Compare accredited BSN programs, tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and admissions requirements near Brookfield.
More than 21,000 registered nurses work in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area, and demand is projected to rise as the region’s population ages. Brookfield’s location just west of Milwaukee puts major teaching hospitals, including Froedtert Hospital and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, within a short commute.
Pre-licensure BSN tracks, accelerated second-degree programs, and flexible RN-to-BSN pathways are offered by many of the best nursing schools in Wisconsin within 75 miles of the city, with many delivering evening or online formats to accommodate working students.
The best choice often hinges on the balance between total cost, clinical placement reliability, and the licensure exam outcomes that state employers track closely.
We evaluated accredited nursing programs within 65 miles of Brookfield, WI, considering net price, institutional graduation rates, and hands-on clinical access. The list blends BSN and ADN pathways to help you find a fit balancing cost, outcomes, and commute.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | Brookfield residents seeking local BSN | ||
Situated in neighboring Waukesha, Carroll University provides a CCNE-accredited BSN with a striking 100% NCLEX pass rate for recent graduates and direct admission into the major. Simulation labs, clinical rotations at systems like Mayo Clinic, and a Direct Entry MSN for career changers make it a flexible pipeline for the metro area. The institution-wide graduation rate is 71% and the effective net price is $15,193.
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| #2 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | ~$25,000/yr (est.) | Milwaukee clinical immersion | |
Marquette University's direct-admit BSN in Milwaukee offers guaranteed clinical hours and a curriculum ranked #28 nationally. The program emphasizes holistic care and leadership, with study abroad options and the Veteran Affairs Nursing Academic Partnership. Marquette also offers a hybrid Direct Entry MSN for non-nursing bachelor's holders. The institution-wide graduation rate is 83% and the effective net price is $31,487.
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| #3 | Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, WI | $7,000/yr | Technology-driven nursing education | |
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) pairs nursing with a technology-rich, interprofessional campus experience. The CCNE-accredited BSN Traditional Track admits students directly and guarantees clinical progression, while an accelerated 16-month track serves career changers. Graduates see strong placement; the institution-wide graduation rate is 67% and the effective net price is $22,453.
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| #4 | McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | |||
Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee provides an ACEN-accredited Associate of Applied Science in Nursing with an unusual feature: after term four, students can exit with practical nursing licensure and work as an LPN while completing the ADN. An accelerated LPN track is also available. The institution-wide graduation rate is 44% and the effective net price is $11,101.
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| #5 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | ~$21,000/yr (est.) | ||
Moraine Park Technical College offers an ACEN-accredited ADN with a practical nursing exit point, allowing students to earn LPN credentials midway. The program blends classroom theory, lab practice, and clinical rotations on three campuses, with strong NCLEX pass rates and job placement. The institution-wide graduation rate is 58% and the effective net price is $9,268.
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| #6 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | |||
Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland provides an ACEN-accredited ADN through its Center for Health Care Excellence. The program boasts NCLEX pass rates above state and national averages and a FORWARD partnership with UW-Green Bay for seamless BSN transfer. The institution-wide graduation rate is 50% and the effective net price is $9,653.
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| #7 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Gateway Technical College's ADN in Kenosha uses high-fidelity simulators and international service learning, with no wait-lists for program entry. The ACEN-accredited program also offers an LPN bridge and has a median salary outlook of $86,798. The institution-wide graduation rate is 51% and the effective net price is $12,928.
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| #8 | Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland, WI | |||
Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown offers a CCNE-accredited BSN within a Christian worldview, featuring over 1,000 clinical hours and a medical missions trip option. The curriculum integrates Bible courses and a capstone practicum. The institution-wide graduation rate is 64% and the effective net price is $26,005.
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| #9 | Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee, WI | |||
College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL, offers a cohort-based A.A.S. in Nursing with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio and low net price. ACEN-accredited with a 92% NCLEX pass rate, it provides a clear BSN pathway. The institution-wide graduation rate is 37% and the effective net price is $7,607.
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| #10 | Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac, WI | |||
Brookfield-area students have access to several affordable technical college options that offer associate degree nursing programs, which can serve as an economical first step toward a BSN. The table below compares in-state and out-of-state tuition alongside the average net price after financial aid for each ranked school. Net price is an institution-wide average, so your individual cost may differ based on grant and scholarship eligibility.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Avg 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 |
Choosing a nursing program means balancing exam readiness with the likelihood you’ll actually graduate. While NCLEX pass rates show how well a program prepares students for licensure, graduation rates reveal whether that preparation pays off with a diploma.
BSN programs in the Brookfield area deliver strong first-time NCLEX-RN results. Marquette University and Wisconsin Lutheran College each posted a perfect 100% pass rate (2024 and 2022, respectively). Carroll University, Marian University, and UW-Oshkosh all reported 96% or higher. UW-Madison reached 95%, while Herzing University’s Brookfield/Kenosha campus and Milwaukee School of Engineering both achieved 92%. Even programs below the state average, such as UW-Milwaukee (86%) and Mount Mary University (83%), exceed the national baseline.
The national first-time NCLEX pass rate for all RN candidates was 87.5% in 2025. Wisconsin’s average for BSN programs is 92 to 93 percent. A rate above 90% suggests a rigorous, effective curriculum. When a program’s rate sits below 85%, explore its remediation policies and clinical preparation.
Passing the NCLEX is only half the story. Overall graduation rates show whether students complete their degrees. Among four-year schools near Brookfield, Marquette reports an 83% graduation rate, MSOE around 67%, and Maranatha Baptist and Bellin College near 63%. These institution-wide figures give a rough proxy for student support and momentum. Ask programs for nursing-specific graduation rates to gauge their ability to move students from enrollment to practice.
Your choice between a pre-licensure BSN and an RN-to-BSN depends on where you are in your nursing career. If you are starting fresh, a pre-licensure BSN provides the full foundation and leads to initial licensure. Current RNs with an associate degree can accelerate their credentials through an RN-to-BSN completion, often while working.
| Comparison Point | Pre-Licensure BSN | RN-to-BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Duration | 4 years (48 months) | 12-24 months |
| Credit Requirements | 120-128 credits | 30-45 credits |
| Clinical Hours | 600-900 hours | Minimal |
| Delivery Format | On-campus | Online or hybrid |
| Prerequisite Degree | High school diploma or equivalent | Associate degree or diploma in nursing |
| Minimum GPA | 2.75-3.0 | 2.5 |
| Best for | Students with no prior nursing education | Licensed RNs seeking a bachelor's for career advancement |
| Brookfield-Area Examples | Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Bellin College | Online RN-to-BSN programs are offered by many Wisconsin public universities, including several within commuting distance |
Nursing graduates in the Brookfield area enter a job market with strong demand and competitive wages. While program-level earnings data for individual BSN schools is not yet available, regional employment figures paint a clear picture of the opportunities awaiting newly licensed RNs.
According to federal labor data, registered nurses in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area earned a median annual wage of $84,595 in 2023.1 Wages vary with experience and specialization: the lowest 10 percent of RNs earned around $62,000 to $63,000, while the top 10 percent exceeded $117,000, and the average annual wage was slightly higher at $88,230.2
Nationally, the outlook remains strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5 percent growth in RN positions from 2024 to 2034, translating to about 189,100 new openings each year. This sustained demand reinforces the value of a BSN, the degree most preferred by magnet hospitals and health systems across Wisconsin.
When set against the tuition and fees shown in the cost comparison table, these salary figures highlight a compelling return on investment. Even at private institutions where annual tuition may exceed $50,000, the region's high earning floor means BSN graduates can recoup costs relatively quickly. A nurse earning the metro median would match a four-year private tuition outlay in a little over two years of work, not accounting for financial aid or scholarships that significantly lower net price. For students attending public universities with lower in-state tuition, the ROI is even more immediate. Pairing a BSN from a Brookfield-area school with the local job market creates a financial pathway that rewards the upfront commitment well into the future.
Choosing the right BSN program near Brookfield is a big decision. Here we answer the most frequently asked questions about program quality, cost, and flexibility, drawing on information from earlier in this article.
