Wisconsin
Best RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin, Ranked (2026)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Scores 6th of 290 Nationally and Costs $2,628 More than Wisconsin's Cheapest RN to BSN
A ranking weighted 55% on price usually pushes a state's best-known university well down the list, because flagships are rarely the cheap option. In Wisconsin it did not, and that single fact decides how you should read this page.
University of Wisconsin-Madison charges $10,006 a year in-state and reports a 90% institutional graduation rate. That is the 6th-highest score of the 290 RN-to-BSN completion programs ranked on this site, and inside Wisconsin it wins by 10.3 points — a margin the rest of the list never comes close to, since the 6 programs beneath it span 25.8 points in total, from 75 down to 49.2. Only 2 programs in the state undercut it on price, and they are public campuses too: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Nothing here graduates more of its undergraduates — the next-highest rate is 72% at Herzing University-Kenosha, 18 points back.
So for a Wisconsin resident the honest answer is that nothing else in the state matches University of Wisconsin-Madison on completion, and 2 undercut it on price without closing that gap. The rest of the field competes on everything the ranking cannot see, and those are not small things: how much of your ADN transfers, how many times a year the completion track starts, whether coursework runs live or on your own clock, and whether you have to arrange your own precepted hours. Wisconsin schools are unusually forthcoming about how the coursework actually runs: 6 of the 7 state at least one delivery attribute on their own program pages. The questions further down work through which says what. If University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at $7,378 fits your schedule and University of Wisconsin-Madison does not, the $2,628 a year between them is the least interesting part of that decision.
The one thing that flips the whole page is residency. Priced as a non-resident, University of Wisconsin-Madison at $40,506 is the most expensive way to finish this degree in Wisconsin — $7,006 above Viterbo University, which is the steepest in-state price on the list. Everything above about the top of this list being both the strongest and close to the cheapest is a statement about Wisconsin residents, and it stops being true the moment you are not one.
Below the flagship the real contest is between University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Herzing University-Kenosha, and it is close enough to be a coin flip: 75 against 74.1, 0.9 of a point apart. They get there in opposite ways. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is public and charges $7,931 with a 64% graduation rate; Herzing University-Kenosha is private, charges $12,360, and graduates 72%. You are choosing between $4,429 a year and 8 points of institutional completion, and neither number should decide it on its own.
The sector line in Wisconsin is clean. All 3 public programs sit at or below $10,006; the cheapest of the 4 private programs starts $2,354 above that, and the ladder runs up to $33,500 at Viterbo University — 4.5 times what University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point charges for a credential that reads identically on a license verification. The median across all 7 is $12,360, which sits on the private side of that line rather than the public one, because Wisconsin's list is nearly evenly split: 3 public against 4 private.
Volume concentrates at the two ends of that ladder. University of Wisconsin-Madison confers 206 nursing bachelor's degrees a year and Viterbo University confers 152 a year, second only to University of Wisconsin-Madison, and it charges $33,500 — the highest in-state price on this page. Between them that is 52% of the 693 conferred across all 7 programs on this list. Scale is not a scored factor and it is not quality, but it does tell you which programs run a cohort every year without fail. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Rasmussen University-Wisconsin confer far fewer, which is a reason to ask them how often the completion track actually starts, not a reason to skip them.
The pay side sets the stakes, and Wisconsin's stakes are ordinary in a useful way. The median RN here earns $95,530 against $97,550 nationally — $2,020 under, or 2.1% — and the state ranks 23rd of 51. That is the middle of the table. Tuition in Wisconsin is not being weighed against depressed wages the way it is in states near the bottom, but nor is there a wage premium here to absorb a $33,500 price tag. The credential does not move the median either way; what it moves is which jobs will consider you.
The 7 RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin, Ranked
Scored on in-state tuition (55%) and institutional graduation rate (45%). How we rank.
- 1st in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public Online + campus visits $10,006 annual in-state tuition 90% institutional graduation rate 206 degrees a year 85.3 scoreBSN@Home is a shared curriculum delivered by six Universities of Wisconsin System campuses, with nursing course tuition set at the same per-credit rate across every participating university.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about University of Wisconsin-Madison's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)UW–Madison's BSN@Home is the School of Nursing's completion track for registered nurses who already hold an associate degree in nursing, an equivalent degree, or a nursing diploma from an accredited program. Students complete a minimum of 31 BSN@Home credits at $452 per credit, within a time frame the school gives as 1.5 to 2.5 years. Anyone still carrying outstanding non-nursing general education coursework pays additional tuition beyond those 31 credits. The program runs on a traditional semester system rather than self-paced enrollment, using seven-week and 14-week course formats with set deadlines. Pacing is built for people already working: students typically take one or two courses per semester, start with no more than two in their first term, and may move up to three per term after that, with summer optional.
Almost all required coursework is online and asynchronous, with two exceptions the school names directly. The first course, CNP 306, requires one half-day campus meeting during the first semester, and CNP 519 Capstone Clinical requires another half-day on campus; the school notes these dates are set well in advance so students can request time off work. That capstone carries approximately 135 clinical hours, 60 of them with a preceptor. Students arrange their own placements with support from clinical placement coordinators and can often find sites close to home, and the capstone itself is tailored to each student's interests. Applications open August 1 through October 1 for a January start, and December 1 through March 1 for a September start.
- Minimum 31 BSN@Home credits
- $452 per credit
- 135 clinical hours, 60 with a preceptor
- Online and asynchronous, two half-days on campus
- 1.5 to 2.5 years
- 2nd in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public Hybrid $7,931 annual in-state tuition 64% institutional graduation rate 125 degrees a year 75 scoreNurses still finishing an associate degree can begin the BSN early by taking the program's first course, CND 310 Bridge to Professional Nursing, before the ADN is complete.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)UW-Eau Claire's BSN Completion Program is a post-licensure major in the College of Nursing for registered nurses already working and for students building on an Associate of Nursing. The university lists the program as offered online with a program length of two years. Core RN to BSN courses run in 7- and 14-week sessions, including the summer term, which lets students take one class at a time while still completing two classes a semester. The program is part of the collaborative UW BSN@HOME program, and UWEC delivers it as hybrid online coursework combining synchronous and asynchronous sessions with in-person instructor feedback, so the majority of courses are online but the format is not fully self-paced.
Coursework covers research, evidence-based practice, leadership, management and information management; sample courses named on the page are CND 407 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice, CND 447 Leadership & Management, and CND 454 Community Health Nursing, with electives in cross-cultural health, school nursing, and nursing care at the end of life. The clinical requirement is a 90-hour clinical project that can be completed across a range of agencies, from local health departments to national nursing organizations. Admission is rolling, with applications accepted throughout the year and in-person or phone conversations available with the Admissions Coordinator. The baccalaureate program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education through December 31, 2031 and approved by the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing; UWEC states the program's requirements meet educational requirements for licensure in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
- 90-hour clinical project
- 2-year program length
- 7- and 14-week course sessions
- CCNE accredited through 2031
- Rolling admissions year-round
- 3rd in Wisconsin
Herzing University-Kenosha
Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit $12,360 annual in-state tuition 72% institutional graduation rate 113 degrees a year 74.1 score Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Asynchronous - 4th in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · Public $7,378 annual in-state tuition 51% institutional graduation rate 20 degrees a year 69.3 scoreUW-Stevens Point's BSN major is a completion program that admits nurses who already hold an associate or diploma nursing degree and a current Wisconsin nursing license, and it runs a minimum of 60 credits.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UW-Stevens Point is a completion major administered by the area of Nursing in the School of Health Sciences and Wellness. Its catalog requirements are written for nurses who are already credentialed: admission calls for an associate or diploma degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and a current Wisconsin nursing license, alongside the university's Bachelor of Science general education program requirements. The major consists of a minimum of 60 credits, divided into 29 to 30 credits of collateral coursework, a 25-credit nursing core, and 6 to 7 credits of nursing electives. The catalog notes that math placement can add courses, since CHEM 101, CHEM 105, HSW 301 and MATH 255 all carry math prerequisites.
The collateral courses cover microbiology, human physiology, human anatomy, chemistry, biostatistics or elementary statistical methods, introductory psychology, developmental psychology or human growth and development, and introductory sociology. The 25-credit nursing core includes NURS 310 Professional Essentials (1 credit) and NURS 455 Concepts in Nursing Practice (3 credits), plus three-credit courses in foundations of professional nursing practice, chronic care management, aging and health, information management and health care technology, community health nursing, research and evidence-based practice, and leadership and management. Seven of those core courses are listed in pairs, one section labeled BSN@Home and one not, so a student takes either version to satisfy the requirement. Electives include human pathophysiology, epidemiology and public health, introduction to motivational interviewing, nursing economics, and a selected-topics course that may be repeated under different subtitles.
- Minimum of 60 credits
- Current Wisconsin nursing license required
- Associate or diploma nursing degree required
- 25-credit nursing core
- 6-7 credits of nursing electives
- 5th in Wisconsin
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin
Green Bay, WI · Private for-profit Fully online $13,929 annual in-state tuition 57% institutional graduation rate 19 degrees a year 65.1 scoreRasmussen accepts up to 134 transfer credits toward the 180-credit BSN and waives up to 28 general education credits for RN to BSN students who are actively working, leaving 46 nursing credit hours across nine courses.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Rasmussen University-Wisconsin's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Rasmussen University's RN to BSN entry track is delivered online for nurses who are already licensed. Admission requires a current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in the U.S., and applicants to this track are exempt from the Entrance Placement Exam; those with prior college credit receive a transcript evaluation during the admissions process. The BSN requires a documented total of 180 credits to graduate, and a maximum of 134 of those may be awarded as transfer credit, which the school describes as nearly 75 percent of program requirements. Eligible RN to BSN students who are actively working can have up to 28 general education credits waived. The nursing coursework itself is 46 credit hours across nine courses, including Healthcare Technology and Informatics in Nursing (NUR3475), Quality Improvement in Nursing (NUR3835) and Nursing Leadership and Management (NUR4595). Full-time students can finish in 12 months, and the program has eight start dates per year.
Clinical work is a single practicum rather than assigned hours at a facility. The curriculum includes one clinical practicum, NUR4926 RN-BSN Capstone, worth 6 credits, which may typically be completed in the student's current place of employment subject to approval and is fulfilled through an individual signature assignment documenting achievement of the program outcomes; the school also helps students look for community settings. Rasmussen puts the time commitment at typically around 25 to 35 hours and calls it flexible. Courses use the university's online Empowered Learning format, which is accessible anytime and built around projects rather than exams. Tuition is listed at $300 per full-time credit, so a student who receives the full 28-credit waiver takes 50 credits for $15,000 in tuition plus $500 in fees before any grants or assessment credit. The baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the university is institutionally accredited through American Public University System by the Higher Learning Commission. The program is not available to residents of all states.
- Offered online
- 12 months full-time
- 180 credits; up to 134 transferable
- Unencumbered U.S. RN license required
- One capstone practicum, ~25-35 hours
- 6th in Wisconsin
Herzing University-Brookfield
Brookfield, WI · Private nonprofit $12,360 annual in-state tuition 42% institutional graduation rate 58 degrees a year 59.6 score Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Asynchronous - 7th in Wisconsin
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofit Online $33,500 annual in-state tuition 68% institutional graduation rate 152 degrees a year 49.2 scoreViterbo includes a 24-hour public-health clinical experience with a public-health RN.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Viterbo University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Viterbo combines eight-week online courses with a 24-hour public-health clinical alongside a public-health RN. The instructor helps identify a site near your location. That placement assistance is distinct from the time you still need to complete the experience, so discuss the likely clinical schedule before arranging work shifts.
An academic advisor builds the course plan around your transfer credits and preferred pace. Viterbo describes completion in one year to 18 months and offers the option to add an emphasis or minor in healthcare management or ethics. Ask how that additional study fits your degree plan if it supports a particular leadership or professional interest.
- Eight-week online courses
- 24-hour public-health clinical
- Instructor-assisted local site search
- One-year to 18-month plan
- Individual transfer-credit planning
The 48-point spread between 90% at University of Wisconsin-Madison and 42% at Herzing University-Brookfield is the widest range on this page, and it deserves a caution. IPEDS measures first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who finish at the institution they started at. A working nurse entering a completion track with an ADN already in hand is none of those three. Read 42% as a description of Herzing University-Brookfield's undergraduate body as a whole, not as the share of RNs who finish its bridge — and read 90% the same way.
Where Wisconsin Residency Changes the Price, and Where It Doesn't
4 of the 7 charge one rate to everybody, and all of them are private institutions: Herzing University-Kenosha, Rasmussen University-Wisconsin, Herzing University-Brookfield and Viterbo University. 3 carry a separate non-resident price, and they are the public campuses: University of Wisconsin-Madison ($10,006 against $40,506), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire ($7,931 against $17,517), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ($7,378 against $16,398).
Wisconsin residency is worth the most at University of Wisconsin-Madison, which lists $10,006 for residents against $40,506 for everyone else — a difference of $30,500 a year. It is the hinge of this page: the ranking above scores in-state tuition, so it describes what these programs cost a Wisconsin nurse, and that description does not transfer across the state line. Priced as a non-resident, the lowest figure in Wisconsin is $12,360 at Herzing University-Kenosha — one of the 4 programs that never asks where you live. If you are licensed in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa or Michigan, start with those 4: the figure on the card above is the figure you pay.
Availability is a separate question from price and this data does not settle it. 1 of the 7 programs state on their own pages that the track is fully online, but state authorization is decided school by school and an online program is not automatically open to a nurse licensed in Minnesota, Illinois or Iowa. Ask whether they can enroll you where you live before the tuition number means anything.
Every figure here is annual published tuition from IPEDS, which prices a year at the institution rather than the completion track itself. An RN-to-BSN is usually around 30 upper-level credits, so what you actually pay turns on how much of your ADN transfers and how many terms you spread the rest across. Ask all 7 for a total-to-degree figure and for how they treat general education you have already passed — per-credit pricing is how this field hides the number, and it is the difference between $33,500 sounding unaffordable and turning out to be two part-time years.
Wisconsin RN Pay Sits 23rd of 51, $45.93 an Hour at the Median
BLS puts the median for Wisconsin's 68,060 registered nurses at $95,530, or $45.93 an hour, with the 10th percentile at $77,470 and the 90th at $119,860 — a $42,390 band across the state's workforce. The national median is $97,550, so Wisconsin sits $2,020 under it, a gap of 2.1%, and 23rd of 51 states. That is close enough to the middle that pay is neither the argument for doing this degree in Wisconsin nor the argument against it. The 90th percentile, $119,860, runs $22,310 above what the typical American RN earns.
The caveat that governs every salary figure on this site: BLS reports registered nurses as a single occupation and publishes no breakdown by degree. There is no federal number for what a Wisconsin BSN earns against a Wisconsin ADN, and anyone quoting one has built it themselves. What the credential is associated with is access — charge and management tracks, case management, public health roles, and admission to an MSN — rather than a raise in the job you are already doing. Before you commit to a program, ask the employer you actually want whether it prefers or requires a BSN for the roles you are aiming at, and whether it will pay toward one. Tuition reimbursement is the single biggest variable on this page and it appears in none of the numbers above.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
2 More Wisconsin Programs We Confirmed but Could Not Score
These run a confirmed RN-to-BSN completion track and are not scored above. The ranking needs three figures — in-state tuition, an institutional graduation rate, and at least 10 degrees a year — and for each of these one of the three is either absent from the federal file or below that floor. That is a fact about the data, not about the program, and each is worth a call.
- Lakeland University, Plymouth — Confers fewer than 10 degrees a year, too few to compare
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex, Milwaukee — IPEDS carries no graduation rate for this institution