Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
Herzing University - Kenosha, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Lakeshore Technical College are the top Practical Nursing programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. Herzing University - Kenosha leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,310, College Scorecard. Gateway Technical College, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Waukesha County Technical College award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Wisconsin: 976, 725 and 547 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Wisconsin colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 6,775 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herzing University - Kenosha Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $47,310 | 41 | 72% | $18,466 | $22,586 |
| 2 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Public · Certificate | $42,721 | 725 | 51% | — | $13,954 |
| 3 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland Public · Certificate | $39,553 | 179 | 50% | — | $7,000 |
| 4 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton Public · Certificate | $38,540 | 395 | 65% | — | $14,500 |
| 5 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Public · Certificate | $37,386 | 505 | 50% | — | $12,000 |
| 6 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau Public · Certificate | $29,626 | 362 | 45% | — | $9,554 |
| 7 | Western Technical College La Crosse Public · Certificate | $27,571 | 254 | 34% | — | $8,816 |
| 8 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake Public · Certificate | $26,492 | 307 | 56% | — | $8,312 |
| 9 | Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids Public · Certificate | $25,277 | 196 | 52% | — | $9,599 |
| 10 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Public · Certificate | $24,954 | 320 | 58% | — | $7,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Wisconsin
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha Public | 976 | Not reported |
| 2 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Public | 725 | $42,721 |
| 3 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee Public | 547 | Not reported |
| 4 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Public | 505 | $37,386 |
| 5 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton Public | 395 | $38,540 |
| 6 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau Public | 362 | $29,626 |
| 7 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Public | 320 | $24,954 |
| 8 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake Public | 307 | $26,492 |
| 9 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville Public | 262 | $21,748 |
| 10 | Western Technical College La Crosse Public | 254 | $27,571 |
ShowHide the other 11 Wisconsin colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Public | 826 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | 401 |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Public | 196 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland | Public | 179 |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Public | 176 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 84 |
| Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa | Wauwatosa | Private not-for-profit | 82 |
| Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander | Public | 76 |
| Herzing University - Kenosha | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Herzing University - Brookfield | Brookfield | Private not-for-profit | 38 |
| Herzing University - Madison (Online) | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Gateway Technical College (976 graduates a year), Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (725 graduates a year) and Waukesha County Technical College (547 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Wisconsin colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, Herzing University - Kenosha leads among Practical Nursing programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,310, College Scorecard. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Lakeshore Technical College follow. By degrees awarded, Gateway Technical College is the largest, with 976 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Herzing University - Kenosha tops the list at $47,310. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Wisconsin?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Wisconsin is $44,600 (median $45,130), across about 28,370 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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