Wisconsin has a strong tradition of nursing education, from a top public research university to faith-based colleges and specialist health sciences schools. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top 5.
Imagine learning to care for patients in a Milwaukee teaching hospital in winter, then spending your summer placement in a lakeside community hospital up north. Wisconsin nursing students see the full range of care across city and countryside.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Wisconsin that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
Wisconsin nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | Public | 90% | 206 | $81,305 | $12,166 |
| 2 | Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private nonprofit | 79% | 142 | $80,871 | $53,270 |
| 3 | Carroll University | Waukesha | Private nonprofit | 69% | 104 | $78,942 | $40,680 |
| 4 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | Mequon | Private nonprofit | 67% | 69 | $78,358 | $36,530 |
| 5 | Bellin College | Green Bay | Private nonprofit | 67% | 64 | $73,834 | $31,949 |
| 6 | Herzing University-Kenosha | Kenosha | Private nonprofit | 67% | 113 | $81,319 | $13,820 |
| 7 | Carthage College | Kenosha | Private nonprofit | 66% | 62 | $77,504 | $41,000 |
| 8 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private nonprofit | 66% | 20 | $74,106 | $37,360 |
| 9 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee | Private nonprofit | 63% | 87 | $82,065 | $52,228 |
| 10 | Viterbo University | La Crosse | Private nonprofit | 63% | 152 | $74,748 | $35,790 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public | 62% | 125 | $73,156 | $10,207 |
| 12 | Edgewood University | Madison | Private nonprofit | 61% | 99 | $82,196 | $37,120 |
| 13 | Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private nonprofit | 54% | 22 | n/a | $36,490 |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 53% | 20 | $76,075 | $9,669 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | 50% | 248 | $79,733 | $10,916 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | 47% | 271 | $78,309 | $8,993 |
| 17 | Alverno College | Milwaukee | Private nonprofit | 47% | 46 | $80,170 | $35,112 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 47% | 97 | $74,147 | $8,985 |
| 19 | Marian University | Fond Du Lac | Private nonprofit | 46% | 33 | n/a | $37,422 |
| 20 | Herzing University-Madison | Madison | Private nonprofit | 29% | 196 | $81,319 | $13,820 |
| 21 | Herzing University-Brookfield | Brookfield | Private nonprofit | 28% | 58 | $81,319 | $13,820 |
| 22 | Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa | Wauwatosa | Private nonprofit | 18% | 30 | $72,393 | $20,497 |
Also offering a BSN in Wisconsin (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex | Milwaukee | Public | n/a | 38 | $79,733 | n/a |
Top Wisconsin nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a highly regarded School of Nursing and the highest graduation rate on our Wisconsin list. Students gain experience with UW Health, the university’s academic medical centre.
- Graduation rate: 90%, number 1 in Wisconsin on our list
- Programme size: about 206 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $81,305 one year after graduating
- Cost: $12,166 in-state tuition ($44,191 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 45%
2. Marquette University
Marquette University in Milwaukee is a private Jesuit university with a long-established College of Nursing and strong links to Milwaukee’s major hospitals.
- Graduation rate: 79%, number 2 in Wisconsin on our list
- Programme size: about 142 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $80,871 one year after graduating
- Cost: $53,270 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 81%
3. Carroll University
Carroll University in Waukesha, west of Milwaukee, is a private university with a large BSN programme for its size and a focus on health sciences.
- Graduation rate: 69%, number 3 in Wisconsin on our list
- Programme size: about 104 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,942 one year after graduating
- Cost: $40,680 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 67%
4. Concordia University-Wisconsin
Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, north of Milwaukee, is a private Lutheran university offering a nursing programme rooted in Christian values.
- Graduation rate: 67%, number 4 in Wisconsin on our list
- Programme size: about 69 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $78,358 one year after graduating
- Cost: $36,530 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 78%
5. Bellin College
Bellin College in Green Bay is a specialist health sciences college connected with Bellin Health, giving students a focused nursing education in northeast Wisconsin.
- Graduation rate: 67%, number 5 in Wisconsin on our list
- Programme size: about 64 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $73,834 one year after graduating
- Cost: $31,949 tuition a year before financial aid
- Acceptance rate: 97%
Studying nursing in Wisconsin: what to know
Wisconsin is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, and nurses are licensed by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing through the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The Wisconsin Technical College System offers associate degree nursing across the state, and many graduates go on to complete a BSN through transfer or RN-to-BSN programmes.
Ways to become a registered nurse in Wisconsin
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Wisconsin is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in Wisconsin offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 23 colleges in Wisconsin produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 2,302 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which Wisconsin nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
University of Wisconsin-Madison has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 90%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in Wisconsin?
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 271 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in Wisconsin?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $72,393 to $82,196, with a typical (median) figure of about $78,942. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in Wisconsin?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $8,985 to $12,166 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the Wisconsin Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the Wisconsin Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Wisconsin Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
Leave a Reply