Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and admissions for every Madison-area nursing program.
UW Health, SSM Health, and a growing network of specialty clinics establish Madison as a central hub for nursing employment in southern Wisconsin. Demand for BSN-prepared nurses has intensified as hospitals seek Magnet designation and higher-acuity care demands more advanced clinical reasoning. Traditional four-year BSNs, accelerated tracks for career changers, and RN-to-BSN bridge programs each offer a distinct entry point, but cost, NCLEX pass rates, and clinical placement quality vary widely, influencing long-term career trajectory.
Madison-area nursing students can choose from a range of accredited programs, from direct-entry BSN tracks to cost-effective ADN pathways. The schools below are ranked based on institutional outcomes and program features, highlighting what sets each apart for aspiring nurses in south-central Wisconsin.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Edgewood University | Madison, WI | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Madison students valuing small clinical cohorts | |
Edgewood University, located in Madison, offers a CCNE-accredited BSN program known for a perfect first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and intimate clinical cohorts. Students benefit from a 7:1 clinical faculty ratio and training in a state-of-the-art simulation center, along with guaranteed admission for qualifying freshmen.
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| #2 | Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI | $5,000/yr | Budget-conscious adults targeting immediate employment | |
Madison Area Technical College provides an affordable ACEN-accredited Associate Degree in Nursing with multiple campuses and flexible scheduling. The program boasts a 93% job placement rate and an average starting salary of $76,140 for graduates, with direct transfer pathways to BSN programs.
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| #3 | Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, WI | $7,000/yr | Christian students who want mission-field exposure | |
Maranatha Baptist University, located in nearby Watertown, offers a faith-based BSN program that integrates a biblical worldview with over 1,000 hours of clinical experience. The program includes a capstone practicum, an NCLEX review course, and an optional medical missions trip, and has been recognized among Wisconsin's top nursing schools.
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Madison offers three distinct routes to the BSN, each tailored to a different entry point. The traditional four-year program serves first-time college students, the accelerated 12-month track is designed for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree, and the RN-to-BSN pathway helps working registered nurses earn their bachelor's in as few as 18 months online.
The table below compares annual tuition and net price for nursing programs at technical colleges near Madison. Net price reflects the average amount paid after grants and scholarships across all undergraduates, not specifically nursing students, but it still offers a helpful affordability benchmark. Nicolet Area Technical College stands out as the most affordable option, with a net price of $8,255.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolet Area Technical College | $4,793 | $7,066 | $8,255 |
| Northwood Technical College | $4,926 | $7,169 | $8,989 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | $4,819 | $7,084 | $9,268 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | $4,747 | $6,803 | $9,330 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | $4,844 | $7,087 | $9,653 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | $4,960 | $7,203 | $9,918 |
| Northcentral Technical College | $4,889 | $7,132 | $10,303 |
| Mid-State Technical College | $5,002 | $7,171 | $10,873 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | $4,803 | $7,046 | $11,101 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | $4,844 | $7,087 | $12,285 |
What does it take to get into a nursing program in Madison? The requirements vary by school, but all focus on a strong science foundation and competitive grades. Below, we break down the specifics for UW-Madison, Edgewood College, Herzing University, and an alternative pathway through Madison College.
At UW-Madison, admission to the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is competitive and has a fall-only start. Key prerequisites for the 2025-2026 cycle include:
The application deadline is January 15, and decisions are released by July 1. While the stated minimums are 2.75, admitted students often present higher GPAs given the program's selectivity.
Edgewood College and Herzing University-Madison also offer BSN pathways with their own prerequisite and admission standards. While exact cutoffs can change each year, both typically expect:
Because details shift, always verify current requirements directly on the respective school's nursing admissions page.
Despite differences, most Madison nursing schools require a similar set of prerequisites: anatomy and physiology with labs, microbiology, chemistry, and general psychology or sociology. GPA minimums hover between 2.5 and 2.75. Many programs also expect applicants to hold a CNA certification or to document paid or volunteer healthcare exposure, a factor that can strengthen an application even when not mandatory.
Madison College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) as an entry point. Admission to that program typically requires a TEAS test, a valid CNA license, and specific prerequisite courses. Once licensed as an RN through the ADN route, graduates can smoothly transition into an RN-to-BSN program at UW-Madison, Edgewood, or Herzing. Those bridge programs often have more relaxed prerequisites, credit for prior nursing coursework, and flexible formats designed for working nurses.
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates reveal how well a nursing program prepares students for the licensing exam, which is required to become a registered nurse. In Madison, pass rates vary across schools, but all four local programs exceed both Wisconsin and national averages.
The most recent data from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing shows the following first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for Madison-area programs. Madison College’s ADN program leads with 97.27%, followed by UW-Madison’s BSN at 95.22%. Edgewood College BSN graduates achieve 92.00%, and Herzing University-Madison’s BSN program reports 88.89%.1 These figures represent exam performance shortly after graduation, offering a concrete measure of each school’s curriculum strength.
Wisconsin’s average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate typically falls between 89% and 91%, while the national average for 2025 stood at 87.5%3. All four Madison schools clear the national benchmark. Madison College and UW-Madison comfortably surpass the state average, Edgewood College meets it, and Herzing University-Madison sits just below the Wisconsin trend, but still above the national figure. This means even the lowest-scoring Madison program performs above the broader U.S. baseline.
Long-term outcomes add crucial context. Edgewood College’s nursing graduates earn a median of $59,728 ten years after starting the program, with a median debt of $24,424. For UW-Madison, Madison College, and Herzing University-Madison, program-level earnings data are not yet available. While NCLEX rates are strong across the board, prospective students should weigh potential debt against expected salary gains, especially when federal scorecard data show that Wisconsin BSN holders can earn significantly more over time.
If NCLEX pass rates alone determined the answer, Madison College’s 97.27% would make it the top performer. However, that program awards an associate degree, which may limit long-term advancement compared to a BSN. Among BSN programs, UW-Madison’s 95.22% pass rate stands out, especially given its reputation as one of the best nursing schools in Wisconsin and its strong clinical partnerships. Edgewood College offers a strong balance of pass rate and known earnings data. Ultimately, the best choice depends on whether you prioritize immediate exam performance, degree level, or projected return on investment.
Not all clinical placements are equal; some programs offer direct, integrated partnerships with major teaching hospitals, while others arrange rotations through broader affiliations. In Madison, this distinction can shape everything from the complexity of patient cases you manage to the specialty units you access.
The University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Nursing holds a formal Academic-Practice Partnership with UW Health, anchored at University Hospital. This relationship goes beyond a simple rotation agreement: it integrates nursing education with clinical practice, giving students consistent exposure to a high-acuity academic medical center. Rotations often include access to American Family Children's Hospital for pediatrics and, depending on the semester, the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital for those interested in veteran care.
Edgewood College maintains an advanced practice affiliation with UW Health, primarily for NP and PA students.1 While Edgewood’s pre-licensure BSN students also secure placements across Madison, the college’s clinical network typically extends to SSM Health St. Mary’s and UnityPoint Health-Meriter, two other major hospital systems in the area. Herzing University and Madison College do not appear as listed affiliates of UW Health’s Academic-Practice Partnership,1 but both schools coordinate student rotations across multiple Madison hospitals. In practice, nursing students from all programs often train at a mix of sites, community hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities, giving them a well-rounded clinical foundation.
Training in a city with a major academic medical center means exposure to cutting-edge treatments, multidisciplinary teams, and research-driven care. Specialty rotations, such as pediatric intensive care at American Family Children’s Hospital or mental health services through the VA, are not always available in smaller markets. For nursing students, this depth of clinical opportunity can directly support NCLEX preparation and early career specialization.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about program quality, cost, and clinical training in Madison. Below, we address the most common inquiries to help you choose the right nursing school in Wisconsin's capital city.
