Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and pathways for every BSN option accessible from Wausau
Northcentral Technical College’s associate degree nursing graduates routinely achieve NCLEX-RN pass rates above 95 percent; however, a growing number of Wausau health systems now expect new hires to hold a BSN or enroll in an RN-to-BSN program shortly after licensure. That credential tension makes identifying true baccalaureate pathways in a smaller metro like Wausau far harder than it sounds.
Confusion around Rasmussen University’s Wausau campus, where rumors of a nursing program shutdown circulated widely despite the BSN track remaining active, further muddies the picture. Students who relied on dated information may have discarded a viable local option or assumed no direct-entry BSN exists within commute distance.
In central Wisconsin, where clinical site capacity is tight and tuition differences between public and private programs can exceed $30,000, choosing a school without real cost and pipeline data carries measurable risk.
Wausau-area students have several nursing pathways that span associate degree, BSN, and RN-to-BSN options. A 75-mile search radius reaches campuses in Stevens Point, Marshfield, and Wausau proper, while online and hybrid programs extend the map further. The schools below blend campus, hybrid, and online formats, so you can compare prelicensure and working-RN routes side by side.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | ~$17,000/yr (est.) | Prelicensure students wanting campus and online options | |
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a large public research campus with a traditional BSN, an accelerated second-degree option, and an online RN to BSN. Students complete lectures, labs, and clinical rotations across hospitals, clinics, and community settings. The school is a solid choice for Wausau-area learners who want a university nursing path with multiple entry points.
No entrance exam
Fully online option
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| #2 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | ~$25,000/yr (est.) | Career changers entering direct-entry MSN | |
Marquette University is a private Milwaukee school that admits students directly into its four-year BSN and also offers a direct-entry MSN. Clinical hours are built into the program, and students can add study abroad or an honors capstone. This is a strong option for career changers who want a graduate path to the RN. CCNE accredited
ACEN accredited
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| #3 | Bellin College | Green Bay, WI | ~$37,000/yr (est.) | Accelerated BSN seekers with flexible tracks | |
Bellin College is a Green Bay health sciences college with a BSN that begins nursing courses in the first semester. Students choose a traditional three-year track, a transfer option, or an accelerated 15-month route. The school emphasizes clinical experience across multiple specialties. CCNE accredited
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| #4 | Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac, WI | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
Moraine Park Technical College offers an associate degree with a practical nursing exit point, so students can become an LPN after about two semesters or continue to the RN. The program is campus based and includes lab practice plus clinical rotations. It is a budget-conscious ADN route with strong completion supports.
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| #5 | Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton, WI | $5,000 – $7,000/yr (est.) | ||
Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton provides a 65-credit RN associate degree with full-time and part-time scheduling. The program combines classroom theory with clinical training and is approved by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. It is a practical ADN option, though core nursing courses can have a waitlist.
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| #6 | Rasmussen University-Wisconsin | Green Bay, WI | |||
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin offers a hybrid professional nursing associate degree that pairs online coursework with on-campus labs and clinicals. The program has multiple start dates and an LPN to RN bridge option. Wisconsin students may complete the program through the state-approved Wausau campus. Military benefitsEmployer tuition reimbursement
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| #7 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Milwaukee School of Engineering offers both a traditional BSN and an accelerated second-degree track on a campus known for simulation-based learning. Students get direct admission and guaranteed progression through clinical courses. It is a structured campus program for learners who want hands-on nursing training. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #8 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore, WI | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College offers a hybrid associate degree nursing pathway with adult, pediatric, and obstetric simulation training. Students complete hands-on clinical experiences in local health care settings. It is a smaller technical college option with a supportive learning environment. ACEN accredited
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| #9 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | ~$17,000/yr (est.) | ||
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire offers a BSN completion program designed for registered nurses and ADN graduates. The hybrid online format uses 7-week and 14-week sessions and includes a 90-hour clinical project. It is a flexible choice for working nurses in central and western Wisconsin. CCNE accredited
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| #10 | Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, WI | ~$26,000/yr (est.) | ||
Maranatha Baptist University provides a four-year BSN that pairs nursing coursework with a Christian worldview. Students complete over 1,000 clinical hours and can join a medical missions trip. It is a distinctive fit for learners who want a faith-based nursing education. CCNE accredited
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Prospective nurses in Wausau can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through several distinct routes. The right choice depends on your starting point, career goals, and whether you need to work while enrolled.
Is Rasmussen University's Wausau campus actually closing its nursing program? The short answer is no. Despite any rumors or outdated information you might have seen, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the Wausau location is active and enrolling for its next start date in July 2026.1 The program is fully advertised, and there are no documented teach-out or transfer agreements because none are needed.
Current students can continue their program without interruption; no teach-out arrangements are required because the campus remains open. Prospective students can confidently apply for the July 2026 BSN cohort in Wausau. Should any future changes occur, the school would be obligated to notify enrolled students and provide formal transition options. For now, the Wausau campus remains a stable, local choice among nursing schools in Wisconsin for earning your BSN.
When weighing nursing program costs, net price after grants and scholarships is the most meaningful comparison metric, as it reflects what students actually pay. For Wausau-area learners, Northcentral Technical College's ADN-to-BSN pathway may be the most affordable overall, combining low two-year costs with a budget-friendly completion program. All figures below are annual averages except median graduate debt, which is cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolet Area Technical College | $4,793 | $7,066 | $8,255 | $7,837 |
| Northwood Technical College | $4,926 | $7,169 | $8,989 | $8,250 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | $4,819 | $7,084 | $9,268 | $8,225 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | $4,747 | $6,803 | $9,330 | $9,550 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | $4,844 | $7,087 | $9,653 | $7,000 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | $4,960 | $7,203 | $9,918 | $11,719 |
| Northcentral Technical College | $4,889 | $7,132 | $10,303 | $7,500 |
| Mid-State Technical College | $5,002 | $7,171 | $10,873 | $8,000 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | $4,803 | $7,046 | $11,101 | $12,000 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | $4,844 | $7,087 | $12,285 | $11,432 |
How well do Wausau-area nursing graduates perform on the NCLEX, and what can they expect to earn?
Northcentral Technical College’s nursing program consistently posts strong licensure exam results. According to NTC’s official student achievement reports, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for the associate degree program have hovered between 92% and 93% in recent cycles1, with an overall pass rate (including repeat test-takers) reaching 99%2. These numbers align with or exceed state and national averages, indicating that NTC graduates are well-prepared for entry-level practice. UW-Stevens Point, the closest public university offering a BSN, also maintains a robust NCLEX track record, though the university releases its pass rates on an institutional dashboard rather than a program-specific public report.
While program-specific nursing earnings for most Wisconsin schools are not yet available through federal consumer data tools, we can examine the overall median earnings of graduates from institutions that offer nursing programs in the region. For example, Milwaukee School of Engineering, a private university known for its direct-admit BSN, reports median earnings of $89,070 for all alumni ten years after entry. Similarly, Marquette University’s overall median is $78,257. These figures apply to all graduates, not just nursing majors, but they suggest that students from these schools enjoy strong earning potential in Wisconsin’s healthcare and technical labor markets.
To put these numbers in perspective, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual wage for registered nurses in the Wausau-Stevens Point metropolitan area was approximately $78,000 as of 2025. That means local RNs earn roughly in line with, and sometimes above, the regional median for all occupations. For Wausau-area students who complete a BSN and work locally, starting salaries often fall between $65,000 and $75,000, with opportunities for overtime and shift differentials. Those who pursue advanced roles or move to larger healthcare systems can push into the six-figure range. Because program-level earnings data remain sparse for individual nursing schools, the regional occupation wage serves as the most reliable benchmark for planning your career path.
For nursing students in Wausau, the difference between a seamless path to licensure and a prolonged search often comes down to clinical placement access. Not every program guarantees a spot, which makes the strength of a school’s healthcare relationships a decisive factor.
Two names dominate the clinical landscape: Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Marshfield Clinic Health System. Aspirus Wausau, the flagship tertiary center for the region, regularly hosts nursing students from Northcentral Technical College and other nearby programs for rotations and preceptorships. Marshfield Clinic’s facilities provide similar opportunities, particularly for students pursuing advanced or specialized experiences. Community health centers and long-term care sites also host students, though specific agreements shift with program needs and capacity.
Strong partnerships compress the timeline to graduation by eliminating placement delays and, critically, create direct hiring pipelines. Both Aspirus and Marshfield operate structured 12-month nurse residency programs that offer new graduates, including ADN-prepared nurses, a formal transition-to-practice curriculum with unit-specific preceptorship. At Marshfield, incoming staff RNs are automatically enrolled in the residency, meaning a clinical rotation can evolve into an immediate job offer. Because the NTC ADN program does not publish a static list of affiliated clinical sites, prospective students should ask about current partnerships, but the regional footprint of Aspirus and Marshfield ensures that most nursing students near Wausau will train in one or both systems.
Prospective nursing students in Wausau often have similar questions about educational pathways, costs, and program changes. Below we answer the most common inquiries to help you navigate your options in central Wisconsin.
