Wisconsin Nursing Programs

Top Nursing Schools in
Wisconsin — 2026

Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in Wisconsin. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.

7 programs listed BSN · ADN · MSN Wisconsin Board of Nursing Nurse Licensure Compact member

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Nursing Programs in Wisconsin

BSN · On-Campus
University of Wisconsin-Madison
BSN Program — Madison

UW-Madison's School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 and is Wisconsin's flagship nursing program. Clinical placements at UW Health — Wisconsin's leading academic health system.

$13,500/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
94%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Marquette University
BSN Program — Milwaukee

Marquette's College of Nursing is Wisconsin's top private nursing program, grounded in the Jesuit tradition. Clinical placements at Froedtert Health and Children's Wisconsin provide exceptional care experience.

$26,000/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
93%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
University of Wisconsin-Madison
BSN Program — Madison

Flagship Big Ten university BSN with UW Health clinical network

$22,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
93%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
Marquette University
BSN – Traditional — Milwaukee

Jesuit university BSN with Froedtert and Ascension Milwaukee clinical network

$42,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
92%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Madison Area Technical College
ADN Program — Madison

Largest community college ADN in Wisconsin with UW Health clinical placements

$7,500 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
89%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Milwaukee Area Technical College
ADN Program — Milwaukee

Urban Milwaukee ADN with Froedtert, Aurora, and Ascension clinical sites

$7,800 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
88%NCLEX Pass
MSN · Hybrid
Viterbo University
MSN – Family NP — La Crosse

Catholic university MSN with FNP focus; rural Wisconsin and Minnesota focus

$20,000/yrAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
N/ANCLEX Pass

About Nursing Programs in Wisconsin

Wisconsin offers a strong, stable nursing market anchored by UW Health in Madison, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin and Advocate Aurora in Milwaukee, and Marshfield Clinic serving the central and northern regions. Demand is consistent across academic medical centers, community hospitals, and a large rural healthcare network.

Students can pursue affordable technical-college ADN programs through the Wisconsin Technical College System, BSN degrees at University of Wisconsin campuses and private institutions, accelerated second-degree options, and RN-to-BSN bridges plus MSN tracks for advanced practice and leadership. The technical-college route is a well-established, economical path to RN licensure here.

Licensure is handled by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Wisconsin holds a notable place in compact history — it was one of the four original Nurse Licensure Compact states in 2000 — so an RN or LPN license issued to a Wisconsin resident is a multistate license valid across all compact states.

Licensing authority: Wisconsin Board of Nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Wisconsin was one of the four original Nurse Licensure Compact states in 2000. If Wisconsin is your primary state of residence, your RN or LPN license is a multistate license valid across all compact states.
Complete a Wisconsin Board of Nursing-approved ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the board.
The Wisconsin Technical College System offers affordable ADN programs that lead to RN licensure, frequently paired with a later RN-to-BSN completion.
Both qualify you for the NCLEX-RN. A technical-college ADN is an economical entry point, while a BSN is preferred at academic and Magnet hospitals and for advancement.
About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN, with accelerated BSN options finishing in roughly 12 to 18 months for second-degree students.
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