Last Updated: October 3, 2026
Wisconsin has eight accelerated nursing programs — covering a wide range of formats, timelines, price points, and institutional missions.
- Two programs embed graduate-level credits toward an MSN directly into the BSN curriculum.
- One requires 240 hours of CNA experience before you can apply.
- And one is the only 12-month ABSN program in the country offering an international clinical in Guatemala.
Cost runs from roughly $40,500 to over $64,000. Timelines run from 12 to 24 months.
For career changers comparing second degree nursing programs in Wisconsin, the decision often turns less on cost — which is surprisingly tight across several programs — and more on format, clinical structure, and what post-graduation pathway you want built into the degree.
Wisconsin ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Est. Cost | Duration | Min. GPA | NCLEX Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee / Kenosha / Madison | $63,750 | 20–24 months | 2.5 (tiered by GPA track) | Not published (WI) | |
Madison (in-person or online) | $45K | 12 months | 2.75 | 99.1% (2023) | |
Madison | $45K (resident) / $6K (nonresident) | 12 months | 2.75 (avg admitted: 3.39) | 96% | |
Platteville (hybrid) | $49K | 12 months | 3.25 (prereq GPA); 240 hrs CNA req’d | Exceeds national avg. | |
Oshkosh (hybrid) | $49K | 12 months | 3.0 (pre-nursing GPA) | Exceeds national avg. | |
Online (WI residents) | $51K | 16 months | 3.0 (2.8 science GPA) | 86% (2023) | |
Milwaukee | $60K | ~16 months | 3.0 (2.7–2.99 case-by-case) | 96–100% | |
Hybrid (Draper, UT campus) | $65K | ~20 months | 2.75 | 94.31% (2024) |
How to Choose the Best ABSN Program in Wisconsin
TL;DR: Quick-Match Guide
Choose Edgewood College if you want the highest published NCLEX pass rate in Wisconsin (99.1% in 2023) in a program that lets you choose between in-person or fully online delivery.
The online track arranges local clinical placements across 80+ partner sites with only three required lab immersions in Madison. Graduates who finish with a 3.0 GPA or higher receive guaranteed admission into Edgewood’s MSN program — the clearest post-BSN pathway of any Wisconsin program.
Choose Elmhurst University if you need 100% online coursework and don’t want to arrange your own clinical placements.
Elmhurst’s placement team identifies and secures local sites and preceptors near your Wisconsin community at no added cost, with two simulation residencies in Illinois as the only required travel. Two annual starts (fall and spring) give reasonable scheduling flexibility with rolling admissions.
Choose Herzing University if a tiered admissions structure, rolling enrollment, and embedded graduate credits fit your profile.
Herzing’s three GPA tracks mean a strong overall record can offset a thinner science background, and vice versa — an unusually flexible entry model. Twelve graduate credits embedded in the BSN count toward a future Herzing MSN, and Wisconsin campuses in Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Madison serve the state’s major markets. With rolling admissions and no fixed deadlines, Herzing is the most schedule-flexible in-person option in the state.
Choose Joyce University if you want to skip prerequisites entirely and complete the program largely from home.
Joyce builds all sciences into its 85-credit curriculum, removing the typical year-plus of prerequisite coursework. Wisconsin residents complete clinicals locally, with skills immersions condensed to roughly one week per semester in Draper, Utah. A 94.31% NCLEX pass rate in 2024 backs the fully remote-first model.
Choose the Milwaukee School of Engineering if simulation depth and placement outcomes are the benchmarks.
MSOE delivers 660+ clinical hours alongside 180 lab hours and at least 15 simulations through its Ruehlow Nursing Complex — among the most extensive simulation and lab programs in this series. A recent cohort achieved 100% first-time NCLEX passage, and 100% of 2024–25 graduates are employed, in graduate school, or serving in the military. Two annual starts (August and January) and no TEAS requirement keep entry accessible for strong applicants.
Choose UW-Platteville if rural health is the intended practice setting and you already hold CNA certification (or are willing to earn it).
UW-Platteville requires 240 hours of CNA experience before admission — more than any other Wisconsin program — and partners with UW Oshkosh to deliver a rural-health-focused 12-month hybrid curriculum with a near-zero attrition rate. The unique 3+1 dual-degree pathway (biology at Platteville + BSN from Oshkosh) is the only offering of its kind in Wisconsin.
Choose UW–Madison if the state flagship’s credential, strong outcomes, and resident tuition pricing matter.
UW–Madison’s 64-seat cohort posts a 96% NCLEX pass rate and 99% placement within six months, with all clinical placements coordinated statewide by the School of Nursing. The group interview and in-person writing exercise are unique admission requirements not found at any other Wisconsin program. Minnesota residents qualify for the in-state rate through reciprocity.
Choose UW–Oshkosh if scheduling flexibility and international exposure appeal to you.
Three cohort starts per year (February, May, October) make Oshkosh the most flexible Wisconsin public-university option, and it’s the only 12-month ABSN program in the country offering an international clinical option in Guatemala that meets course objectives. The preceptor-shift model — students work their preceptor’s actual shifts — provides a real-world integration not replicated in traditional rotation models.
Two MSN Pathway Programs Worth Noting
Two Wisconsin programs build graduate nursing credit directly into the BSN curriculum.
Herzing University embeds 12 graduate-level credits — covering health policy, nursing research, informatics, and systems-based practice — that count simultaneously toward the BSN and toward a future Herzing MSN, shortening the path to advanced practice without separate enrollment.
Edgewood College takes a different approach: rather than embedding graduate credits, it guarantees MSN admission to any graduate who completes the ABSN with a 3.0 GPA or higher — removing the re-application process entirely for eligible graduates. Both pathways are worth considering if graduate-level practice is the eventual goal.
Program Length and Format
12-month programs (fastest): Edgewood College, UW-Platteville, UW–Madison, and UW–Oshkosh all complete in 12 months.
UW-Madison and UW-Oshkosh each note students completing roughly one credit per week — an intense pace requiring 50-70 hours of weekly effort. Edgewood offers the distinctive advantage of choosing between in-person (Madison) or online delivery within the same 12-month timeline.
~16-month programs: Elmhurst University runs 16 months across four semesters. MSOE spans approximately 16 months across four semesters beginning in August or January.
20-24 month programs: Herzing runs in as few as 20 months for students who’ve completed science prerequisites, or 24 months for those still finishing prerequisites.
Joyce University’s 20-month timeline assumes maximum transfer credit; students transferring fewer credits may take longer.
Format variety: Wisconsin’s format range is the widest in this series.
UW–Madison is the only fully in-person program with no online option. MSOE and Herzing combine on-campus instruction with online components.
Edgewood is unique in offering a parallel format choice: fully in-person in Madison or online with three Wisconsin lab immersions, with both tracks CCNE-accredited.
UW-Platteville and UW–Oshkosh deliver theory 100% online with a two-week on-campus residency and local clinicals.
Elmhurst and Joyce are the most remote-friendly — Elmhurst with two Illinois residencies, Joyce with three Utah immersions.
Most Affordable Programs
Herzing University — $63,750 estimated tuition: The official tuition estimator for Brookfield/Milwaukee uses $750 per credit across 85 remaining credits after the automatic 35-credit prior-degree transfer. Six semesters of $450 program and $555 learner-resource fees add $6,030, for $69,780 combined; additional approved transfers can lower costs. Confirm the selected campus and individual plan.
UW–Madison — $45,000 (Wisconsin and Minnesota residents): UW–Madison’s flat $45,000 resident rate covers a 12-month program at the state’s flagship university with coordinated clinical placements, a 96% NCLEX rate, and 99% post-graduation placement.
Minnesota residents qualify for the in-state rate through reciprocity — making this accessible from the Twin Cities metro without out-of-state tuition. Nonresidents pay $60,000, eliminating the public-university cost advantage for out-of-state applicants.
Prerequisite Course Patterns
Every Wisconsin ABSN program requires Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Statistics as foundational prerequisites — with one exception: Joyce University eliminates the prerequisite period entirely by integrating all sciences into its 85-credit curriculum.
Among the seven programs with conventional prerequisites, Psychology appears on most checklists, and recency requirements on science coursework vary from seven years (UW-Madison) to eight years (Edgewood) to no stated limit (UW-Oshkosh).
No Wisconsin program requires a TEAS or HESI as a mandatory admission component for all applicants — though UW–Oshkosh requires TEAS if degree GPA is below 2.5, and Herzing requires TEAS 66% for applicants in the 2.50–3.49 GPA range without a qualifying science GPA.
The most distinctive prerequisite requirement in Wisconsin — and in this entire series — belongs to UW-Platteville: 240 hours of CNA experience is required for admission, more than double the clinical hours most programs ask for as a recommendation.
Start Dates and Cohort Availability
| School | Start Date(s) | Application Window / Deadline | Admissions Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
Rolling | No fixed deadlines | Rolling; no fixed application window | |
February, May, October | Contact program for cycle deadlines | Three annual cycles; 30 students per cohort | |
Fall (August) and Spring (January) | Rolling within each cycle | Two annual cycles; Fall 2026 starts Aug 31 | |
August and January | Rolling application | Two annual cycles | |
Two per year | February 1 and June 1 | Two annual cycles | |
Contact program | Contact program | Contact program; follows UW Oshkosh calendar | |
Contact program | Contact program | Hybrid; contact for WI-eligible start dates | |
May only | July 15–September 15 (for following May) | One annual cycle; 64 seats; decisions in December |
Maximum flexibility: Herzing’s rolling admissions with no fixed deadlines make it the most schedule-accessible in-person option in the state — students can begin planning without aligning to a published cycle window.
UW–Oshkosh’s three annual cohorts (February, May, October) are the most entry points among Wisconsin programs with a fixed structure.
UW–Madison’s extended lead time: UW–Madison is the most demanding application cycle in Wisconsin — applicants apply between July 15 and September 15 for a program that doesn’t start until the following May, with decisions issued in December. That’s an eight-month planning horizon before the first day of class, requiring science prerequisites to be complete by the fall application deadline.
UW-Platteville coordination note: UW-Platteville delivers its ABSN through UW Oshkosh’s curriculum and calendar, meaning applicants must coordinate with both institutions. Admission timelines and cohort starts should be confirmed directly with UW-Platteville’s nursing program before applying.
Clinical Training Structure
Wisconsin’s programs range from roughly $40,500 to over $64,000 and 12 to 24 months in length. Clinical training is one of the most varied dimensions in this group — from the highest published simulation count in this series to the only international clinical option among all ABSN programs nationally.
Programs with published clinical hour counts: UW–Oshkosh delivers 728 clinical hours across six rotations following a preceptor-shift model — students work the same shifts as their assigned RN preceptor, providing real-world integration that traditional rotation schedules don’t replicate.
MSOE combines 660+ clinical hours with 180 lab hours and at least 15 structured simulations — the most extensive lab and simulation program among all Wisconsin programs.
Herzing delivers 630 clinical hours plus approximately 210 lab hours distributed across foundational, specialty, and advanced clinical tracks.
Edgewood completes 600 hours at 80+ partner sites — including UW Health and VA hospitals — with a 1:1 preceptor model throughout.
Joyce University completes 517.5 supervised local hours, the lowest published count in Wisconsin.
Elmhurst requires a minimum of 450 hours.
International clinical option: UW–Oshkosh is the only 12-month ABSN program in the United States with a global clinical component that meets course objectives — an optional rotation in Guatemala available to qualifying students. No other Wisconsin program and no other program in this entire series offers a comparable international option within the standard BSN curriculum.
Coordinated placement models: UW–Madison coordinates all clinical placements statewide through its academic partnerships, attempting to honor requests to complete clinicals near students’ home communities when qualified preceptors are available.
Elmhurst’s placement team secures Wisconsin sites and preceptors at no added cost, supporting the fully online format by eliminating the logistical burden of site-finding.
Edgewood’s online track coordinates local placements across southcentral Wisconsin and northern Illinois through its 80+ partner network.
Rural health emphasis: UW-Platteville’s program is explicitly designed to address healthcare needs in rural and underserved regions of Wisconsin, aligning with the university’s southwest Wisconsin mission. Clinical rotations follow students into their home communities, preparing graduates for the regional workforce gaps rather than concentrating training in urban health systems.
Wisconsin ABSN Program Summaries
Edgewood College ABSN Program
Madison | $45,000 | 12 Months
Madonna University offers a hybrid 16-month accelerated BSN in Metro Detroit with three start dates a year and no waitlist. Open to applicants with a prior degree or 60+ non-nursing college credits, it blends online coursework with on-site simulation labs in Southfield and clinical rotations at partners like Ascension Michigan.
Why Madonna University Stands Out
- Three start dates a year (January, May, August) and no waitlist.
- Flexible entry: a prior bachelor's degree or just 60+ non-nursing college credits.
- Hybrid format — online coursework plus on-site simulation labs in Metro Detroit.
- 16-month completion with clinical rotations at partners such as Ascension Michigan.
- CCNE-accredited and Michigan Board of Nursing-approved; Catholic-Franciscan university.
Elmhurst University ABSN Program
Online but must reside in Wisconsin. | $50,000 | 16 Months
Elmhurst’s 16-month ABSN delivers coursework online for residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Students complete 60 semester hours, university-arranged in-person clinical placements and two campus residencies. Published tuition is $50,000, with $849 NCLEX preparation and other expenses separate.
Herzing University ABSN Program
Milwaukee, Kenosha, Madison | $63,750 | 20-24 Months
Herzing University delivers its accelerated second-degree BSN at three Wisconsin campuses — Brookfield (Milwaukee), Kenosha, and Madison — close to home for career changers statewide. Its tiered admissions flex by academic record, and the curriculum embeds 12 graduate credits toward a Herzing MSN.
Why Herzing University Stands Out
- Three Wisconsin campuses (Brookfield/Milwaukee, Kenosha, Madison) put the program within reach across the state.
- Flexible tiered admission: qualify via cumulative GPA, science GPA, or TEAS score.
- 12 embedded graduate credits shorten the path to a Herzing MSN and advanced practice.
- Finishes in as few as 20 months (24 with science prerequisites); rolling admission; 630 clinical plus 210 laboratory hours.
- CCNE-accredited baccalaureate nursing program at an HLC-accredited institution; Tuition varies by campus and approved transfers; see the profile for current estimates.
Joyce University ABSN Program
Draper | $60,520 | 20 Months
Joyce’s hybrid second-degree BSN integrates required sciences and combines online coursework with Utah skills immersions and assigned clinical placements. Completion in as few as 20 months requires qualifying transfer credits. Estimated tuition is $60,520, with a separate $3,710 NCLEX Resources Fee. Clinical schedules and locations are assigned and may require travel; the 517.5 training hours combine simulation and direct care.
Milwaukee School of Engineering ABSN Program
Milwaukee | $60,000 | 16 Months
Milwaukee School of Engineering offers a 16-month accelerated second-degree BSN that brings an engineering university's technology and simulation focus to nursing. Based in downtown Milwaukee near major medical centers, it pairs a heavily experiential curriculum with near-perfect NCLEX and employment outcomes.
Why Milwaukee School of Engineering Stands Out
- Technology- and simulation-rich nursing education at an engineering university (Ruehlow Nursing Complex, 15+ simulations).
- Heavy experiential load: ~660 clinical hours and ~180 lab hours across metro Milwaukee health systems.
- 96-100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate; 100% of 2024-25 graduates employed, in grad school, or in the military.
- 16-month, year-round completion with two cohorts a year (August/September and January).
- CCNE-accredited and approved by Wisconsin DSPS; satisfies licensure requirements in 49 states and territories.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville ABSN Program
Platteville | $49,000 | 12 Months
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, in partnership with UW Oshkosh, offers a 12-month hybrid ABSN built around rural and underserved health care. It blends online coursework with home-community clinicals and a two-week campus residency, and posts a near-zero attrition rate.
Why University of Wisconsin-Platteville Stands Out
- Rural-health mission — built to prepare nurses for underserved and rural communities in southwest Wisconsin.
- Hybrid format delivered through UW Oshkosh: online coursework, home-community clinicals, and one two-week residency.
- Attrition rate under 1% with NCLEX-RN pass rates above the national average.
- Unique 3+1 dual-degree option: a biology degree from UW-Platteville plus a BSN from UW Oshkosh in four years.
- CCNE-accredited (via UW Oshkosh) and Wisconsin DSPS-approved; ~$48,224 tuition.
University of Wisconsin–Madison ABSN Program
Madison | $45,000 | 12 Months
The University of Wisconsin–Madison offers an intensive 12-month, concept-based ABSN at the state flagship, running May to May on campus. It pairs strong outcomes — a 96% NCLEX pass rate and 99% placement — with school-arranged clinical placements across Wisconsin and flat resident tuition.
Why University of Wisconsin–Madison Stands Out
- State flagship and top public research university with a concept-based curriculum built on five core concepts.
- 96% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and 99% employment/graduate-school placement within six months.
- All clinical placements arranged by the School of Nursing statewide (home-community requests honored when possible).
- Flat tuition: $45,000 for Wisconsin residents (Minnesota reciprocity included) or $60,000 nonresident.
- CCNE-accredited and Wisconsin DSPS-approved; holistic admission with a group interview and writing exercise (64 seats).
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh ABSN Program
Oshkosh | $50,338 | 12 Months
UW–Oshkosh’s 12-month hybrid ABSN combines online theory, a two-week Wisconsin residency and precepted clinical rotations. Approved residence states include Arizona and Colorado; admission depends on clinical placement feasibility. The 52-credit sequence has February, May and October starts... read more.