Best Nursing Schools in Wisconsin

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at Mid-State Technical College prepares students to become skilled registered nurses through a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on simulation, and clinical experiences. Coursework covers patient-centered care, critical thinking, leadership, and the nursing process across diverse populations. Students train in the Healthcare Simulation Center, gaining realistic practice before entering clinical settings. Graduates are ready for the NCLEX-RN exam and careers as charge nurses, clinic nurses, staff nurses, and more in various healthcare environments. The program features a strong support system with experienced faculty and multiple entry points, including LPN and Paramedic-to-ADN pathways. A partnership with UW-Stevens Point allows seamless transition to a BSN. With 68 credits over two years, delivered in-person and hybrid at three Wisconsin locations, this top-ranked program offers excellent career outcomes, including a median starting salary of $86,030 and a 95% graduate satisfaction rate.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• $15,318 total program tuition
• 2-Year program
• 68 total credit hours
• Starts fall/spring
• $86,030 median earnings
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• 95% graduate satisfaction rate
• LPN-to-ADN and Paramedic-to-ADN pathways

Lakeshore Technical College's Nursing-Associate Degree program prepares you to become a registered nurse. Curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, health alterations, pharmacology, and clinical care across the lifespan. Hands-on training occurs in the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Center for Health Care Excellence, with faculty who have real-world nursing experience. ACEN-accredited, the program boasts NCLEX-RN pass rates above state and national averages. The 65-credit, 7-term program starts in fall or spring and is offered in-person. Graduates earn a median income of $72,846 and can pursue advanced roles. Pathways exist for LPNs and EMT-Paramedics. The FORWARD partnership with UW-Green Bay enables a seamless BSN transition.

• ACEN accredited
• $10,690 total program tuition
• 65 total credit hours
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• $72,846 median earnings
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• NCLEX-RN pass rates above state/national averages
• Hands-on training in Center for Health Care Excellence

Wisconsin Lutheran College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program combines rigorous academics with hands-on clinical training in the greater Milwaukee area. Students learn in state-of-the-art simulation labs with high-fidelity mannequins before applying skills in real-world settings like Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The curriculum covers adult health, mental health, pediatrics, and obstetrics, plus a unique population health clinical with an option for international immersion. A 120-hour preceptorship in the final semester eases the transition to professional practice. Graduates boast a 93% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and consistently find employment within four months. The program emphasizes Christian servant leadership and holistic patient care. Direct admission is available for incoming freshmen, and the School of Nursing is accredited by CCNE. Alumni work in ERs, ICUs, trauma units, and more across leading hospitals.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 4-Year program
• 93% licensure pass rate
• 2.8 GPA minimum
• 120 clinical hours
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Moderate- and high-fidelity human patient simulators
• Clinical experiences in adult health, mental health, pediatrics, obstetrics
• 120-hour preceptorship in final semester
• Direct admission for incoming freshmen

Nicolet Area Technical College's Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) prepares you for a career as a registered nurse. The curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, health alterations, and clinical skills across the lifespan. You'll gain hands-on experience through clinical placements in diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam. The program offers flexible full-time and part-time pathways, with classes available on campus, online, and at location sites. With ACEN accreditation and a total of 65 credits, the program emphasizes critical thinking, clinical competence, and teamwork. Career outcomes include roles in hospitals, clinics, and community health, with a median annual salary of $76,252. Advanced standing options exist for LPNs and paramedics.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: HESI
• $10,729 total program tuition
• 65 total credit hours
• Apply by 2026-08-26
• Full-time and part-time options
• 2.0 GPA minimum
• $76,252 median earnings
• Prerequisite courses required

Maranatha Baptist University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program combines rigorous academics with a Christian worldview. Over four years, you'll complete over 1,000 hours of clinical experience in local hospitals, community clinics, and other healthcare settings. The curriculum covers medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, maternity, pharmacology, and public health, along with liberal arts and Bible courses. You'll develop critical thinking, therapeutic communication, and compassionate care skills. Unique features include a capstone practicum, NCLEX review course, and the chance to join a medical missions trip. Graduates pursue careers in critical care, medical-surgical nursing, nurse anesthesia, or public health. The program is CCNE accredited and ranks among the top in Wisconsin. With a focus on servant leadership, you'll be prepared to serve in diverse settings, from hospitals to mission fields.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 1000 clinical hours
• Capstone required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Medical missions trip opportunity
• Nursing within a biblical worldview
• NCLEX review course included

Moraine Park's Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) offers a unique practical nursing exit point, allowing you to become an LPN after two semesters or continue for an RN. The curriculum covers anatomy, pharmacology, mental health, and nursing management, blending classroom theory with lab practice and clinical rotations. Graduates are prepared for roles like critical care, neonatal, or mental health nurse. With ACEN accreditation and strong NCLEX pass rates, this program emphasizes hands-on learning and technology integration. Choose from three Wisconsin campuses and benefit from financial aid, prior learning credits, and dual credit options. Start your nursing journey in a supportive, collaborative environment.

• ACEN accredited
• $12,152 total program tuition
• 2-Year program
• 68 total credit hours
• Starts fall/spring
• 96% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• Estimated salary range: $71,236 – $79,729
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available

Milwaukee School of Engineering's B.S. in Nursing – Traditional Track is a full-time, campus-based program designed for students entering college for the first time or transferring credits. The curriculum blends compassion, critical thinking, technology, and science through rigorous classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experiences. Students benefit from direct admission into the nursing major and guaranteed progression through clinical courses. The program is accredited by the CCNE, ensuring high educational standards. Hands-on learning takes place in the Ruehlow Nursing Complex, a state-of-the-art simulation center. Graduates are prepared for careers in hospitals, clinics, and community settings, with 100% of 2024–25 graduates employed, in graduate school, or in military service. Unique features include the Nursing Living Learning Community and an Anatomy & Physiology JumpStart Program to support freshman success.

• CCNE accredited
• 100% job placement rate
• Ruehlow Nursing Complex simulation center
• Nursing Living Learning Community
• Anatomy and Physiology JumpStart Program
• Direct admission into nursing major
• Guaranteed progression through clinical courses
• Combine compassion, critical thinking, technology

The B.S. in Nursing – Accelerated Second-Degree Track at Milwaukee School of Engineering is a compressed, year-round program for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to transition into nursing. In just 16 months, students complete over 660 clinical hours, 180 lab hours, and at least 15 simulations. Taught in the state-of-the-art Ruehlow Nursing Complex, the curriculum prepares graduates for the NCLEX licensure exam. MSOE's nursing program ranks #1 in Wisconsin with a 100% NCLEX pass rate. Graduates are highly sought after by healthcare organizations, and 100% of recent graduates are employed or in graduate school. With fall and spring start dates, this accelerated track offers a fast path to a nursing career.

• CCNE accredited
• 16-Month program
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 660 clinical hours
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Designed for career changers with a bachelor's degree

The Nursing Associate Degree at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin, prepares students to become registered nurses through a comprehensive 69-credit curriculum. Courses cover nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, health alterations, clinical care, and management, blending classroom theory with hands-on simulation labs. The program integrates artificial intelligence to enhance clinical judgment and critical thinking through adaptive patient scenarios. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, and the program boasts a 100% first-time pass rate for 2025. Unique pathways allow LPNs and paramedics to bridge into the program, and a concurrent enrollment option with UW-Oshkosh enables earning a BSN simultaneously. With ACEN accreditation and strong career outcomes, this program prepares students for safe, technology-informed nursing practice.

• ACEN accredited
• 69 total credit hours
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• $0 application fee
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Credit for prior learning available

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

Blackhawk Technical College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing program that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam and a career as a registered nurse. The four-semester curriculum blends classroom theory, lab practice, and clinical experiences in various healthcare settings. Students can choose full-time or part-time pacing, with flexible learning options including face-to-face, hybrid, live online, and online anytime formats. The program is accredited by ACEN and covers topics such as professional nursing identity, communication, theoretical knowledge, nursing process, and teamwork. Graduates are prepared for roles in acute care, long-term care, and community health, with a median wage of $88,500. Unique features include a waiting list system, LPN progression pathway, and credit for prior learning. Estimated tuition is $10,969.

• ACEN accredited
• $10,969 total program tuition
• 4-Semester program
• 65 total credit hours
• Full-time and part-time options
• Synchronous and asynchronous options
• $88,500 median earnings
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available