2026 Best Nursing Schools in Wisconsin
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Wisconsin.
Top Schools in Nursing
University Of Wisconsin Madison tops our 2026 ranking of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 251 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $92,233. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Marquette University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 442 nursing degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $86,752 in their early career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Marquette University
Gateway Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kenosha. About 169 nursing degrees were awarded at Gateway Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $68,134 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Moraine Park Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 106 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Park Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $66,776 early in their careers. Moraine Park Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,025 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Moraine Park Technical College
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire, which ranked #5. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 142 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $87,284 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full nursing details for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #6 position for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. About 106 nursing degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $63,050. Typical student debt for the program is $18,386.
See the full nursing program report for Fox Valley Technical College
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh awarded about 339 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $91,263. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. There were roughly 168 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $64,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,151.
Read more about the nursing program at Chippewa Valley Technical College
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #9 for nursing this year. Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of La Crosse. There were roughly 129 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Western Technical College La Cross earn around $64,274 in the first couple years of their career. Western Technical College La Cross graduates carry a median of $19,937 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Western Technical College La Cross
Carroll University came in at #10 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 130 nursing degrees were awarded at Carroll University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Carroll University earn around $74,323 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Carroll University
Madison Area Technical College earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 174 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $66,446. Typical student debt for the program is $26,235.
More information about a degree in nursing from Madison Area Technical College
Concordia University Wisconsin came in at #12 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates 69% of students within six years. About 118 nursing degrees were awarded at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Concordia University Wisconsin earn around $87,324 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,750.
Read more about the nursing program at Concordia University Wisconsin
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #13 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. About 146 nursing degrees were awarded at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn around $61,633 in the first couple years of their career. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,876 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #14 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. About 98 nursing degrees were awarded at Milwaukee Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $69,145. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Carthage College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. Carthage College graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Carthage College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $74,265 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,758 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Carthage College
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #16 among the best nursing schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 324 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $86,743 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Viterbo University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 197 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Viterbo University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Viterbo University earn a median of $92,297 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,013.
See the full nursing program report for Viterbo University
Northcentral Technical College landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 68 nursing degrees were awarded at Northcentral Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Northcentral Technical College earn around $63,958 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
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Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #19 spot for nursing this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. About 61 nursing degrees were awarded at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $64,281. Typical student debt for the program is $17,499.
See the full nursing program report for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #20 for nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 41 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $61,748 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,329.
See the full nursing program report for Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Bellin College landed the #21 spot for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Green Bay, Bellin College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Bellin College awarded about 82 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Bellin College earn a median of $86,597 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in nursing from Bellin College
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #22 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 54 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Waukesha County Technical College earn around $68,434 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,674.
Read more about the nursing program at Waukesha County Technical College
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #23 position for nursing this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 20 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $68,395 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,987.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Mid State Technical College placed #24 among the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 67 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Mid State Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $64,716 early in their careers. Mid State Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,447 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Mid State Technical College
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay graduates 53% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay awarded about 115 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $70,213 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay graduates carry a median of $28,045 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Rest of the Top 41 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 44 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.