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

Earn your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at Madison College and become a registered nurse in just two years. The curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, and clinical care across the lifespan, with hands-on practice in simulation labs and real-world clinicals at area hospitals. Accredited by ACEN, the program prepares you for the NCLEX-RN exam and boasts a 93% job placement rate. Graduates report an average starting salary of $76,140. You can choose from campuses in Reedsburg, Watertown, or Madison, and attend full-time or part-time. Expert faculty with diverse specialties provide personalized support, and seamless transfer options to BSN programs allow you to continue your education. The free application makes it easy to start your nursing career.

• 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) program prepares you for a rewarding career as a registered nurse. The curriculum blends liberal arts with rigorous nursing coursework, covering health promotion, pharmacology, perinatal care, and more. You'll gain hands-on experience through clinical placements at over 80 partner sites, including major hospitals, and in the state-of-the-art Center for Healthcare Education and Simulation. With a 7:1 clinical faculty-to-student ratio and small cohorts of 42, you receive personalized mentorship. Graduates consistently achieve a 100% NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate, and the program is CCNE-accredited. Career paths include hospital nursing, leadership roles, or advanced practice. Edgewood's Madison location and strong alumni network provide valuable connections. Scholarships are available, and qualified freshmen may enter via the Guaranteed Admission Program.

• 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.