credits, and clinical hours arranged in the student's own community.
- $345 per credit; about $24,650 total before savings
- Finish in 12 to 18 months
- 70 credit hours across 17 courses
- Transfer up to 134 credits
- Eight start dates per year
- Flexible pacing through Empowered Learning courses
- Clinicals arranged in the student's local community
Concordia University-Wisconsin
#5Mequon, WI · ~$36,000/yr (est.)
Concordia University Wisconsin is a private university in Mequon, where the average student pays about $36,201 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 68 percent. The online RN to BSN runs $450 per credit over 18 to 24 months, accepts up to 84 transfer credits, and starts a new group every eight weeks with no ACT or SAT scores required.
- $450 per credit
- 18 to 24 months; 120 total credit hours
- Transfer up to 84 credits
- New start every eight weeks
- No ACT or SAT scores required
- Employment as an RN required throughout the program
- Conditional acceptance offered for lower GPAs
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
#6Milwaukee, WI · $10,000 – $22,000/yr (est.)
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public research university where Wisconsin students pay an average of about $15,014 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 49 percent. Its RN to BSN runs fully online or through competency-based assessments, includes 60 clinical hours, and lets nurses build the capstone quality improvement project at their own workplace.
- 120 total credit hours, 60 clinical hours
- Fully online track or competency-based UW-FLEX assessments
- Capstone quality improvement project, often at your workplace
- Articulation with Wisconsin technical college ADN programs
- 2.5 GPA minimum
- Full-time and part-time enrollment
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
#7Green Bay, WI · $13,000/yr (est. net price)
UW-Green Bay is a public campus in Green Bay where the average student pays about $13,369 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 48 percent. The RN to BSN accepts up to 90 transfer credits, works through the Universities of Wisconsin BSN@Home collaboration, and includes a community health practicum students complete near home.
- Transfer up to 90 credits
- Required community health practicum
- Advisor counts prior credits and maps remaining courses
- Online library and writing support
- Classes fit your schedule each semester
- Continue into the MSN after the BSN
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
#8Oshkosh, WI · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)
UW-Oshkosh is a public campus in Oshkosh where the average student pays about $14,305 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 46 percent. Its BSN@Home RN to BSN is asynchronous, many students finish in three semesters, and advisors are practicing nurses who build a personalized plan of study.
- Part of the Universities of Wisconsin BSN@Home collaborative
- Many students finish in three semesters
- Asynchronous online courses
- Transfer up to 90 credits
- Concurrent ADN and RN to BSN enrollment available
- Advisors are professional nurses
- Employer tuition reimbursement supported
Alverno College
#9Milwaukee, WI · $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.)
Alverno College is a private women's college in Milwaukee whose online adult programs are open to all genders, with an average net price after aid of about $22,540 and a school-wide graduation rate of 49 percent. Its online RN to BSN takes about 12 months of eight-week courses and admits nurses who hold an associate degree and an unencumbered license.
- About 12 months to complete
- Eight-week course format
- CCNE accredited
- Open to men and women
- Requires an associate degree in nursing and an unencumbered RN license
Herzing University-Brookfield
#10Brookfield, WI · ~$21,000/yr (est.)
Herzing University's Brookfield campus is a private institution west of Milwaukee where the average student pays about $20,514 a year after aid and the school's overall graduation rate is 42 percent. The RN to BSN is fully online, takes as little as 12 months, uses a 45-hour community health project instead of traditional clinicals, and offers six start dates a year with rolling admissions.
- As little as 12 months
- 100 percent online classes
- 45-hour community health project instead of traditional clinicals
- Six start dates per year with rolling admissions
- Transfer up to 90 credits
- Dual credit toward an MSN
- Eight-week session format
Behind the List: How These Wisconsin Programs Earned Their Spots
Every program on this list delivers its coursework fully online, so you can keep working while you finish the BSN. Programs that require regular campus visits, in-person labs, or a local cohort meeting were screened out. That is why a well-known Wisconsin nursing school may not appear: the list is about format fit, not a verdict on reputation. If you need a campus connection, a hybrid option may serve you better, but it belongs in a different comparison.
What the Programs Have in Common
The schools here tend to combine manageable cost, a completion record you can compare, and outcomes that suggest graduates move forward. No single number decides the order. A lower net price helps, but a program that helps you finish on schedule can be the better value even when the sticker price is higher. Treat the list as a shortlist to investigate, not a final verdict.
Read the Numbers With Care
Graduation rates describe the whole institution, not the RN to BSN track, so treat them as a broad signal rather than a promise. Net price is an average after aid and shifts with your income, employer tuition benefits, and transfer credits. Program-level earnings appear only where published, so some entries will not show a salary figure.
Before You Apply
Confirm two things directly with each school: that its BSN carries the accreditation your employer or graduate school expects, and that the current per-credit tuition matches your budget. Ask how practicum hours are placed near your community, and whether prior learning credit or employer tuition benefits apply. Both questions get a fuller answer in the cost and accreditation sections that follow.
Quick Answers for Wisconsin Nurses Weighing an Online BSN
These are the questions Wisconsin RNs and ADN students ask most before applying. Policies change by campus and by year, so confirm final details with an admissions advisor.
Can nurses licensed outside Wisconsin enroll in these online BSN programs?
How quickly can an ADN-prepared nurse finish a bachelor's degree online in Wisconsin?
Can I start an RN to BSN before I've passed the NCLEX?
What an Online BSN Costs in Wisconsin: Tuition, Net Price, Debt, and Speed
For the most affordable RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin, start with the Universities of Wisconsin campuses. UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Milwaukee post average net prices of about $13,400 to $15,000. Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, averaged across the whole school. These campuses also report median graduation debt of $18,500 to $23,000, while the private universities below run roughly $20,500 to $24,200 net with $21,500 to $27,000 in debt. The BSN@HOME campuses charge one $452 per-credit nursing rate with no added fees for 2025-26, so the minimum of 31 nursing credits works out to at least $14,012 before any general education or campus-specific credits. UW-Superior, a school outside this page's list, advertises its own 100% online option at the same $452 rate with 30 nursing credits and 12 to 36 months depending on pace. Herzing's published example of 30 remaining credits over four semesters totals $15,720, including about $2,220 in fees. If speed matters as much as price for your BSN degree in Wisconsin, compare the fastest RN to BSN programs with 12-month plans and 7- or 8-week terms, such as Herzing University-Brookfield, Alverno College, and Viterbo University. Keep in mind that graduation rates and debt are institution-wide figures, while earnings reflect nursing bachelor's graduates one year after finishing.
| School | Avg. net price after aid | In-state tuition and fees | Out-of-state tuition and fees | Median debt at graduation (institution-wide) | Program median earnings, 1 year after graduation | Graduation rate (institution-wide) | Published per-credit rate | Est. nursing-course cost | Pace and term options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | $13,369 | $8,700 | $17,288 | $18,500 | $70,213 | 48% | $452 (2025-26) | At least $14,012 (31 credits) | Flexible scheduling; up to 90 transfer credits |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | $14,305 | $8,532 | $16,446 | $21,500 | $71,633 | 46% | $452 (2025-26) | At least $14,012 (31 credits) | 3-semester plan; student sets pace; asynchronous classes |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | $15,014 | $10,398 | $22,398 | $23,000 | $70,900 | 49% | $452 (2025-26) | At least $14,012 (31 credits) | Full- or part-time; competency-based option |
| Herzing University-Brookfield | $20,514 | $13,450 | $13,450 | $21,500 | $75,774 | 42% | $450 | $15,720 (30 credits plus fees, example) | 12-month length; 8-week sessions; six starts per year |
| Viterbo University | $21,260 | $34,250 | $34,250 | $25,000 | $72,463 | 68% | N/A | N/A | 1 year, 18 months, or 3 years; 7-week sessions |
| Marian University | $21,937 | $35,178 | $35,178 | $25,000 | $71,223 | 44% | N/A | N/A | 3-semester program; 100% online |
| Herzing University-Madison | $22,327 | $13,450 | $13,450 | $21,500 | $75,774 | 28% | $450 | $15,720 (30 credits plus fees, example) | Fully online option |
| Alverno College | $22,540 | $34,086 | $34,086 | $27,000 | $72,005 | 49% | N/A | N/A | 12-month program; 8-week courses |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | $23,066 | $13,450 | $13,450 | $21,500 | $75,774 | 72% | $450 | $15,720 (30 credits plus fees, example) | Fully online option |
| Lakeland University | $24,212 | $33,396 | $33,396 | $25,000 | Not reported | 42% | N/A | N/A | 100% online delivery |
Wisconsin by City
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Getting in: Admission Checklist for ADN, ASN, and Diploma Nurses
Most online RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin ask for the same core documents, but the details differ by school. Use this checklist to gather what you need, then confirm current rules with each admissions office.
- Active, unencumbered RN licenseUW-Superior requires an unencumbered RN license. UW-Eau Claire requires a Wisconsin or Minnesota license for full admission, kept active throughout the program. If you hold a compact multistate license or a single-state license from another state, ask admissions whether it qualifies before you apply.
- Minimum GPAA 2.5 is the common floor among the schools that publish one. UW-Superior sets a 2.5 transfer GPA, and UW-Eau Claire requires a 2.50 cumulative GPA. Other schools set their own standards, so check each one.
- Prerequisite courseworkMany programs expect general education courses such as statistics, chemistry, microbiology, and English composition, completed before or during the program. Requirements vary, so request a transcript review early. At UW-Superior, you must earn a C or better in every nursing course.
- ADN, ASN, or diploma from an accredited programUW-Superior accepts an ADN or nursing diploma from an accredited program within its 60-credit curriculum. UW-Eau Claire awards 30 credits for prior learning, leaving 30 upper-division credits. Diploma nurses should confirm how their coursework transfers.
- Deadlines and start termsAn adn to bsn program wisconsin nurses can start quickly may use rolling admission, as UW-Eau Claire and Herzing do. Herzing offers six starts a year in 8-week sessions, including November 2, 2026. UW-Superior's asn to bsn program wisconsin option launched in spring 2026.
CCNE vs. ACEN: Which Accreditation Should Your Wisconsin BSN Carry?
Either CCNE or ACEN can be a sound choice for an RN to BSN, so the better question is whether the specific program you plan to enroll in holds current accreditation from a recognized accreditor. Accreditation status changes, so verify it yourself rather than relying on any static list, including this one. Work through the steps below in order before you apply.
| Verification step | Where to check | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Start with the school | The official RN to BSN page at each school you are considering: UW System campuses, Herzing, Concordia Wisconsin, Marian, Viterbo, Bellin, Alverno, and others | The page names the accreditor (CCNE or ACEN) and says the baccalaureate nursing program itself is accredited, not just the university |
| 2. Cross-check CCNE | CCNE accredited-programs directory, searchable by institution, state, and program | Search Wisconsin and look for the baccalaureate category. The Wisconsin directory currently lists Alverno College, Bellin College, Concordia University Wisconsin, Herzing University Brookfield and Madison, Marian University of Wisconsin, and Viterbo University |
| 3. Cross-check ACEN | ACEN official directory of accredited programs | If a school is not in CCNE's Wisconsin directory, search ACEN by school name and confirm the listing covers the baccalaureate level. Check UW System campuses, Lakeland, Rasmussen, and Ottawa one by one |
| 4. Confirm federal recognition | U.S. Department of Education accreditation database (DAPIP) | The accreditor named by the school appears as recognized by the Department of Education. Both CCNE and ACEN are recognized nursing accreditors, but confirm the current status |
| 5. Separate institutional from program accreditation | The school's accreditation page plus the accreditor's directory | Regional or institutional accreditation alone does not guarantee that the nursing program is accredited. You need a program-level listing |
| 6. Watch for applicant status | CCNE's New Applicants for Accreditation information and the school's own disclosures | A program that lacks CCNE accreditation begins review by requesting applicant status. Treat applicant status as a work in progress, not as full accreditation, and ask how it could affect your degree |
| 7. Check Wisconsin licensure resources | Wisconsin Board of Nursing | Your RN license is active and in good standing. An RN to BSN builds on your existing license, so confirm any state requirements tied to your practice before enrolling |
| 8. Ask how accreditation affects your plans | Wisconsin Nurses Association, ANA, AACN, and your employer's HR office; BLS.gov for career and outlook data | Whether the accreditor matters for transfer credit, MSN or DNP admission, and tuition benefits or employer preferences. Use BLS.gov for nursing career and outlook information |
Practicum Hours and Placements: What Online Students in Wisconsin Actually Do
At UW-Green Bay, the community health practicum breaks into 70 hours at a public or community health agency, 5 hours in community meetings, and 40.5 hours of assignments. UW-Milwaukee runs the same 3-credit, 115.5-hour practicum.
Hours, but Not Hospital Shifts
Online RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin do require clinical hours, and they rarely look like bedside shifts. The clinical hours Wisconsin nurses fulfill center on community health, population assessment, and leadership projects, usually wrapped into a single practicum course. The spread runs from about 90 hours to 115.5. UW-Eau Claire's CND 480 carries 4 credits, with roughly 90 clinical-project hours at 6 hours a week across 15 weeks. UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee sit at the top of that range.
Who Arranges the Placement
At UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay, faculty arrange the placement with a public or community health agency. You submit three preferred sites, placement is first-come once prerequisites are finished and site details are confirmed, and you then contact the agency yourself. UW-Superior establishes the placement and lets you identify a site convenient to where you live. Herzing pairs faculty-led or precepted rotations with a placement team that helps secure sites and preceptors, ideally within 100 miles, plus three 2 to 4 day intensives at a Herzing or partner location; placement is not guaranteed.
Can you use your current employer as a placement site? UW-Green Bay names official public and community health settings, including health departments, correctional health, faith-based agencies, and school or campus health, so a hospital unit generally will not qualify. Nothing published for these programs suggests ordinary shift hours count toward the practicum. If your role has a community-facing side, such as discharge planning or patient education, raise it with the practicum coordinator, but expect to be redirected to an approved agency.
Rural Placements and 12-Hour Shifts
Rural nurses should ask three questions before enrolling: whether the program will place you at a county health department or clinic near home, whether any hours run virtually or through simulation, and what credentials your preceptor needs. Preceptor qualifications are not published consistently, so confirm whether a BSN-prepared preceptor is required before you recruit one.
Then build the hours around your shifts. Block practicum time on days off rather than after a 12-hour shift, front-load agency visits early in the term so written assignments have data behind them, and keep a running hour log you update weekly.
Wisconsin RN Pay Snapshot
Wisconsin employs about 64,960 registered nurses, and the typical RN in the state earns a median of $86,070 a year, with a mean annual wage of $90,450.