Private colleges are operated independently and do not receive their primary funding from the state government. They usually operate as non-profit organizations and invest heavily in the education of students. Due to their small class size, these colleges allow close interactions between professors and students. Outstanding students are often attracted to private colleges due to their generous financial assistance to those in need. Most importantly, many private colleges carry a significant level of historical prestige that opens doors during the job search.

Wisconsin’s private colleges
Wisconsin boasts over 20 private nursing colleges that offer a wide variety of nursing programs. These run the gamut from certificate programs for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to master’s degree programs for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Several of the state’s prestigious private schools, including Columbia College of Nursing and Marquette University, have a rich history providing stellar nursing education.

Career prospects
Wisconsin’s healthcare industry offers an attractive future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 56,000 registered nurses (RNs) in Wisconsin who earn a median annual salary of $63,000. The state’s 10,000 LPNs are also well-compensated, earning over $42,000 per year on average. Nursing graduates can look forward to joining major local employers like Ministry Health Care, Grey Group, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To help aspiring nurses choose a program well-suited for their needs, we have compiled below a comprehensive list of the best private nursing schools in Wisconsin.

Green Bay

Bellin College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Rasmussen University - Green Bay
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
School City Programs offered
Bellin College Green Bay
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Rasmussen University - Green Bay Green Bay
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Madison

Edgewood College
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Herzing University - Madison
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
School City Programs offered
Edgewood College Madison
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Herzing University - Madison Madison
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program

Milwaukee

Alverno College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Bryant & Stratton College - Milwaukee
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • Technical Diploma in Practical Nursing
Cardinal Stritch University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • MSN: Educator
  • MSN: Leader
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Carroll University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Concordia University Wisconsin
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Healthcare Informatics
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • Parish Nursing Certificate
  • Post-Bachelor's Certificate: Interprofessional Informatics
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator
  • Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Herzing University
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Marquette University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Baccalaureate PhD
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse-Midwifery
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Mount Mary University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Nursing 1-2-1 Partnership
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Wisconsin Lutheran College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
School City Programs offered
Alverno College Milwaukee
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Bryant & Stratton College - Milwaukee Wauwatosa
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • Technical Diploma in Practical Nursing
Cardinal Stritch University Milwaukee
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • MSN: Educator
  • MSN: Leader
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Carroll University Waukesha
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Healthcare Informatics
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • Parish Nursing Certificate
  • Post-Bachelor's Certificate: Interprofessional Informatics
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator
  • Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Herzing University Brookfield
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Marquette University Milwaukee
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Baccalaureate PhD
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse-Midwifery
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Mount Mary University Milwaukee
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Nursing 1-2-1 Partnership
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Other Wisconsin cities

Carthage College
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
George Williams College of Aurora University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Herzing University - Kenosha
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
Maranatha Baptist University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Marian University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Rasmussen University - Wausau
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Viterbo University
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: CRNA Track
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School City Programs offered
Carthage College Kenosha
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
George Williams College of Aurora University Williams Bay
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Herzing University - Kenosha Kenosha
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing
  • LPN/Paramedic-to-BSN Bridge Program
Maranatha Baptist University Watertown
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Marian University Fond du Lac
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Rasmussen University - Wausau Wausau
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Viterbo University La Crosse
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: CRNA Track
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Category: 
Wisconsin