Nursing Schools in Wisconsin (2026)
52 accredited nursing programs found
Wisconsin has 52 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with 29 public and 23 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $16,272, with public schools averaging $6,547 and private schools averaging $32,862. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,853 to $32,350 — a wide range driven by the contrast between the Wisconsin Technical College System and the higher-cost private universities. The cheapest tracked program is Northcentral Technical College at $3,861 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of Wisconsin-Madison at approximately 35,665.
Across Wisconsin programs the average graduation rate is 55.4 percent and the average retention rate is 74.1 percent — both above the national medians for this directory. Median post-graduation earnings average $48,745 — among the higher in this group — and median federal debt at graduation averages $17,659. The state's healthcare employer base includes Aurora Health Care, Froedtert Health, UW Health, and Marshfield Clinic, producing a stable employment market for newly licensed RNs across both urban and rural service areas.
Registered Nurse Market in Wisconsin
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in Wisconsin
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the Wisconsin average of $16,272.
Matches the Wisconsin average of 55.4%.
Matches the Wisconsin median of $48,745.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $6,547 |
| Lowest Tuition | $3,861 |
| Highest Tuition | $50,700 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $32,862 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 55.4% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $49,527 |
| Avg Student Debt | $17,659 |
| Total Enrollment | 210,027 |
All Nursing Schools in Wisconsin
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | Public | $11,205 | 35,665 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | $10,020 | 16,762 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | $5,017 | 11,362 |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Public | $4,780 | 9,273 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | $9,651 | 9,194 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Whitewater | Public | $8,250 | 9,180 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public | $9,277 | 8,995 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | $8,212 | 7,613 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private | $48,700 | 7,238 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | $8,834 | 7,104 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | $8,342 | 6,230 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Public | $4,916 | 6,004 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie | Public | $10,142 | 5,900 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Public | $4,904 | 5,853 |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Public | $4,853 | 4,657 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Public | $4,720 | 4,497 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | $8,606 | 4,152 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Public | $4,724 | 4,127 |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Public | $3,861 | 3,479 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Public | $4,716 | 3,434 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha | Public | $7,855 | 2,951 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private | $36,500 | 2,628 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee | Private | $48,421 | 2,607 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private | $37,230 | 2,525 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | Public | $4,170 | 2,457 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | Mequon | Private | $34,250 | 2,310 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Public | $4,713 | 2,230 |
| Herzing University-Madison | Madison | Private | $13,420 | 2,105 |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Public | $4,886 | 2,031 |
| Northwood Technical College | Rice Lake | Public | $4,524 | 2,026 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | $8,487 | 1,899 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland | Public | $4,649 | 1,838 |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse | Private | $32,350 | 1,392 |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Public | $4,796 | 1,277 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth | Private | $32,286 | 1,230 |
| Edgewood College | Madison | Private | $34,850 | 1,104 |
| Marian University | Fond Du Lac | Private | $33,000 | 1,050 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private | $35,080 | 1,009 |
| Alverno College | Milwaukee | Private | $32,794 | 724 |
| Ripon College | Ripon | Private | $50,700 | 720 |
| Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander | Public | $4,724 | 706 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private | $34,390 | 703 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown | Private | $20,280 | 566 |
| Bellin College | Green Bay | Private | $28,211 | 338 |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | Milwaukee | For-Profit | N/A | 207 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University | Hayward | Public | $6,030 | 205 |
| College of Menominee Nation | Keshena | Private | $6,200 | 199 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska | Onalaska | For-Profit | N/A | 76 |
| The Professional Hair Design Academy | Eau Claire | For-Profit | N/A | 75 |
| Milwaukee Career College | Milwaukee | For-Profit | N/A | 73 |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute | Madison | For-Profit | N/A | 44 |
| Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine | Racine | For-Profit | N/A | 3 |
Nursing Schools by City in Wisconsin
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Wisconsin?
What is the average nursing school tuition in Wisconsin?
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Wisconsin?
What is the average retention rate in Wisconsin?
What do graduates from nursing schools in Wisconsin earn?
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Wisconsin?
How much do registered nurses earn in Wisconsin?
What is the RN job outlook for Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Nursing Market Context
BLS data for Wisconsin shows an RN median annual wage of $77,080 and a mean of $79,200. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $57,170 to $103,100. Statewide RN employment is approximately 59,050 and the projected growth rate is 5 percent.
Median program debt of $17,659 against a $77,080 RN median wage produces a manageable payback profile, with graduates of the Wisconsin Technical College System carrying meaningfully less debt than the state average. The 90th-percentile figure of $103,100 reflects what experienced and credentialed Wisconsin RNs can reach, particularly in the Madison and Milwaukee academic medical centers. The state's relatively flat 5 percent projected growth combined with a deep public-tier nursing pipeline produces a competitive but stable hiring market for new graduates, with the strongest career mobility concentrated in the major metro hospital systems.