Wisconsin is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). This is the most important licensing fact for nurses considering Wisconsin. If you hold a multistate compact license from another state, you cannot practice in Wisconsin without first obtaining a Wisconsin RN license. Travel nurses accepting Wisconsin contracts and nurses relocating from compact states must apply for a separate Wisconsin license before beginning work. Factor processing time into your planning.
With that established: Wisconsin is a solid state for nursing education and employment. The healthcare market spans two distinct economies — the Milwaukee metro, anchored by Froedtert Health and Advocate Aurora Health, and the Madison area, centered on UW Health and the University of Wisconsin academic medical complex. Beyond the major metros, regional health systems across the Fox Valley, Green Bay, La Crosse, and the Northwoods serve communities with consistent RN demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places the mean annual RN wage in Wisconsin at $74,560 (2023).
Wisconsin’s nursing school landscape is well-developed, with programs from community college ADN tracks through research-intensive BSN, MSN, and DNP programs at major universities.
Admission requirements
Wisconsin nursing programs share a standard prerequisite framework across ADN and BSN tracks. Individual programs vary in specific requirements, but the following reflects the common baseline.
Standard prerequisites:
| Course | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II | With lab; grade of C or better (B preferred) |
| Microbiology | With lab |
| Chemistry | Introductory or general chemistry with lab |
| English Composition | Writing-intensive; C or better |
| Psychology | General or developmental psychology |
| Statistics | Required by most BSN programs |
| Nutrition | Required by several programs |
| Human Development | Required by some programs |
Most Wisconsin programs require science prerequisites completed within the past 5–7 years.
Entrance exams: The ATI TEAS is the standard entrance exam for most Wisconsin nursing programs. Some programs also accept the HESI A2. Competitive scores for ADN programs generally start at the 60th percentile; BSN programs at UW-Madison, Marquette, and MSOE typically look for the 70th–80th percentile and above. For a full comparison of which exam your target school requires, see ATI TEAS vs. HESI: which exam does your school require?
GPA: Minimum GPA requirements across Wisconsin programs typically run 2.75–3.0 cumulative. Competitive BSN programs — particularly Marquette and UW-Madison — commonly admit students with cumulative GPAs of 3.3 or higher. If your GPA falls below the threshold for your target program, see our guide on nursing schools that accept lower GPAs.
Application timeline: Most Wisconsin programs accept applications once or twice per year, with fall entry as the primary intake. Community college ADN programs use point-based or competitive selection due to demand exceeding available seats. Apply well ahead of deadlines and confirm prerequisite currency requirements.
Top nursing schools in Wisconsin
| School | Location | Program types | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing | Madison | BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Marquette University College of Nursing | Milwaukee | BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) | Milwaukee | BSN | CCNE |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing | Milwaukee | BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| Cardinal Stritch University | Milwaukee | BSN, RN-to-BSN | CCNE |
| Bellin College | Green Bay | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Madison College | Madison | ADN | ACEN |
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing – Madison UW-Madison’s School of Nursing is Wisconsin’s flagship research nursing program, CCNE-accredited, and affiliated with UW Health — one of the state’s preeminent academic medical centers. The school offers BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD tracks. Graduate programs in nurse practitioner and nurse anesthesia are highly regarded, and doctoral students benefit from the school’s integration with the university’s broader health sciences research infrastructure.
Marquette University College of Nursing – Milwaukee Marquette’s CCNE-accredited nursing program is among the most recognized in the state. The BSN program is four years with strong clinical placements through Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin in the Milwaukee metro. The college’s MSN and DNP programs have a strong track record in advanced practice preparation.
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) – Milwaukee MSOE’s BSN program is CCNE-accredited and distinctive in its engineering-informed approach to nursing education, with emphasis on clinical technology, simulation, and systems thinking. The program is smaller than UW or Marquette and known for close faculty-student engagement.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing – Milwaukee UWM’s College of Nursing is CCNE-accredited and offers a full range of pre-licensure through doctoral programs. The RN-to-BSN track is fully online, serving working nurses across Wisconsin. Clinical placements in Milwaukee benefit from a large and diverse healthcare market.
Bellin College – Green Bay Bellin College is CCNE-accredited and focused exclusively on health sciences education. The nursing program offers BSN and MSN tracks with clinical affiliations through Bellin Health and regional northeastern Wisconsin health systems. The school’s smaller size supports high faculty-to-student ratios in clinical coursework.
Madison College – Madison Madison Area Technical College’s ADN program is ACEN-accredited and one of the most accessible RN pathways in the state for students in the Madison area. The program is competitive for admissions and provides a cost-effective entry point to nursing practice before graduates pursue RN-to-BSN completion.
NCLEX pass rates in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Board of Nursing monitors NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass rates for all approved programs in the state. Wisconsin-educated graduates generally perform near the national average of approximately 87% (2023 data, NCSBN), with programs at research universities and private colleges often exceeding that benchmark.
First-attempt pass rates are the most meaningful public quality indicator available for nursing programs. When researching Wisconsin schools, request pass rate data across at least three years — a single year’s rate can reflect cohort variation, while sustained trends are more informative. For school-level comparisons, see NCLEX pass rates by nursing school.
Licensing in Wisconsin
State board: Wisconsin Board of Nursing Website: dsps.wi.gov/Pages/LicensesPermits/Nursing
To become a licensed RN in Wisconsin:
- Graduate from a Wisconsin Board of Nursing-approved nursing program
- Apply for RN licensure through the Wisconsin DSPS licensing portal
- Complete a criminal background check
- Register for and pass the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE
- Receive your Wisconsin RN license
Application fee for a new Wisconsin RN license by examination is approximately $75–$82. Current processing times are published on the DSPS website.
NLC compact status: Wisconsin is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. As of 2026, Wisconsin has not enacted NLC legislation. A Wisconsin RN license is a single-state license — valid only in Wisconsin. If you hold a multistate compact license from another state, you cannot practice in Wisconsin without first obtaining a Wisconsin RN license. If you move to Wisconsin from a compact state, your multistate license becomes invalid for Wisconsin practice; you must apply for a Wisconsin individual license.
This is a particularly important planning consideration for travel nurses who work across multiple states. Wisconsin contracts require a separate Wisconsin license, which adds time and cost to the credentialing process.
Endorsement: Nurses licensed in other states apply for Wisconsin licensure by endorsement through the DSPS portal. Wisconsin requires verification of licensure via Nursys, transcripts from your nursing program, and a criminal background check.
For complete state-by-state licensing details, see nursing license by state.
Salary and job outlook
BLS data places the mean annual RN wage in Wisconsin at $74,560 (2023). The Milwaukee metro runs higher than the state average — experienced RNs at Froedtert, Advocate Aurora, or Children’s Wisconsin can earn $80,000–$95,000. New graduates in rural Wisconsin typically start in the $58,000–$68,000 range.
Major healthcare employers in Wisconsin:
- Advocate Aurora Health – One of the largest health systems in the state, with major hospitals throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Fox Valley
- Froedtert Health – Milwaukee’s academic medical center affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin; strong specialty and trauma care employer
- UW Health – Madison-based academic health system; UW Hospital is the state’s primary Level I trauma center
- Children’s Wisconsin – Milwaukee-based children’s hospital, a major pediatric nursing employer in the state
- Bellin Health – Green Bay-based regional health system serving northeastern Wisconsin
- Gundersen Health System / Mayo Clinic Health System – Major employers in the La Crosse and western Wisconsin healthcare market
Wisconsin’s nursing workforce shortage is consistent with national trends, with rural and long-term care settings experiencing the most acute demand. Rural health systems in northern and central Wisconsin actively recruit new graduates and offer incentive packages including tuition reimbursement and sign-on bonuses.
How to choose a nursing school in Wisconsin
Accreditation is non-negotiable. Only consider ACEN- or CCNE-accredited programs. Accreditation affects NCLEX eligibility, graduate school acceptance, and employer recognition. Confirm current accreditation status directly with any program before applying.
NCLEX pass rates. Request the program’s published first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate across three or more years. Wisconsin programs with consistent rates above 85% are performing well. Sustained rates below 80% warrant further investigation.
Non-compact state implications. Wisconsin’s non-compact status means your Wisconsin RN license is only valid in Wisconsin. If you plan to work across state lines, travel nurse, or may relocate, factor in the cost and time of obtaining additional state licenses for each state where you plan to work.
Cost. Community college ADN programs through Madison College and Wisconsin’s technical college system are significantly less expensive than private university BSN programs — often $8,000–$20,000 total versus $60,000–$100,000+ at private institutions. An ADN from an ACEN-accredited technical college program followed by an online RN-to-BSN completion is a well-established, cost-effective path.
Clinical placement access. Programs in Milwaukee and Madison benefit from the highest density of acute care clinical sites in the state. Programs in smaller markets should be evaluated on the quality and acuity of their specific clinical partnerships.
For a complete decision framework, see how to choose a nursing school.
Sources and references
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Registered Nurses, Wisconsin (2023)
- Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Board of Nursing: dsps.wi.gov
- NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact member state list: ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/nurse-licensure-compact
- NCSBN NCLEX pass rate data (2023)
- CCNE accreditation database: ccneaccreditation.org
- ACEN accreditation directory: acenursing.org